The definition of vengeance is punishment inflicted for injury or wrongdoing, or in simpler terms- revenge. When reading The Tempest, revenge is portrayed repeatedly throughout the play. Vengeance is a trait that Prospero has. Humans in general can resort to revenge when they are feeling strong, hateful feelings for someone. Therefore, there is more value in vengeance than virtue.
In The Tempest Prospero aspires revenge against his antagonists. The whole story line of the play is Prospero seeking revenge on his brother for deserting him and his three year old daughter, Miranda, on an island. In the play it reads:
"Let them be haunted soundly. At this hour
Lies at my mercy all mine enemies
Shortly shall my labors end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom. For a little
Follow and do me service."
(Act 4: Sc. 1: Lines 291-295)
In this quote, Prospero is speaking with Ariel …show more content…
When something bad happens in a person's life, they want to have pay back. They have "an eye for an eye" attitude. Some people cannot help it. They were born this way. However, others are more spiteful. Ian McKee, PhD, a social psychologist from Adelaide University in Australia, comments that "people who are more vengeful tend to be those who are motivated by power, by authority, and by desire for status," In addition, "they don't want to lose face." Prospero has all of these qualities. He is motivated to get back at his brother Antonio. He also has the desire to take back his place of the dukedom. In these cases, vengeance is valued greater than virtue.
Some may say that virtue is valued more than vengeance, because virtue is the behavior of showing high moral standards. Some people interpret that he values virtue more because even though he seeks revenge on his enemies, he forgives them in the end. However, because Prospero had to use vengeance it shows that his moral standards are not at the highest point , like someone who has virtue
In The Tempest Prospero aspires revenge against his antagonists. The whole story line of the play is Prospero seeking revenge on his brother for deserting him and his three year old daughter, Miranda, on an island. In the play it reads:
"Let them be haunted soundly. At this hour
Lies at my mercy all mine enemies
Shortly shall my labors end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom. For a little
Follow and do me service."
(Act 4: Sc. 1: Lines 291-295)
In this quote, Prospero is speaking with Ariel …show more content…
When something bad happens in a person's life, they want to have pay back. They have "an eye for an eye" attitude. Some people cannot help it. They were born this way. However, others are more spiteful. Ian McKee, PhD, a social psychologist from Adelaide University in Australia, comments that "people who are more vengeful tend to be those who are motivated by power, by authority, and by desire for status," In addition, "they don't want to lose face." Prospero has all of these qualities. He is motivated to get back at his brother Antonio. He also has the desire to take back his place of the dukedom. In these cases, vengeance is valued greater than virtue.
Some may say that virtue is valued more than vengeance, because virtue is the behavior of showing high moral standards. Some people interpret that he values virtue more because even though he seeks revenge on his enemies, he forgives them in the end. However, because Prospero had to use vengeance it shows that his moral standards are not at the highest point , like someone who has virtue