Commentary Act 5 Scene 1 25-57
This passage is taken from the play Tempest by William Shakespeare, Act 5 Scene 1 Lines
25-57. Prospero, the former Duke of Milan was usurped by his brother Antonio to which Prospero wants to seek revenge. Due to his intention to seek revenge, Prospero plans to confine the Nobles including Alonso and Sebastian, who helped Antonio and even Gonzalo, a righteous man. Ariel works as Prospero’s slave on the isle due to the confinement of Prospero using his magical powers. After a discussion between Prospero and Ariel, Prospero reveals his intention to forgive all of them for their sons and set them free. Through the usage of antithesis, personification and zoomorphism of the sea and the sky, and symbolization of the books, Shakespeare demonstrates that forgiveness leads to one’s mental growth seeking happiness.
Firstly, after …show more content…
Prospero clearly states, “But this rough magic/ I here abjure”(5.1.50-1). Prospero himself refers to his magic as ‘rough’ which demonstrates that he is aware of the effects of his actions. Despite keeping his enemies under control; he forgives them, help them recover ‘their senses’ and decide to throw away his tools of magic. Prospero sates that “I’ll break my staff,…I’ll drown my book”. The staff and the book symbolize Prospero’s absolute powers as Caliban states in Act 4 Scene 1 that Prospero is just a drunken fool without them. Prospero desire to abandon such a great source of high powers shows his mental growth due to him forgiving the people who greatly sinned against him. Shakespeare’s last play is said to be the Tempest, where Prospero is said to be a self-inserted Shakespeare. Propsero’s desire to give up his powers could also be interpreted as Shakespeare himself giving up his art of publishing plays. Therefore, through symbolization of the book and the staff as Propsero’s powers, Shakespeare displays the change in a character due to them inheriting the virtue of
This passage is taken from the play Tempest by William Shakespeare, Act 5 Scene 1 Lines
25-57. Prospero, the former Duke of Milan was usurped by his brother Antonio to which Prospero wants to seek revenge. Due to his intention to seek revenge, Prospero plans to confine the Nobles including Alonso and Sebastian, who helped Antonio and even Gonzalo, a righteous man. Ariel works as Prospero’s slave on the isle due to the confinement of Prospero using his magical powers. After a discussion between Prospero and Ariel, Prospero reveals his intention to forgive all of them for their sons and set them free. Through the usage of antithesis, personification and zoomorphism of the sea and the sky, and symbolization of the books, Shakespeare demonstrates that forgiveness leads to one’s mental growth seeking happiness.
Firstly, after …show more content…
Prospero clearly states, “But this rough magic/ I here abjure”(5.1.50-1). Prospero himself refers to his magic as ‘rough’ which demonstrates that he is aware of the effects of his actions. Despite keeping his enemies under control; he forgives them, help them recover ‘their senses’ and decide to throw away his tools of magic. Prospero sates that “I’ll break my staff,…I’ll drown my book”. The staff and the book symbolize Prospero’s absolute powers as Caliban states in Act 4 Scene 1 that Prospero is just a drunken fool without them. Prospero desire to abandon such a great source of high powers shows his mental growth due to him forgiving the people who greatly sinned against him. Shakespeare’s last play is said to be the Tempest, where Prospero is said to be a self-inserted Shakespeare. Propsero’s desire to give up his powers could also be interpreted as Shakespeare himself giving up his art of publishing plays. Therefore, through symbolization of the book and the staff as Propsero’s powers, Shakespeare displays the change in a character due to them inheriting the virtue of