The Tempest Forgiveness Essay
To man, forgiveness is such a natural element, that hatred, even in the most opportune situations, is forgotten. In The Tempest, Shakespeare delivers this insightful message through Prospero, a complex and angered individual, with the relationships he shares and the magical abilities he possesses. Mistreated by those he least expected, Prospero, in an attempt to regain his lost honor, seeks revenge. However, it is in this process that he is able to learn the reality of what it means to be at peace and thus, forgives. Similarly, notable social activist, Desmond Tutu, describes his ideology on forgiveness, as well as the experiences that aided him towards this understanding, in his article, Desmond Tutu: ‘I am sorry’ – the three hardest words
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Desmond Tutu supports this idea of empathy by recounting the painful experience of witnessing his father abuse his mother. He feels irritation in remembering this event, but considering his father’s situation, he asks himself, “If I traded lives with my father . . . would I have behaved as he did?” (Tutu). This reflection allows him to forgive his father. To conclude, forgiveness is the result of empathy in both situations, which is achieved through calmness and the containment of emotions; contrarily, an emotional state is required to attend remorse. To forgive is less challenging when there is remorse, as, satisfyingly for the forgiver, it is longed for. The King of Naples, Alonso, substantially supported Antonio in his attempt to overthrow Prospero, for who he had much dislike. However, due to his involvement, he later feels guilt and desperately seeks forgiveness, as shown when he says, “The dukedom I resign, and do entreat thou pardon my wrongs” (V. i. 118-119). Seeing this remorse, Prospero is willing to forgive Alonso, as he does while embracing him, for the reason that he has been “paid back in some way” (Tutu). In truth, Alonso is a respectable individual, as Prospero understands when he observes him grieve over his sins and the loss of his son, that was,
Desmond Tutu supports this idea of empathy by recounting the painful experience of witnessing his father abuse his mother. He feels irritation in remembering this event, but considering his father’s situation, he asks himself, “If I traded lives with my father . . . would I have behaved as he did?” (Tutu). This reflection allows him to forgive his father. To conclude, forgiveness is the result of empathy in both situations, which is achieved through calmness and the containment of emotions; contrarily, an emotional state is required to attend remorse. To forgive is less challenging when there is remorse, as, satisfyingly for the forgiver, it is longed for. The King of Naples, Alonso, substantially supported Antonio in his attempt to overthrow Prospero, for who he had much dislike. However, due to his involvement, he later feels guilt and desperately seeks forgiveness, as shown when he says, “The dukedom I resign, and do entreat thou pardon my wrongs” (V. i. 118-119). Seeing this remorse, Prospero is willing to forgive Alonso, as he does while embracing him, for the reason that he has been “paid back in some way” (Tutu). In truth, Alonso is a respectable individual, as Prospero understands when he observes him grieve over his sins and the loss of his son, that was,