Explore Shakespeare’s Presentation of the Themes of Forgiveness and Reconciliation in “the Tempest”.
It can be argued that William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” is a play about forgiveness and reconciliation. The title, The Tempest is both literal and metaphorical. Shakespeare begins the play with a fierce storm which wrecks the courtier’s ship. I think this storm symbolises “the tempest of life” (i.e. the struggle of life) around which the play is based. Throughout the play, the aristocratic party is torn by conspiracy and betrayal between many different characters. In their attempts to gain power, they are constantly either at each other’s throats, or conspiring against one another, and “stirring like a storm.” The tempestuous imagery stays throughout the play until reconciliation occurs with the unity of the new generation, represented by Miranda and Ferdinand‘s marriage. This is linked to the end of the play where all the characters are reunited and either reconciled or forgiven by one another. It is a fact that these elements are at “the heart” of the play, but it can be questioned as to what extent the forgiveness and reconciliation are genuine. Prospero is a good example of this.
During Shakespeare’s time people were predominately Christian and believed in the “Bless them that curse you” morality. Prospero’s actions from the beginning of the play seem contradictory to this belief. He has the opportunity to take revenge on and potentially kill those who have wronged him when he wrecks their ship on the island. On one hand it is true that he does not intend to harm any of the men on the ship: we know this because he asks Ariel "But are they, Ariel, safe?" This demonstrates how he does have concern for the courtier’s well being. However, on the other hand, he puts Alonso through the sorrow and misery of believing that his son, Ferdinand, was killed in the wreck. Also he puts innocent, noble men through the suffering on the island to get his point across to the rest of the courtiers.
Later in the play, in act 5, scene 1, Ariel convinces Prospero to feel
During Shakespeare’s time people were predominately Christian and believed in the “Bless them that curse you” morality. Prospero’s actions from the beginning of the play seem contradictory to this belief. He has the opportunity to take revenge on and potentially kill those who have wronged him when he wrecks their ship on the island. On one hand it is true that he does not intend to harm any of the men on the ship: we know this because he asks Ariel "But are they, Ariel, safe?" This demonstrates how he does have concern for the courtier’s well being. However, on the other hand, he puts Alonso through the sorrow and misery of believing that his son, Ferdinand, was killed in the wreck. Also he puts innocent, noble men through the suffering on the island to get his point across to the rest of the courtiers.
Later in the play, in act 5, scene 1, Ariel convinces Prospero to feel