Analysis of Act 5 line and the Epilogue of ‘The Tempest’

One interpretation of ‘The Tempest’ identifies Prospero with William Shakespeare himself. Like Prospero, Shakespeare was an artist and one may say a kind of magician who created characters and dramas to entertain and enlighten. In his epilogue, Shakespeare, has the character Prospero ask us, the audience, to confirm our collusion with both the master and his creature. Indeed the two relationships reciprocal. We are asked to release Prospero from our "spell" by "prayer".

In the context of the story Prospero’s monologue makes perfect sense. He has lost his magical power, so his "…charms are o’erthrown, And what strength I have’s mine 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

Ferdinand and Miranda metaphorically reduce their parents' political wrangling over "kingdoms" into a game of chess. Allegorically, the game of chess often represented political conflict over a prize, and here, the stakes are the realm that Miranda and Ferdinand will inherit. Although Ferdinand and Miranda are a confirmed couple by the end of the play, their discussion over the game foreshadows some political movement looming in their own future. Miranda makes an accusation, at least partly in jest, that Ferdinand will "play [her] false"; the baseless charge recalls Prospero's false cry of treason against Ferdinand, in the first act. Yet, Miranda openly admits to complicity in any cheating that Ferdinand might commit: "for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, and I would call it fair play," she assures him, her remark forecasting that the same ambition, deceit, and struggle that marked their parents' lives shall also be present in their own.

The famously sweet scene of Ferdinand playing chess with Miranda occurs. King Alonso is overjoyed to see his son Ferdinand and soon learns of Ferdinand's imminent marriage to Miranda.

to do that because he has already "pardoned the deceiver" who took his position many yea

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