The Tempest Group

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aneema
aneema
Student
College - Junior

Towards the climax of The Tempest, why does Prospero forgive all?

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Posted by aneema on Monday July 20, 2009 at 9:42 PM and tagged with characters, climax, forgiveness, prospero, the tempest.

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  1. hillp
    hillp

    eNotes Editor

    Prospero begins to realize that he has brought much of his grief on himself. Upon arriving on the island, he makes slaves of Ariel and Caliban, has Ariel create a storm in order to shipwreck his old enemies, and even captures Ferdinand, the man his daughter Miranda loves. Prospero initially does these things in retaliation for losing his title as the Duke of Milan and having to flee his homeland for the remote island. But Prospero soon learns that denying others their freedom does not return him his own. The freedom he really longs for is emotional freedom, and the only way to achieve true peace of mind is to set free those he has enslaved and forgive them for any wrongs they have committed against him. Only through genuine forgiveness can the duke regain both his peace of mind and his throne. 

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    Posted by hillp on Tuesday July 21, 2009 at 11:30 AM