In The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1, what does Alonso mean when he says, "Irreparable is the loss, an patience Says it is past her cure"?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In this quote, Alonso is referring to the loss of his son, Ferdinand (whom Alonso believes was drowned in the shipwreck). Alonso will never get his son back ("irreparable is the loss"). Alonso then personifies "patience" by stating that even having patience will not cure the feelings grief and loss he has in losing a son. His son will never return.

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial Team