Power and Politics

The play features a number of power bases:

Prospero's rule over Miranda, Ariel and Caliban.

Alonso’s rule over Antonio, Sebastian and the other on the ship.

Antonio’s influence of Sebastian.

Trinculo and Stephano’s power over Caliban.

There seems to be a necessity to have power and control from many of the characters.

The play opens on a ship in the middle of a storm which is concocted by Prospero, showing his power.