In recent times, The Duchess of Sussex, Megan Markle, has been heavily scrutinized by the British media. The New York Times published an article by Megan Specia, accounting for the criticism received by Markle and the effects that have come about. According to the article, the Britishes tabloid press have published numerous articles communicating false information to negatively represent Markle in the public eye. The unfair treatment of the Duchess by the british tabloid press, parallels with the race and gender constructs presented in The Tempest, by Wiliam Shakesapear.

 The most evident counterpart to the current state of affairs is seen in Miranda, the subordinate daughter of Prospero. As the sole woman who takes physical form in the play, Miranda’s presence is dominated by masculinity. Under the control of her father, her marriage is used to bait the men who have done wrong by Prospero and the young girl is seen as nothing other than an object. These constraints placed upon the character during the Elizabethan era  reflects how womanhood is being challenged by the press in present day. Since her marriage to Prince Harry, Megan has been used as a pawn in the mass media contest for power of influence. Megan’s presence is dominated by the agency of false information while her femininity is being taken advantage of.  

The circumstances are also mirrored by Sycorax, the mother of Caliban, alienated by her gender and race. As she is present throughout the play only through dialogue of other men,  her physical absence speaks to the gender hierarchy and the inferiority of women, who were to be hidden in Elizabethan society. Her power is diminished by her portrayal as a witch, creating a negative stereotypical view of women. Megan, a woman of mixed race, has been placed in a position of power amid her newly found Dukedom title. The media is using their influence to  ruin the Duchess’s name, using both her vulnerability as a woman and her race for ammunition, as Prospero does to Sycorax in the play.