The Tempest as Shakespeares Resignation Speech -- Tempest essays

The Tempest as Shakespeares Resignation Speech In Shakespeares, The Tempest, the character Prospero is in many ways similar to Shakespeare himself at the time he wrote the play. Prospero, having entertained himself with his magic for most of his life, now gives up his powers as he seems to understand that his magic is no more and no less than life itself it is dear as transitory and hollow. This seems to reflect on Shakespeares attitude toward play writing. Having spent his life writing plays and being entertained by his own employment, Shakespeare finds that his plays, while they look for the themes of life and relationship, are finally no more meaningful than life itself seems to a man who must have been feeling his mortality. The Tempest is Shakespeares resignation speech. Having run aground that his magic has failed him, Shakespeare is retiring to the real world, for if nothing of meaning is to be gained in play writing, then all that is left is to be human. First, look at Prosperos final determination in the play. He is capable of returning to Milan and ruling it while keeping his magical power - he does not have to choose between the deuce - and he abandons his power. Just as Shakespeare was not forced to quit writing, Prospero is not forced to abandon his magic. In addition, Shakespeare specifically has Prospero tell us My charms crack not, my hard liquor obey, ... ( V.i 2 ). Shakespeare means to tell the audience he is not quitting because his ability as a writer is lessening at all, but specifically tells us through Prospero that he is at his peak and is completely in command of his art. There is no other obvious thematic or plot-development reason why Prospero should specifically ... ...total lack of morality, or Hotspurs view of absolute honor, had some doubt to it, or could be thought of differently. Prosperos argument here is irrefutable. Nothing he presents is in any way iffy or doubtable. This is Shakespeares final conclusion plays, like life, fade into nothing, and nothing is left worth doing but to be what we are human, and mortal. Works Cited and Consulted Bloom, Harold. current Critical Interpretations William Shakespeares The Tempest. New York Chelsea House Publishers, 1997. Davidson, Frank. The Tempest An Interpretation. In The Tempest A Casebook. Ed. D.J. Palmer. London Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1968. 225. Shakespeare, William, 1998. The Tempest. Oxford Oxford University Press. 1998 Webster, Margaret. Shakespeare Without Tears. Greenwich Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1996.