How Does Prospero Use Forgiveness In The Tempest

In “The Tempest” Prospero learns to forgive all those who had done wrong to him, even though his plan had been to make them suffer. Forgiveness is more important than justice; in order to let go everyone needs to learn to forgive. The the process of letting go means they are no longer getting weighed down by the anger towards that person.
The act of vengeance is seen in the first scene when Prospero is sinking the ship in which everyone who betrayed him was sailing. The island is the perfect place where he can set out his plan because he has all control. “I boarded the King’s ship; now on the beak, Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement. Sometimes I’d divide and burn in many places (1.2.199-200).” Ariel is talking here to his master Prospero, telling him that he has burned parts of the ship and caused havoc on the ship. But we still see that Prospero doesn’t want any one of them hurt. “But are they, Ariel, safe? (1.2.219).” This may be because all he wants is to reveal himself to all of them, that he is still alive and never died, or that he wants to hurt them. …show more content…
He is not even human, but by seeing the state they all are in he begins to have feelings of sorrowness for them and is pretty sure that Prospero will change and forgive them all, once he sees them as well. Ariel says that forgiving is much greater than justice because he understands that they are very frightened. Forgiving them for what they did to Prospero will be greater than hurting them all. “His tears runs down his beard like winter’s drops From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works ‘em that if you now beheld them, your affections would become tender (5.1.16-18).” Ariel tells Prospero he believes that he will forgive them, after he sees them in the state they are in he will have compassion and