Explore Shakespeare’s Presentation of the Themes of...

It can be argued that William Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Tempest† is a play about forgiveness and reconciliation. The title, The Tempest is both literal and metaphorical. Shakespeare begins the play with a fierce storm which wrecks the courtier’s ship. I think this storm symbolises â€Å"the tempest of life† (i.e. the struggle of life) around which the play is based. Throughout the play, the aristocratic party is torn by conspiracy and betrayal between many different characters. In their attempts to gain power, they are constantly either at each other’s throats, or conspiring against one another, and â€Å"stirring like a storm.† The tempestuous imagery stays throughout the play until reconciliation occurs with the unity of the new generation, represented†¦show more content†¦Shakespeare uses apostrophes in this play as there is a considerable amount of information to convey, and this compacts the speech. However, this positive relation ship ended when Caliban attempted to rape Miranda. Prospero then made Caliban his slave and now punishes him using his magic, often in the form of sprites which torment Caliban. Caliban has spent all of his life on this island and is a being who is uncontaminated by the effects of civilization and class. Yet, he easily is tempted by the worst that ‘civilisation’ can offer to the island, alcohol. When he meets Stefano and Trinculo, Caliban gets drunk with them and, in return, coaxes them to help plan to murder Prospero and Miranda and take over the Island. Some people suggest that Caliban’s plotting to kill Prospero is justified. However, Shakespeare does not ratify this vengeance. Prospero has made Caliban his slave, but he had just cause to, and he does not threaten Caliban with death at all. Prospero shows little or no forgiveness towards Caliban. The only slight hint of forgiveness is hidden in an order, â€Å"Go, sirrah, to my cell;/ Take with you your comp anions; as you look/ To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.† Prospero also announces to Caliban: â€Å"This thing of darkness, I/ Acknowledge as mine.† Prospero’s referral to Caliban as â€Å"This thing of darknessâ€Å" demonstrates how Prospero sees