Shakespeare: Poet, Author, Playwright...Psychological Theorist?

I’m the oldest of four children and have always loved hearing little anecdotes or length descriptions about the faults and virtues of those in my similar position as firstborn. In my Adolescent Psychology course, I further delved into the behavioral patterns of children based on their birth order through the theories of Alfred Adler. According to Adler, firstborns often spend their formative years as the sole child, and in this position are constantly fussed over by their parents. With the arrival of the next child, the first born is suddenly no longer their parents’ only concern, and they often spend the remainder of their lives constantly requiring their parents’ recognition and approval. Adler also describes second-born children as being competitive and acutely aware of their older sibling’s superior status as firstborn. At the same time, second-born children are also aware of their ability to “de-throne” their older sibling. Could Adler have based his theories on birth order around The Tempest’s Prospero and Antonio?

Prospero is described in The Persons of the Play, as being “the rightful Duke of Milan,” a position he held via primogeniture (3064). Prospero enjoyed many of the fineries that come with being a Duke and the firstborn child. He was well liked by the people of Milan and enjoyed studying “the liberal arts” (1.2.73) while he had his brother, Antonio, care for his “state” (1.2.70). Prosper never considered his brother would usurp his power, being that he was so loved by Prospero. Like Adler’s theory, Prospero believed this love was enough. In relating this story to his daughter, Miranda, Prospero exposes his birth order further in his constant need for attention and agreement. Throughout his story he repeatedly questions Miranda, asking “Dost thou attend me?” (1.2.78), “Thou attend’st not!” (1.2.87), “Dost thou hear?” (1.2.106). Despite Miranda showing no signs of inattention, he continually insists that she reinforce her interest in his story.

Antonio, too, shows signs of fulfilling Adler’s theory regarding the second-born child. It is obvious that Prospero loved his brother and was content in his studies while Antonio controlled is affairs, but this is not enough for Antonio, the “false brother” (1.2.92). Antonio chooses to act on Prospero’s unassuming behavior and seizes the opportunity to bring down his brother. Prospero relates how Antonio, who “having into truth, by telling oft / Made such a sinner of his memory / To credit his own lie, he did believe / he was indeed the Duke” (1.2.100-03), easily lied about his true nature to his brother in order to get what he wanted . Through primogeniture, Antonio has been denied the dukedom of Milan, but instead of simply murdering his brother and taking over the throne, he chooses instead to villainously lie and deceive Prospero and then casts him and his young daughter out to sea.

How is it that Shakespeare’s Prospero and Antonio possess characteristics that fall in line with Alfred Adler’s theories, hundreds of years before he created them? It is obvious to me that Shakespeare is a literary master, but his concepts and depictions of human nature are so incredibly well formed that he may as well be considered a psychologist! It makes you wonder who really inspired Alfred Adler, Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and other noted psychologists?