Question: Write a short essay on the following topic.  In Shakespeare's "The Tempest" Prospero commands his servant Ariel to present Alonso and his company with visions of splendor and horror.  What is the purpose of these visions and how do they impact the characters affected and serve Propero's purpose?   Identify Propero's objective or objectives and include appropriate quotations from the text of the play.

Answer: In Shakespeare's "The Tempest," Prospero commands his servant Ariel to present Alonso and his company with visions of splendor and horror. These visions serve a crucial purpose in Prospero's plan for revenge against those who wronged him in the past. Through these visions, Prospero aims to manipulate the emotions of his enemies, forcing them to feel the weight of their guilt and ultimately leading them to repentance.

One of the key objectives of Prospero's plan is to make Alonso and his company feel remorse for their past actions. The visions of horror that Ariel presents to them are designed to bring out their guilt and force them to confront the consequences of their past misdeeds. As Prospero tells Ariel:

"Hast thou, spirit,
Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?
Ariel: To every article.
I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement. Sometime I'd divide
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadful thunderclaps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident shake." (Act I, Scene II)

Here, Prospero is pleased with Ariel's work, as he has successfully terrified Alonso and his companions with the tempest and visions of horror. By causing them to feel fear and guilt, Prospero is able to exert power over them and lead them toward his ultimate goal of reconciliation.

However, Prospero's plan is not solely focused on revenge. He also seeks to teach a valuable lesson to Alonso and his companions, hoping to lead them to a greater understanding of their own faults and ultimately to a path of redemption. As he explains to Miranda:

"I have bedimmed
The noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault
Set roaring war; to the dread rattling thunder
Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak
With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory
Have I made shake, and by the spurs plucked up
The pine and cedar. Graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth
By my so potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure, and, when I have required
Some heavenly music--which even now I do--
To work mine end upon their senses that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I'll drown my book." (Act V, Scene I)

Here, Prospero reveals that his ultimate goal is not simply to seek revenge, but rather to use his powers to lead Alonso and his companions toward a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them. By forcing them to confront their past actions and emotions, he hopes to guide them toward a path of redemption and ultimately to a better future.

In conclusion, the visions of splendor and horror that Prospero commands Ariel to present to Alonso and his company serve a crucial purpose in Prospero's plan for revenge and reconciliation. Through these visions, Prospero manipulates his enemies' emotions, forcing them to confront their past actions and ultimately leading them toward a path of redemption. By teaching them a valuable lesson, Prospero is able to use his powers for the greater good, not just for his own personal gain. It is important to note that Prospero's plan is not without its flaws and moral ambiguities. While he seeks to lead his enemies toward repentance, he also uses his powers to control and manipulate them, raising questions about the ethics of his actions.