The Tempest

It's about why the absence of Prospero’s wife is significant to the play and explains the different meanings behind her absence. Because of the absence of a wife and mother for Miranda in the play, a void is created which Prospero fills with the characters of Sycorax and Caliban. In the play, Prospero acts as both Miranda’s father and mother, and even goes describes his and Miranda’s trip to the island as a “birth:” a new beginning, a clean slate. The author of the article continues to look at aspects of women’s roles in traditional Shakespearian plays and how the absence of a mother for Miranda and a wife for Prospero affects the play.
The lines: When I have decked the sea with drops of full salt/Under my burden groaned, which raised in me/An undergoing stomach, to bear up/Against what should ensue.” (Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 155-158) take on new meaning after reading the article. Because at this point Prospero is acting as both father and mother of Miranda, this description of how they reached the island can be seen in a new light. This is Prospero acting as a motherly figure in a different way by giving Miranda a “birth” but in a different way then a physical one. This is a birth for Miranda into a new world, with the gift of redemption. She is free on this island from Miranda’s unsavory biological mother whose “wombs have borne bad sons” (Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 118-120).
On the whole, I tend to agree with the author that the absence of Prospero’s wife and Miranda’s mother is an important aspect of Shakespeare’s wife. However, I may not agree with the author as to the extent of the importance the absence is. I think there are much more and much more important things going on in the play to be focused with such a small detail such as this absence of a mother figure. I think the author clearly connotes his feelings and supports his argument clearly, it is just up to the reader to decide whether or not to agree with this reasoning, but on the whole it is a good argument that is well supported with examples and lines from the text.