In the play by William Shakespeare, The Tempest, the love story between Miranda and Ferdinand happens very fast. The moment they see each other they fall in love. This love cannot be true because Miranda only remembers one other man in her life, her father.
Miranda has been so sheltered and secluded that she doesn’t know what men are like. Miranda hasn’t had the experience or exposure to the opposite sex to form her opinions of what she likes or what she is looking for in a husband. “I do not know/ One of my sex; no woman’s face remember,/ Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen/ More that I may call men than you, good friend,/ And my dear father”(3.2.49-52). She explains that she has no memory of another female or male other than her father. Miranda’s seclusion from the rest of mankind has inhibited her ability to figure out what she wants in a husband and therefore her love for Ferdinand is not true.
Ferdinand on the other hand has been out in the world and knows what he is looking for in a wife. He explains that he has met many women in his life time. “Full many a lady/ I have ey’d with best regard” (3.2.39-40). Even though he has this idea of a future wife, he does not know Miranda at all. Although he knows is that she is beautiful and therefore what he feels for her is not love, but in fact lust.
It is hard to know if one has found true love. It takes a lot of time and looking. One must meet people to decide if they have the traits they find attractive or important in a spouse. Miranda has not had the time or exposure to determine her wants or needs from a future spouse. Ferdinand has had the exposure but has not had the time to get to know Miranda, therefore this relationship is not based on true love.
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