The Tempest Forgiveness Essay

“Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness” (Corrie Ten Boom, Jesus is Victor 95). Believed to have been written in 1610-11, The Tempest by William Shakespeare acquaints readers with Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, who was exiled to an island with his daughter Miranda so that his brothers can rule the kingdom. After causing his brothers to believe that their ship has wrecked, through the power of magic, Prospero constructs various obstacles for his brothers to be put through in an effort to get revenge on them for leaving him to die. Having sought out various revengeful options, Prospero learns that the best form of revenge he can get on his brothers, using justice and mercy, is the act of simple forgiveness. Prospero, a rightful Duke turned sorcerer, possesses magical powers due to extensive learning and reading from his collection of books. Using his magic, Prospero frees Ariel from the tree in which he was imprisoned by Sycorax, the witch who ruled the island before Prospero’s arrival. Having promised him on one condition, Prospero tells Ariel that he must follow the rest of his commands and that he will grant …show more content…
Amanda Mabillard states, “Prospero feels free to forgive those who sinned against him only after he has emerged triumphant and has seen the men, now mournful and “penitent”, pay for their transgressions” (“Forgiveness and Reconciliation in The Tempest.” Shakespeare Online). Prospero, even though he has them at his mercy, the way of forgiveness and reconciliation, in his opinion, is the better way to get revenge on the others, so he chooses