In Shakespeare's works, readers may find several issues of human nature addressed. In Othello, Shakespeare deals with jealousy and racism. In King Lear, he talks about pride and love. In Romeo and Juliet he examines destiny. In The Tempest and Hamlet in particular, he seems to indirectly address a significant problem. In both plays, some supernatural impulse drives the actions of important characters and directs the plot in a specific direction. This leads the reader to wonder why an external force is needed to cause certain actions in the story. Is force a narrative device, used by Shakespeare to develop the drama and achieve a certain end? Does the force represent a cosmic impulse that acts on all of us? Or does it represent something internal, common to all of us? But more importantly, what does Shakespeare say about human nature through the use of this? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In The Tempest, Prospero's witchcraft and the spirits under his control force the stranded nobles to act on his wishes. In Hamlet, the appearance of his father's ghost causes Hamlet's depressed indecision and ultimately his fatal revenge. Whatever Shakespeare's purpose in using this external drive, these supernatural forces allow the reader to see the characters develop under extraordinary circumstances, which would not happen if the characters were limited to acting strictly according to the principles of cause and effect or rationality . In The Tempest, Ariel reports to Prospero: I have dispersed them into troops on the island. I landed the king's son alone, whom I left to freshen the air with sighs in a strange corner of the island... Safe in the harbor is the king's ship... And for the rest of the fleet , whom I have dispersed, have all met again, and are on the Mediterranean fleet bound sadly home to Naples, supposing they have seen the king's ship wrecked and his great person perish. (1.2.220-37) Prospero's strategic dispersal of nobles, sailors, and servants onto the island allows for the ultimate success of his complex plan. Ferdinand is separated from the group so he can meet Miranda alone. The king and his men are tricked into sleeping by Ariel, allowing Antonio and Sebastian to plot to overthrow the king of Naples. Stephen, Trinculo, and Caliban are led by music to a "cloaked pool" (4.2.182) where they occupy themselves, drunkenly, until the time comes for action. These characters do not seem forced to act in ways that they would not be capable of on their own. We can believe that Ferdinand could fall in love with Miranda under different circumstances. Antony would certainly be able to plot tyranny with Sebastian without Ariel's help in putting the king's men to sleep. The significance of their actions lies in the fact that they did not act entirely on their own initiative, but were forced to do so by Prospero and the spirits under his command. In Hamlet, the appearance of his father's ghost provides Hamlet with information that he otherwise would not have had. It also leaves him conflicted about whether or not to believe the ghost and avenge his father's death. This conflict for Hamlet takes him from depressed indecision to madness to fatal action. When Hamlet is on watch with Horatio and Marcellus and sees the ghost for the first time, he asks, "What can this mean?" (1.4.51) and "What should we do?" (1.4.57). While it is perhaps Hamlet's disposition to seek guidance and need reassurance, it is nevertheless the appearance of the ghost and his directions to Hamlet that drive the prince to madness and death. In each of these cases,.