Trimmer 1

Ronnie Trimmer

Professor Barbara Sebek

E-343.001

8 April 2016

Close Reading

The purpose of the masque in 4.1 of William Shakespeares The Tempest, is to send a

clear message to Ferdinand about how Prospero expects his daughter to be treated before and

after an official ceremony has been preformed. Prospero knows his plot to return to Italy will

only be guaranteed to succeed if Ferdinand and Miranda are joined in matrimony. Prospero is

also aware that Miranda would be considered spoiled goods and unworthy of a duke if she were

to lose her virginity before she and Ferdinand were to be married in the eyes of the law. The

words of the goddess depicted in the drama commanded by Prospero is meant to emphasize that

unsanctified lovers are intolerable and lead to unchecked havoc upon what could be a happy

marriage.

Since the moment Ferdinand confessed his unyielding love and allegiance to Miranda,

Prospero has been unjustly demanding of the young prince by making him do labor intensive

chores around the island. Finally in the beginning of 4.1 Prospero relents and takes Ferdinand

aside to inform him that while he was forced to perform grueling tasks the compensation makes

the work worth every pain. Though the language in the passage reduces Miranda to seem as if

she is an object rather than a person, Were but my trials of thy love, and thou / Hast strangely

stood the test. Here, afore heaven, / I ratify this my rich gift (4.1. 7-8. In order to reward

Ferdinand, Prospero gives him his most treasured possession- his daughter. The words he uses to

describe her are, rich gift. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) the word rich,
 Trimmer 2

when being used as an adjective to describe a person, is meant to imply that they possess an

abundance of well though of qualities. When Prospero continues on to objectify his daughter by

claiming she is his gift to give, he is really stating that he is the one in possession of the good

qualities Miranda has because she belongs to him. By indicating that Miranda is a gift, Prospero

places himself in a position of power by reminding Ferdinand that if he wants to be gifted with

Mirandas hand in marriage he must first appease Prospero.

As the dialogue continues in 4.1 Miranda is being referred to as a commodity to be traded

or given away at the whim of her father. After Ferdinand declares that he agrees with Prosperos

assertion that Miranda possesses all the qualities of a rich gift, Prospero asserts the power he

established over his daughter:

Worthily purchased, take my daughter. But

If thou dost break her virgin-knot before

All sanctimonious ceremonies may with full and holy rite be ministered,

No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall

To make this contract grow

(4.1.15-19).

Prospero is intent to stress the importance that even though Miranda has been verbally given to

Ferdinand she is not to be touched sexually until they have been properly married. The use of the

word contract is important, as the OED states that the word indicates, a business agreement for
 Trimmer 3

the supply of certain articles or the performance of specified work at a certain price, rate, or

commission. Prospero is letting Ferdinand know that there is yet to be a price to pay, as he is no

longer giving Miranda to him as a "gift, Ferdinand is now going to purchase Miranda. The

price is patience, as Ferdinand must agree to refrain from enacting on his desires to consummate

the relationship.

Prospero has his spirit servants begin to act out their masque in an effort to reemphasis

the terms of the contract that has been created between himself and Ferdinand. Early in the

goddesss play Ceres inquires if the goddess of love, Venus and her son will also be in

attendance, as she does not wish to speak to them as they were responsible for the King of the

underworld becoming besotted with her daughter and stealing her away. Iris responds that Venus

and her son were unable to make it as their plans to corrupt Miranda and Ferdinand had failed,

Here thought they to have done /Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, / Whose vows

are that no bed-right shall be paid / Till Hymens torch be lighted; but in vain (4.1.94-97). The

use of wanton is important to note as the OED marks that Shakespeare tended to use the word to

reference a boy who was being childishly cruel and unruly, reminding Ferdinand to keep his

word and not touch Miranda. As Miranda and Ferdinand have no idea that it is Prospero that has

summoned spirits to pretend to be deities, the young couple is tricked into believing that it is the

goddesses who look upon sexual activity before marriage as despicable act.

Prospero constructed the circumstances which brought Ferdinand and Miranda together,

however after they had met and fallen in love it was imperative that he convince them to not ruin

his plot to return to power by making Miranda an unfit partner. Prospero emphasizes that

Miranda is his to bargain with, and should he choose to refuse Ferdinands request of marriage he
 Trimmer 4

was within his right. Prospero then deceives the two youths by having island spirits come down

in the form of goddesses to perform a masque, which serves to deliver a message that the pair is

not to be struck with blind lust. The masque demonstrates Prosperos power over his art, and his

ability to convince others to do as he bids.