The Tempest was written in 1611 as Shakespeare's last romantic comedy. This show is mainly focused on the theme of power. Shakespeare portrays an elderly wizard who has been living in exile with his young daughter on a remote island for the past 12 years. Shakespeare presents forms of power in different ways, but mainly through the characters of Prospero. In The Tempest Shakespeare shows 3 different types of power, which are through love, power over his slave Caliban and the power of magic. Prospero uses the power of love to influence his daughter Miranda. Prospero knows that Miranda is devoted to him, so he uses guilt to maintain her devotion. Miranda tells her father "Alas, what trouble / I was then for you!" (I.2.153.154) the fact that she tells him this shows that, due to the fact that Prospero makes her feel guilty, she is willing to do anything just for him. “If I had been a mighty god, I/I would have sunk the sea into the earth…” (I.2.10.11). This quote indicates that he understood the extent of his father's power and that he possessed the same amount of power, he would have used it differently with Prospero. His power over Miranda is constant in this play. Prospero says "I have done nothing, but to care for thee, / Of thee, my dearest..." (I.2.16.17) when he says to let it be known that he loves his daughter and seeks only to protect her. Prospero's trust in Caliban is broken because he attempted to rape Miranda. There is no evidence of rape, however Miranda was the only woman on the island and pretty much supports the idea. Caliban being a natural creature, did not know the different rules of society against sexual engagement. Prospero learns from his second betrayal that the seemingly tyrannical state reveals itself in verbal abuse... middle of paper... teaching him. However he later realizes that his intentions are good and that he wanted Caliban to be taught. That said, the power of his love over his daughter helps him become a better father and allows his daughter the freedom in marriage she deserves. The end of Prospero's withdrawal from his magical powers represents his development into becoming the ideal ruler. In order to do this, he must give up his rights to magic and allow his power to come to the loyalty of his people. The power over Caliban teaches him to be less self-indulgent and him not wanting to help Caliban after his actions says that he is not completely vain. When Prospero drops his staff it is as if Shakespeare dropped his pen once the play was finished. He knew that The Tempest would be his last before he retired and Prospero knew that he had stopped controlling and forgave his enemies..