The Tempest: Act 1

Throughout act one of The Tempest, Prospero manipulates those around him to get what he wants.  Not only does he sink the ship to bring its crew to his island, but he also uses his narrative of the past to sway those around him into siding with him.  When Prospero tells Miranda the story of how they arrived at their island, he says "Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed in dignity, and for the liberal arts without a parallel".  This sentence is an example of how he creates an image of himself as a dignified ruler who was loved by all.  His only mistake in the story was being too trusting of his brother.  Through his narrative, he was able to convince Miranda that his brother was evil and had betrayed him, and that he had done nothing but good.  Prospero used this same tactic on Ariel.  Although Ariel is his servant, he uses her past to convince her that she is better off being his slave.  An example of that is seen when he asks "Hast thou forgot the foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy was grown into a hoop".  Sycorax trapped Ariel in a tree for twelve years and he constantly threatens to trap her again for being ungrateful.  Through the use of these narratives, Prospero gains control over Ariel and support from Miranda.  This is just another example of how controlling the past allows for control over the present.