Question 7
Q. How has Ferdinand’s and Miranda’s love deepened from their first attraction? What is Shakespeare suggesting about the true nature of love? [10 Marks]
The love-affair between Ferdinand and Miranda is a creation of Prospero's potent art (Magic) and it develops according to his prearranged scheme. Ferdinand and Miranda fall utterly in love at first sight, as has been Prospero's intention. However, to prevent this love affair from developing too rapidly, Prospero becomes rough and unfriendly to Ferdinand, disarms him by his magic, and puts him to work at the menial task of piling logs. This serves only to increase Miranda's love and admiration for the Prince. Love completely masters her soul and she pleads for Ferdinand with a perfect grace of feeling and imagination when her father charges the Prince as a spy and a traitor.
Later on we find Ferdinand entering with a log, declaring that his labour is a pleasure since he serves Miranda. Miranda comes to cheer him up and to tell him that her father is hard at work in his study and will be for the next three hours. She does not know, however, that her father is wearing his cloak of invisibility and is standing close behind her. She asks Ferdinand to rest, while she does aturn, at his work. Of course, he will not hear of this. Ferdinand asks her name so that he may mention it in his prayers. Miranda instantly tells him her name and then she realizes that she has disobeyed an express command Of her father.
Under Ferdinand's compliments, Miranda asks, "Do you love me?" Ferdinand swears by heaven and earth that he does. Miranda bursts into tears, and when he asks why, she says that she is unworthy. However, practically in the same breath, she says that she is his wife if he will marry her. Of course he is quick to assent. He is worthy of Miranda, who is charming, unaffected and genuine.
The love-affair of Ferdinand and Miranda reaches its climax in Act 3, Scene 1. Miranda has known no other women and has no knowledge whatever of the conventions of pursuit and surrender. She follows simply the dictates of her heart without any pretension. Thus there can be no doubt that Shakespeare's theory of the ideal courtship is a mutual and immediate acceptance, without the use of artificial love conventions. Shakespeare plays on the idea of slavery by portraying Miranda and Ferdinand as willing slaves to each other, and Ferdinand is a slave to Prospero for Miranda's sake.Miranda would make herself a slave for Ferdinand's sake by taking over the slavery he has accepted for her own sake. "I'll bear your logs the while". Ferdinand declares himself to be a King and immediately afterward names himself a slave to Miranda. Ferdinand says that he will be her husband "with a heart as willing/ As bondage everof freedom.”
Shakespeare describes true love as a sweet gift of nature that reflects the union of two true hearts in one spirit. It is untouched by challenges and can survive any tempest or difficulty while remaining areal guide in all situations. It is even set and cannot be changed by the ravages of time.
Thus, the love between Ferdinand and Miranda is a part of the play's larger pattern of atonement and reconciliation. The purity and innocence of their love in its simple affirmation atones for the suspicions, hostilities and betrayals of their fathers'generations.
