Which example from The Tempest is the best illustration of the power of language to subjugate people?

A) Ferdinand expresses to Miranda that he would be her slave for love.

B) Prospero promises to free Ariel but has yet to keep his word by the end of the play

C) Gonzalo expresses his utopian ideas to Sebastian and Antonio.

D) Caliban and Ariel fight with each other over Prospero.

The correct answer is D. The fact that Caliban and Ariel fight with each other over Prospero illustrates the power of language to subjugate people.

Although they do not recognize this fact, Caliban and Ariel should be on the same team. That is, they are both the slaves of Prospero. He is forcing both of them to serve him.

Rather than turn on him, however, they fight with each other. Thus, the fact that they are both fighting with each other over Prospero shows how powerful language is, since Prospero used language to subjugate Caliban and Ariel.