(What kind of a character is Prospero? Do you sympathize with him?)
Upon first meeting the character of Prospero one might assume that he is extremely self-centered and egotistical through the means of his long-winded story telling and constant preaching to his daughter Miranda. One might also consider Prospero to be vindictive by nature as is portrayed in the deceitful tempest he delivers unto the ship carrying his brother Antonio and his followers and crew. Finally, one might argue that Prospero is cruel as is shown in his treatment of Caliban and Ariel. However; I do not feel these descriptions of Prospero are necessarily the case keeping in mind the situation that put him in the position he is in now in the first place. With these thoughts in mind, Prospero is most certainly a character that an audience is able to sympathize with. He has been removed from his title, his home, and his family by his own brother Antonio. With these deceits carried out by his brother, it should most importantly be noted that Prospero's ability to trust has been stolen as well. Antonio not only usurped Prospero's position of the throne but also ordered Prospero to be killed. It is with this knowledge that Prospero's trickery should be forgiven as he portrays his forgiving self in the final epilogue of The Tempest. "Unless I be relieved by prayer, / Which pierces so, that it assaults / Mercy itself, and frees all faults. / As you from crimes would pardoned be, / Let your indulgence set me free." Prospero has forgiven the wrongs that were done unto him and begs for the forgiveness of those that he has wronged himself.
Niki-
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As usual, I agree with my master Petrucchio. Prospero is one deserving of sympathy from many. He has been treated with cruelty by being forced to remove his title and also his home. His brother is not a nice person, and because of that, has made him into the man he is today. With his last line that Petrucchio quotes, he is saying that he should be forgiven. Had it not been for this last line and this speech, my feelings for him would be different. However, in this speech he laments the things he did wrong and asks for forgiveness. His farewell to magic (also perhaps Shakespeare's farewell to writing) and also his willingness to forgive changes my view. He puts himself in a very vulnerable fashion, open for whatever anyone can throw his way. This shows that he is a strong character, a man to be respected rather than shunned.
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