An Act of Forgiveness

The following can be referenced from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Act 5, scene 1, lines 1-97:

Easily considered the most sympathetic character in the play, Prospero also displays his “bad side” in various instances which include, but are not limited to, scenes with Caliban and his brother Antonio. However, in the final act, Prospero’s final chance to forgive and forget arises, and with no hesitation, seals his legacy in Shakespeare’s final comedy, and more importantly, final playwright. To avoid an epic disaster to an unforeseen concluding career, Shakespeare fulfills his obligations as a 16^th and 17^th century comedic writer by ridding Prospero of his powers, and ultimately his bad intentions.

            Firstly, Prospero begins his final speech by asking Ariel to retrieve his “captives”, an important step towards forgiving the wrongdoings done unto him. Even before that though, Prospero, in his soliloquy to the audience, mentions he will indeed break and bury his staff and drown his books in the infamous lines: “To work mine end upon their senses that / this airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff, / Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, / And deeper than did ever plummet sound / I’ll drown my book[s]” (V.i.62-66). Next, Prospero announces the guilt’s of his prisoners, and thereafter forgives them of all treacherous crimes against him. To compliment his forgiving attitude, Prospero announces the marriage of his daughter Miranda to Alonso’s son Ferdinand (completing the tasks required of a Shakespearean comedy). Prospero’s character and actions in the final act of the play are very important to fully developing the plot and successfully concluding it in the process. Despite the treasonous acts of jealousy and spite, Prospero is able to forgive his brother and the King for plotting and acting against him. A large amount of self-sacrifice, will, and forgiveness was put into the decision, and for this reason Shakespeare’s personality, vicariously displayed through Prospero’s character, is discussed amongst literature as one of the most benevolent and intriguing of all time.

Prospero’s legacy, certainly as a Shakespearean puppet, but most importantly as a man of true will, will live on for centuries upon centuries to come.