Forgiveness

In Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, forgiveness is an important theme. Prospero turns out to be a very forgiving man who has the power to hurt or even kill the people who have betrayed him in the past, but instead he rises above and forgives them.

                Prospero was wronged twelve years ago by his brother and the king and was forced to live on the island with his daughter. After he causes the tempest that brings the betrayers to his island, he casts spells on them during their stay.  After he casts spells on them and punishes them for a short time he forgives all of them, even those who plotted to kill him while on the island. He calls everyone to his home and forgives each of them individually. He forgives his brother for his ambition by saying, “You, brother mine, that entertained ambition,/ Expelled remorse and nature, who, with Sebastian/ Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong/ Would here have killed your king, I do forgive thee”(5.1.75-79). When he forgives all the people who have done him wrong, Prospero shows that he is a bigger person. It takes a lot to forgive someone for ruining not only your life but the life of your daughter. They were taken from their respectful situations and have been secluded from the world for twelve years. Prospero is even big enough to forgive Stephano and Trinculo who plotted with Caliban to murder him in his sleep. He simply says that they are stupid drunks and lets them go. This doesn’t seem realistic. What kind of man would be able to shrug off and forgive someone who wanted to kill them?   

It would be very easy for anyone to remain angry and hold a grudge for something like this but Prospero instead is able to rise above for the good of his daughter and forgive everyone. He wants the best for his daughter and by making amends he will restore her place in royalty in Naples.