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The distinguishing feature of all Shakespeare works is that all the parts of the masterpiece is with strong correlation of the entire the, e even thought they may tell about different points and principles. The scene described in The Tempest, in Act 5, scene 1, lines 33 - 57 is not an exception. I would say that this scene only strengthens the position of the author towards the characters shown throught the work. In general, The Tempest is a play within a play.
The main character, Prospero is the person that directs the play throughout most of the book. He is the person that even though he had his dukedom taken away he ended up being in total power over the island. By the end of his story he shows how he realizes that he doesn't really even need power at all. He realizes that if he has too much power over people that they can't choose for themselves. In 20 lines Shakespeare is able to write an excellent ending to his play, while speaking through his characters about Shakespeare's own life and career. Even more amazingly, he seamlessly ties the two together.
In the context of the story Prospero's monologue makes perfect sense. He has lost his magical power, so his "charms are o'er thrown, and what strength [Prospero] have's [his] own, which is most faint. " He is now "confined" on the Island, for his other choice would be to go to Naples and reclaim his dukedom, but he doesn't want to do that because he has already "pardoned the deceiver" who took his position many years ago. Prospero then says something a little strange, but it makes sense in the context of the story, he ask us to "release [him] from [his] bands with the help of your good hands. " In other words, clap so that the sails of the boats his friends are riding in will be safely returned and Prospero can be "relieved by prayer" of the audience. All of what Prospero has said is very nice cute, but the most interesting part of this monologue is what Shakespeare himself is saying. "Now that my charms are all o'er thrown, and what strength I have's mine own" means, now my plays are over, and it's no longer my characters speaking. The "Island" or stage Shakespeare is on is now "bare" and it is time for "you" the audience to release Shakespeare and his actors from this play with the "help of [y]our good hands. " Shakespeare was not only being released for the performance of the play, he was being release from his career as a playwright.
But there are more reasons to clap besides the obvious reason that the play is over, Shakespeare could not allow his final play to be bad, his project "was to please. " He reiterates this point by saying "and my ending is despair unless I be relieved by prayer", or the clapping of the audience and it frees "all faults" and allows Shakespeare to indulge the clapping and joy of the audience. Finally, after we seperate the two different perspectives, we can step back and see how Shakespeare magically works them together. The first such pun is on the word "faint", in the third line. Prospero uses faint to describe his strength, but Shakespeare makes it a pun on the pun he is making! Let me explain, faint means light (amoung other things), which means light hearted, or fun. As if you thought this wasn't confusing enough already, you could put a pun on the pun on the pun!
Again, let me explain, faint can also mean hard to see, like the pun on the pun! That might be pushing it a little, though. In Act 5, scene Prospero tries to define and analyze the situation: Have I given fire and rifted Jove's stout oak With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory Have I made shake and by the spurs pluck'd up The pine and cedar: graves at my command Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth By my so potent art. But this rough magic I here abjure, and, when I have required Some heavenly music, which even now I do, To work mine end upon their senses that This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth One more time, this proves that the Tempest reflects Shakespeare's society through the relationship between characters, especially between Prospero and Caliban. Caliban, who was the previous king of the island, is taught how to be "civilized" by Prospero and his daughter Miranda. Then he is forced to be their servant.
Caliban explains: "Thou stroke me and make much of me; wouldst give me Water with berries in t; and teach me how to name the bigger light, how the less, That burn by day and night; and then I love thee, And show thee all the qualities o th isle, ... For I am all the subjects you have, which first was mine own king. " (I, ii, 333 - 342) We see he is treated as a lesser being because he is not of the same race as Prospero and Miranda. Prospero describes him as, "A freckled whelp hag-born - not honour with a human shape. " (I, ii, 283 - 284) Clearly, the people of different races were treated as inferior human beings in Shakespeare's time. In this culture, because someone is different, they are less of a human.
Financial status also plays a major role in social classifications. During the time of The Tempest, Dukes and Earls, who were among the nobles, were considered to be superior even to other members of their own race. The nobles had servants and commoners who worked for them. Shakespeare shows us an example of this with the relationship between his characters of Sebastian and Antonio and of the Boatswain and the sailors. Sebastian yells at the sailors, "A pox o your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, in charitable dog!" (I, i, 39 - 40), implying that they are inferior and are there to serve him. Antonio also shows he believes himself superior by stating to the Boatswain, "Hang, cur!
