Question

How do Prospero, Ferdinand and Caliban perceive Miranda? Give one example of each of their perceptions, from the Acts studied, to support your answer. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.

Answer 1

In "The Tempest," Miranda is perceived differently by Prospero, Ferdinand, and Caliban, reflecting their relationships with her. Prospero, her father, views Miranda as precious and vulnerable, needing his protection. He carefully orchestrates her meeting with Ferdinand, aiming to secure her future.
This protective attitude is evident when he uses his magic to control who she meets and how, as seen in Act I when he tells her the story of their arrival on the island, subtly preparing her for what is to come. Ferdinand, on the other hand, sees Miranda as an angel or goddess when they first meet in Act I, Scene II, immediately falling in love with her purity and beauty, exclaiming, "Most sure, the goddess on whom these airs attend!" Lastly, Caliban perceives her as the embodiment of the kindness and education he once received and later as a symbol of his own loss and subjugation under Prospero's rule, hinting at his complex feelings towards her in his initial interactions in Act I.