Taking on the voice of father, magician and "prince of power", the bard leads us straight into the crux of The Tempest of Prospero's voice. The usurped Duke of Milan speaks of the usurper, Antonio most vividly, using myriad images. We picture Antonio's brilliance in politics as Prospero tells of how his brother "being once perfected how to grant suits, how to deny them, who t' advance and which to trash for over-topping" supplanted him. He presents us with a hunting image as he acknowledges Antonio's skill & compliments him. Prospero uses a number of images in his speech to let us see Antonio as a political animal. He shows us how "having both the key of the officer and office" Antonio gained supporters and got rid of opposers. This double image aptly portrayed how he not only secured the authority entrusted to him; he also had the ability to assert that power to his own means -- "set all hearts i'th' state to what tune pleas'd his ear". At the same time, we notice that the play is one that rings of music, this is only one instance where music is mentioned. It is a recurring motif. He maneuvers his way into nature when he informs Miranda (and the audience) of "the ivy which hid my princely trunk and suck'd my vendure out on't". We see in our minds' eye the devious Antonio who sucked the power out of his brother's welcoming hands and so, his life, leaving only a dry shell. Through the use of such imagery, Shakespeare unfolds the passionate tale of usurpation before the "wondrous" Miranda and us, the audience. The wise Prospero speaks of how he had laid himself wide open to harm in "being transported and rapt in secret studies". "Neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated to closeness and the bettering of his mind" he entrusted Milan into the hands of his treacherous brother and in doing so, "awak'd an evil nature" in his false brother. Not contented with his position, Antonio "new created the creatures that were mine, chang'd 'em or else new...
