Challenging and Reinforcing Gender Norms: The Relationship between Miranda and Ferdinand Anonymous 11th Grade

The relationship between Miranda and Ferdinand both challenges and reinforces gender roles in ‘the Tempest’. By proposing to Ferdinand herself, Miranda challenges the feminine expectation to be obedient or timid and asserts her own authority. However, Miranda’s proposal could also portray her as naive, thus appearing younger, more oblivious and therefore more ‘feminine’. Discussion of Miranda’s virginity also serves to reinforce gender norms in the play, often fixated on by both Prospero and Ferdinand, it begins to undermine her character, becoming an object to ‘prize’ and ‘admire’ rather than someone with intelligence and intellect. This control Prospero exerts over Miranda is therefore distinctly patriarchal. In recent productions like the Julie Taymor film in 2010 this interpretation has been challenged with the introduction of female ‘Prospera(s)’. In these cases we can interpret Miranda’s relationship to Ferdinand as enabled rather than forced onto her by Prospero/a. The mother-daughter relationship provides the audience with a much more empowered Miranda thus shunning 17th century gender norms and bringing the Tempest into the modern day. It is in contrasting these old and new interpretations that we can find a Miranda...