Miranda essay plan

Essay plan for the question: 'Miranda has a paradoxical role: she is both the dependent female and cruicial to the dynamics of power in the play'. By considering the role and dramatic presentation of Miranda in The Tempest, evaluate this view

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  • Created by: EKF
  • Created on: 28-03-16 19:35
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  • Miranda
    • Relationship with Prospero
      • educated only by P, only had male influence, subordinated into male authority, moulded into male ideal, assimilated into patriarchy, feminist perspective
        • "have I, thy schoolmaster,made thee more profit"
    • Relationship with Ferdinand
      • first new male she sees she falls in love with - naivety and lack of experience
        • "this is the third man that e'er i saw"
      • He is willing to humbly lower his status in order to prove his love
        • "endure this wooden slavery"
        • Miranda wishes to share the load, egalitarian relationship but Ferdinand refuses
          • "bear your logs a while" share division of labour
          • "i had rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo"
    • Relationship with other males
      • Caliban calls her a 'nonpareil' defining her in his own terms
      • used by Caliban as a bargaining tool with Trinculo and Stefano - object of desire
      • comparison to other females-  Sycorax always condemned (power) Miranda = no threat to patriarchy so seen as a 'Goddess'
  • desires for her and Ferdinand to get married and have children (heirs)
    • "make this contract grow"
    • life controlled/ orchestrated by P - she is central to his plans, dynastic implication to marriage to bring about his vengeance
      • Relationship with Prospero
        • educated only by P, only had male influence, subordinated into male authority, moulded into male ideal, assimilated into patriarchy, feminist perspective
          • "have I, thy schoolmaster,made thee more profit"
      • his magic is limited and he cannot make them fall in love only bring about the circumstances that cause it
      • establishes criteria for her to live up to, paternal fantasy based on her mother
        • "thy mother was a piece of virtue"
        • virginity was prized during Elizabethan era and the marriage is seen as an economic exchange
          • her status is to be bartered over rather than self determined- she says her most precious gift is "the jewel in my dower" absorbed male ideals
          • Prospero is angry about Caliban's attempted **** as it takes away her market value
            • "violate the honour of my child"
      • watches them in a voyeuristic way
        • "it goes on i see as my soul prompts it"
    • still a loving father, he wants the best for Miranda so ensures Ferdinand is good enough by putting him through a love test
      • "lest too light winning make the prize light"
      • "I have done nothing but in care of thee"
  • controls what she sees, forces her into passive position, renders her voiceless in society
    • "the fringed curtains of thine eye advance
    • life controlled/ orchestrated by P - she is central to his plans, dynastic implication to marriage to bring about his vengeance
      • his magic is limited and he cannot make them fall in love only bring about the circumstances that cause it
      • establishes criteria for her to live up to, paternal fantasy based on her mother
        • "thy mother was a piece of virtue"
        • virginity was prized during Elizabethan era and the marriage is seen as an economic exchange
          • her status is to be bartered over rather than self determined- she says her most precious gift is "the jewel in my dower" absorbed male ideals
          • Prospero is angry about Caliban's attempted **** as it takes away her market value
            • "violate the honour of my child"
      • watches them in a voyeuristic way
        • "it goes on i see as my soul prompts it"
  • mistakes him for a "spirit" and "thing divine"
    • neoplatonic idea, good looks = good inner morality
    • first new male she sees she falls in love with - naivety and lack of experience
      • "this is the third man that e'er i saw"
  • their love is true and based on emotions
    • 'i chose her when i could not ask my father for advice"
    • Relationship with Ferdinand
      • He is willing to humbly lower his status in order to prove his love
        • "endure this wooden slavery"
        • Miranda wishes to share the load, egalitarian relationship but Ferdinand refuses
          • "bear your logs a while" share division of labour
          • "i had rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo"
  • cannot conceal her love
    • "the bigger the bulk it shows" indication pregnancy
  • she is very forward, she asks the questions
    • "I am your wife, if you will marry me"
    • "do you love me?"
    • reveals her name - transferring loyalty from father to lover
      • "what is your name?" "Miranda - O my father, i have broke your best"
      • "i have given you here a third of mine own life"
  • vision of the chess game is brought about without magic- shows true love
    • subservient in the relationship, chess is supposed to be a trivial game but from post-structuralist perspective implies he might cheat in other areas of marriage - usurpation in future?
      • "for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle and i would call it fair play"
      • "you play me false"
  • "so perfect and so peerless"
    • consonance of P = polished effect
    • he places her on a pedestal,  she can only fall short of these expectations

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