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Read the following passage from Act I, scene ii of The Tempest, in which Prospero explains to Miranda how Antonio usurped him.

PROSPERO
My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio—
I pray thee, mark me—that a brother should
Be so perfidious!—he whom next thyself
Of all the world I loved and to him put
The manage of my state; as at that time
Through all the signories it was the first
And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed
In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel; those being all my study,
The government I cast upon my brother
And to my state grew stranger, being transported
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle—
(. . .)
Being once perfected how to grant suits,
How to deny them,
. . . having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state
To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was
The ivy which had hid my princely trunk,
And suck'd my verdure out on't.
(. . .)
I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans bound.

Discuss Prospero's attitude toward Antonio and the impression of Antonio and of himself that Prospero wants to give Miranda. Then analyze which words and phrases in the passage help convey that attitude and those impressions. Be sure to support your ideas with evidence from the passage.

User Hearn
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Answer: "The Tempest" is considered a revenge tragedy. The usurpation of Prospero's dukedom from Antonio, his own beloved brother, is an indication of his distemper. Words that can create a tone of reproach and melancholy for the past are: "evil nature", falsehood", "perfidious" which are attributed to the dishonest brother. Miranda appears to live in a dream place where corruption and malevolence do not exist. However, Prospero's negative attitue towards Antonio expresses that there is evil in human nature and it can even come from close acquaintances and family.

Step-by-step explanation:

User OrthodoX
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"The Tempest" is considered a revenge tragedy. The usurpation of Prospero's dukedom from Antonio, his own beloved brother, is an indication of his distemper. Words that can create a tone of reproach and melancholy for the past are: "evil nature", falsehood", "perfidious" which are attributed to the dishonest brother. Miranda appears to live in a dream place where corruption and malevolence do not exist. However, Prospero's negative attitue towards Antonio expresses that there is evil in human nature and it can even come from close acquaintances and family.

User Tlatwork
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