Language is a means of communication in which people relate to one another, their feelings, opinions, problems, wisdom, and much more. However, history has shown that language has been used for other means, for both good and evil purposes. During slavery, language was used as a weapon against the African Americans. The way a person is spoken to or speaks to others can classify their role in society. What makes a judge a judge or a factory worker a factory worker is not just the uniform they where or their income, but the everyday language used by them and directed towards them. This is the sort of language power Prospero used to manipulate the people and fairies on the island in William Shakespeare's play, The Tempest. .
In the play, The Tempest, Prospero is the main character, who was exiled from his city-state of Milan with his daughter because he neglected his job as Duke and focused on black magic. Prospero and Miranda landed on an island that consisted of spirits and fairies. When on the island, Prospero used language to discipline and control those on the island, which were fairies and an unsightly creature named Caliban. The language, which Prospero and Miranda spoke, intimidated the inhabitants of the island because it was unknown to them, and what is unknown is feared. .
"When thou cam'st first, thou strok'st me and made much of me; wouldst give me water with berries in't; and teach me how to name the bigger light and then I loved thee- was what Caliban said of Prospero when he first came to the island. He loved Prospero for teaching him a new language, until he only used it to curse him and order him around. Caliban then continues to tell Prospero "You taught me language, and profit on't Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you for learning me your language."" Caliban was telling him of his frustration of only being used and abused, all on the grounds that Prospero taught him this "new language.