Hang, you whoreson, insolent, noise-maker. We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art. " (I, i, 42 - 44) These men were of the same skin color, hair texture, and eye color, but were treated inferior due to their financial status and "inferior" blood line. Women had also fallen victim to this hierarchical society. During this era women were considered to be objects and were treated as property. Shakespeare presents this in the treatment of Claribel, daughter of Alonso, and Miranda, daughter of Prospero, by their fathers. Gonzalo shows us his heart when he sees Ariel enter with the Boatswain and sailors.
He refers to them as, "here is more of us, " (V, i, 216) showing he considers the Boatswain and sailors his equal. In these two characters, Shakespeare is saying that not all men are egotistical and perceive themselves above others. From being treated inferior, people start to believe themselves inferior. From being unjustly treated, Caliban thinks himself inferior to Prospero's race.
We all know, however, that this hierarchical mind set still lurks around every corner in todays culture. It may not go as far as forcing someone to be your servant, but it lives in the form of discrimination and segregation. Because of many years of inferior treatment, many people feel they either can not succeed or that it will be more difficult for them than those of the "right" race or financial bracket. It is not that the people today feel inferior, its that they feel they will not get a fair chance. It is commonly believed that the people of "inferior" races or monetary status will not get picked for jobs, or other discriminatory acts will be performed against them. The two cultures are quite different, but they also have some slight similarities.
Our culture is over three-hundred years older than that of Shakespeare, which should make our society more mature in its actions and attitude. We should have learned that all men truly are equal and should be treated accordingly. But all three-hundred years has taught us was how to be more discreet in our actions and feelings by giving them pretty names or keeping them out of the public eye. These two cultures may appear very different but actually are a lot closer than most of society would have us believe. It is something that naturally happens in life and can not be avoided. Prospero tells the audience that they are the magic of the Tempest, and they have made all of the magic work.
Prospero says nothing about using magic to alter reality, but the audience knows how he has used magic to alter reality. Prospero tells the audience that they have to cast a spell because he is no longer using magic for good or evil purposes. Prospero has stepped into his own reality and is taking responsibility for his actions by giving up his magic. Prospero, then, tells the audience that they have the power to send him home or let him stay on the island. The audience now realizes that he has no power to do anything about their decision of what happens to him, but they now know that Prospero has given them the power to use the magic. Prospero asks the audience to take over his role as a magician.
Prospero tells the audience: "Dwell in this bare island by your spell. " (Act V, Epilogue, ll. 6 - 7) Prospero is telling the audience that they are the ones responsible for what happens to him. Prospero adds on, "But release me from my bands with the help of your good hands. Gentle breath of yours my sails must fill, or else my project fails. " (Act V, Epilogue, ll. 9 - 12) Prospero puts his fate in the audience s hands, and they are to decide what happens to him based on what has happened in the play. Prospero tells the audience that they must applaud and pray for him to be set free. Now that Prospero has told the audience about the spell and them being the new master magicians, he must now tell the audience to make him real in their minds. "Unless I be relieved by prayer, which pierces so that it assaults mercy itself and frees all faults. " (Act V, Epilogue, ll. 16 - 18) Prospero tells the audience that they are making him real in their minds now and are becoming part of the play.
Now the audience has total control to send Prospero back to Naples or keep him on the island. Prospero tells the audience all of this to make them see the world through his eyes. Without telling the audience these final words they would have never thought about making Prospero real in their minds. When they make Prospero real in their minds, they can live the life of Prospero on the island or in Naples. It is up to the audience where he is to go and what life he lives, this is the magic of the play. Magic can alter the reality and perspective how one looks at life.
In the Tempest, Prospero has the ability to cast spells that alter one s perspective of reality. One may say that reality is intangible, but one can grasp the concept of what is stands for. Magic can throw that concept away. If one sees magic in progress it will alter the true vision of reality. Whenever magic verses reality a group can not describe what the feel or see. The concept of magic and reality is different to everyone.
Reality or magic, they re both what one makes them to be. The thing about Shakespeare is anything is possible. Another, less obvious but more significant double meaning is on the word "please" on line 13. Prospero is literally saying his goal was to make the people on the Island happy, Shakespeare is saying his goal was to please his audience. Shakespeare was without a doubt is one of the greatest authors of all time, this Epilogue clearly shows us that.
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