Guest Blogger: Keenan B.

Power, the word has appeared so much in our studies up to this point. We have discussed where it appears, what it is for, how it works and also, how it is gained. Power, is behind everything that we learn and what we do.
The Tempest particularly showed how power can be wielded; the character of Prospero makes his power grow throughout the play, mostly through the use of Ariel, whom he makes serve his own ends. He makes Ariel serve him so much that in fact he refuses to honor the contract he had with Ariel, (Locke would be appalled!) Yet Prospero is able to keep control over Ariel by fear, the fear of being locked up in the tree again. What Prospero uses is intellectual power, which he uses to think of the fear that can keep Ariel after he is supposed to be free. Intellectual power is the basis of Prospero, and in fact, is the reason for his captivity on the island, by giving up his Dukeship to his brother, in favor of studying. The character of Antonio, used his social power instead to gain his ends, political power, and in order to get that power, he even attempted to kill his brother.
As can be seen there are many types of power, but which one is most important? If we were to follow the tempest, it would have been intellectual power; he used that to get back what he desired. Yet, people can also use physical power; the Senators removed Caesar through physical force, (the knife) even though he had the intellectual edge over them. It goes to show that it is how that power is used makes a big difference.
Political power is also an incredible power, people who hold political power can win over many people, groups, or even nations. The different types of political power often require another power, or a combination of powers to gain it. Political power can be gained through many different ways, succession, election, or by force. For succession, you must have power from your family, which is a type of social power that is endowed by birth. Election requires intellectual power, which gives the ability to recognize problems and make social connections to put them ahead of the others to be chosen. Forcefully, of course, is carried out through physical power, to remove the person in power by their own brawn.
But why do we need power? It is in our nature, to get power is our meaning. Whether it is through the cruel, physical ways of Machiavelli, or the intellectual prowess of Socrates, or Aristotle, or by the social peaceful means that most rock bands seem to use to gain over their fans; power is the force that runs our lives, and without it, we would be without meaning.