Prospero's Characterization

            Shakespeare characterizes Prospero to be an individual who is lost in a cloud of anger and revenge in Act 1 scene 2. As Prospero is referring to Antonio’s recent acquiring of dukedom in Milan, Prospero explains to his daughter, Miranda, the process of how Antonio managed to gain dukedom after Prospero lost that position. Throughout the monologue, Prospero repeats several phrases: “Dost thou attend me?” (Act 1, scene 2, 96), “Thou attend’st not” (Act 1, scene 2, 106), and “Dost thou hear?” (Act 1, scene 2, 126). The repetition in these phrases resembles how Prospero is carefully assessing Miranda in hoping for her to understand Prospero’s reasoning for why he lost his original position of dukedom. A vital phrase Prospero speaks within this scene is when he states his brother’s wellbeing by stating “Mark his condition and th’ event. Then tell me / If this might be a brother.” (Act 1, scene 1, 138-9). His anger towards Antonio is justified by his negative tone and the diction of “this” to resemble his brother.