Ben Varian The Tempest

How Does the Passage Portray the Relationship between

Ferdinand and Miranda?
To Miranda and Ferdinand their relationship seems to be laced with difficulties, yet
unbeknownst to them a higher power, namely Prospero, is using all magical aptitude
to ensure that the relationship does in fact continue successfully. This adds an
interesting facet to the pairing and one which in the passage plays a key role.
The pair believes that Prospero severely disproves of their infatuation and
would have no reason to think otherwise udging by his reaction to Ferdinand!s arrival
however they do not see his ulterior motives and what he stands to gain from their
ardour" an heir. Therefore they believe that they must continue their love secretly#
Miranda alerts Ferdinand when she thinks that her father is gone" $My father% &s hard
at study'(e!s safe for these three hours). The clandestine element of the romance
e*cites and titillates the lovers, the fact that they believe that they are doing something
wrong makes them desire each other even more. The work and toil which Ferdinand
has been assigned by Prospero symbolises the difficulty which the couple perceive
they have in creating a successful relationship. There is also a particular prevalence in
the work which Ferdinand is actually doing# he is carrying logs. &n +hakespearean
times wood had connotations of madness# so therefore the fact that he is carrying logs
could be symbolic that he is madly in love with Miranda. (owever the reality and
dramatic irony of it is that there is no difficulty and similarly the work is pointless and
needn!t be done# it is purely a menial task set by Prospero to ensure that the love is
not too easy and to therefore guarantee its success.
,ne would be forgiven in thinking that their love is purely carnal desire, after
merely sighting each other they declare that they have never felt this way about
someone else to each other. This love at first sight would not have been doubted by a
+hakespearean audience and was accepted as a convention of the time# it is
reminiscent of a couplet from Marlowe!s poem (ero and -eander"
Where both deliberate the love is slight;
Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?
Ben Varian The Tempest
(owever the modern cynical interpretation of $-ove at first sight) is that of a mere
infatuation and has become a clich. associated with teenage romance# however at the
time of writing a far greater and deeper significance was attached to the word" -ove #
it was not used flippantly.
The passage e*hibits marvellously the true love between the two, while there
is certainly a physical attraction between the two# it was that initial ama/ement which
they had and the love for each other!s outward beauties which provides the basis for
their later love. Ferdinand then falls in love with Miranda!s inner virtues and the
beauty of her soul# we see this in the le*icon of love which underlies all that he says
to Miranda" all his words ring out with the true sound of a lover. Ferdinand has a
gentle and protective love for Miranda. (e is touched by her compassion when she
offers to share his labour"
No, precious creature: I had rather crack my sinews,
Break my back, !han you should such dishonour
"ndergo While I sit la#y by$
This compassion between the lovers creates a framework in their relationship
more appropriate to a marriage than a brief love affair. Miranda actually has the
simplicity and forthrightness to suggest marriage so shortly after their first meeting" $&
am your wife if you will marry me# %&f not, &!ll die your maid). 0et despite this
immediacy shown by Miranda it seems to be a love that will endure. (owever it also
e*hibits the naivety that Miranda clearly has in the field of love# she has lived alone
with her father for her entire life and while knowing the le*is of love" $marriage) and
$wife) she does not know their true significance and the importance attached to them.
(owever this is utterly contrasted with Ferdinand who is portrayed as a veteran in
love who comes across almost as a 1asanova when he says" $Full many a lady have &
eyed with best regard'For several virtues have & liked several women), yet this clear
discrepancy in the e*perience which both of them have in love does not seem to fa/e
either of them, implying that their love is true.
2hen the Tempest was first performed in 3433, it was as part of the festivities
to celebrate the marriage between the 5ing!s daughter, Princess 6li/abeth, and
Frederick, the 6lector Palatine. Thus the theme of young love and marriage would
Ben Varian The Tempest
have been e*tremely relevant in the court and +hakespeare!s representation of
Ferdinand and Miranda would have almost certainly derived an influence of some
kind from the marriage of 6li/abeth and Frederick. The passage itself is the first true
meeting of the lovers and thus is integral in how the relationship is perceived
throughout the rest of the play. The relationship is portrayed at first as one which is
seemingly ust a physical attraction, however similarly too many other things in the
play, there are numerous other facets which complicate and elaborate the process. &n
this scene we see with dramatic irony how the lovers feel that their clandestine
romance is destined to fail because of the disapproving Prospero# yet the relationship
is completely destined to succeed because of the numerous powers working in its
favour. 2ithin the confines of ust a scene, the relationship rapidly manifests into true
love# the lovers! relationship develops from an ac7uaintance to talk of marriage, this
scene is a microcosm of a relationship as a whole. The labour aspect being integral# it
signifies not only the toil and trouble of love but also it is an astute political comment
on e7uality of marriage8 it is the male that should work. 2hat is also e*tremely
prevalent is the reference to wood and its connotations of madness which symbolise
the fact that Ferdinand and Miranda are madly in love with one another.