Question

Analyze how the theme of Providence is developed to restore the social order and reconcile the conflicting individuals. Notice how often in the first two Acts of The Tempest that the "natural order" of things is disrupted. Nature is in disorder during the storm, and the human society is in disorder because a rightful ruler has been overthrown.

Accepted Answer

The theme of providence is developed throughout The Tempest through cycles of destruction and creation.  As stated above, the order of both nature and government is upset by the storm and by Antonio's taking reign away from his brother Prospero.  Once Prospero arrives on the island, he shifts the natural order of the island by taking Ariel and Caliban as his unwilling servants.  However, as the play continues, these cycles begin to reverse themselves, and this reversal is most evident in the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda.  Ariel and the other spirits preside over the wedding ceremony, and the marriage is thus a natural union.  Later, Prospero creates the magical circle in which the crimes of the past are revealed.  At this point, the characters repent and social order is restored.  Prospero sets Ariel free so that things can return to normal.

Answer

Prospero acts in the role of "God" in this play, using the magic (supernatural powers) of his "angel" Ariel to intervene in the lives of humans and restore an order that has been disrupted since he, Prospero, was illegally removed as duke of Milan and set adrift in a ship with his daughter Miranda. He initially wants both vengeance on Antonio, who stole his throne and to orchestrate the marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand, son of the King of Naples. Therefore, he makes sure the ship holding Ferdinand, Antonio, and others is shipwrecked on his island.
Prospero shows himself as godlike or an agent of providence not only in the way he manipulates events. He is successful in bringing together Miranda and Ferdinand so that they fall in love, and Antonio falls into his hands and under his power. However, like the Christian God, Prospero, urged on by Ariel, shows mercy to his enemies, even though they do not deserve it and in some cases are unrepentant. Prospero, for instance, says to Antonio:

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brotherWould even infect my mouth, I do forgive Thy rankest fault, all of them, and requireMy dukedom of thee, which perforce I knowThou must restore.

In other words, he is saying that all he wants back is his dukedom.
Yet for all his assumption of divine powers, Prospero shows that he too is beholden to a large providence, asking God's blessing, for example, on Miranda and Ferdinand who are in love:

Heavens rain graceOn that which breeds between 'em!

Order is restored as people in power (especially Prospero) act according to God's will.

The Tempest

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