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The Tempest Forgiveness Essay

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Is it better to have forgiveness or to get revenge? Throughout The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Prospero displays both of these traits. As the play goes on more and more of her plan is revealed and it appears she wants revenge but in the end, she chose to forgive them. That is because there is more value in forgiving someone than getting revenge on them. The difference between forgiving someone and getting revenge on someone is that revenge can hurt more people than helps. In Act 3 Caliban asks Stephano "Wilt thou destroy her*" This shows that the only thing Caliban cares about is revenge and killing Prospero (Shakespeare Act 3 106). Had Stephano succeeded in killing Prospero, then Miranda would have been hurt by the loss of her mother and Miranda and Ferdinand may have died or not been found as no one else knew where they were. Later in the story, Prospero chooses to forgive Caliban for trying to kill her as she knows all the terrible things she made him do …show more content…

Prospero was betrayed by Antonio who had an "evil nature" and with the help of the king from Naples banished her (Shakespeare Act 1 93). A betrayal like this would be devastating for anyone but the fact it's her brother makes it hurt so much more. Later in the play when Prospero meets King Alonso, her brother Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo she chooses to forgive them for banishing her and she even "brings them to their ship" so they can return to Naples (Shakespeare Act 5 306). Had Prospero chosen revenge she most likely would have left them on the island and they would have died which would have taken Ferdinand's father from him and their deaths would be on her conscience. When a person chooses to take revenge instead of forgiving someone they kill or hurt people to make themselves feel

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