Character Sketch of 'Prospero'
Prospero is the central character of the play "The tempest". From first to last he dominates the action and brings about a happy ending. Other characters in the play seem rather shadowy figures before him. He dominates and dominates over others and brooks no opposition to his stubborn self-will. He is a tyrant in his relation with Caliban who rises in revolt against him. He is not even humane to his "dainty Ariel".
When viewed from another angle, he compels our admiration in many ways. In the first place he is a most affectionate father. His life is wholly wrapped up in his daughter Miranda. His love for Miranda is unbounded. He can truthfully say,
"If I have done nothing in care of thee
Of thee, my dear one, thee my daughter".
She is to him, 'a loved darling','dear heart', 'a rich gift', 'a thread of his own life'. His tenderness and lovableness in his relation to Miranda, Ariel, the repentant sinners give a glowing human touch to his character. He forgives his brother Antonio who conspire against him. He sheds tears of joy when he meets Gonzalo, the good old courtier, in the island. Ariel is always to him "my brave spirit". When he grants Ariel freedom he blurts out saying with a surge of real emotion "I shall miss thee".
Prospero is a man of exceptional wisdom and serenity. He knows "when to exercise strength and when tenderness,when to be stern and when to forgive". As he has reached an advanced manhood he is capable of viewing life from an altitude of wisdom and serenity. He has a philosophic cast of mind which makes him look upon life and the world "as a baseless fabric of vision and man as being basically " made of such stuffs dreams are made on". Besides it is because of his philosophic calm born of his vast wisdom that he at times feels a sense of alienation from the common joys and sorrows of the world. This especial trait of Prospero has lead many a critic to identify him with Shakespeare.
Prospero's phenomenal power as a necromancer establishes his identity in the spirit world. He holds his sway over the forces of nature, over the mind of man at one and same time. Of course he uses his supernatural powers only to bring about the happiest results. He causes the tempest and the shipwreck only to overpower his enemies and not to destroy them. He frustrates and foils the sinister plots of the conspirators. He forgives Sebastian and Alonso and sets Ariel free. Thus the wrongs are righted, the lovers are made happy. The powerful magician retires into the solitude of Milan. An air of forgiveness and freedom hangs over the play. Prof. Dowden pertinently observes: ' Prospero's forgiveness is an embodiment of impartial wisdom and loving justice'. He is a lover of reconciliation and abhors vengeance. Prospero says, "The rarer action is virtue than in vengeance".
In fine we can say echoing the words of Gervinus that Prospero is a man whose moral excellence is more powerful than his magic, whose virtue conquers revenge.
Prospero is the central character of the play "The tempest". From first to last he dominates the action and brings about a happy ending. Other characters in the play seem rather shadowy figures before him. He dominates and dominates over others and brooks no opposition to his stubborn self-will. He is a tyrant in his relation with Caliban who rises in revolt against him. He is not even humane to his "dainty Ariel".
When viewed from another angle, he compels our admiration in many ways. In the first place he is a most affectionate father. His life is wholly wrapped up in his daughter Miranda. His love for Miranda is unbounded. He can truthfully say,
"If I have done nothing in care of thee
Of thee, my dear one, thee my daughter".
She is to him, 'a loved darling','dear heart', 'a rich gift', 'a thread of his own life'. His tenderness and lovableness in his relation to Miranda, Ariel, the repentant sinners give a glowing human touch to his character. He forgives his brother Antonio who conspire against him. He sheds tears of joy when he meets Gonzalo, the good old courtier, in the island. Ariel is always to him "my brave spirit". When he grants Ariel freedom he blurts out saying with a surge of real emotion "I shall miss thee".
Prospero is a man of exceptional wisdom and serenity. He knows "when to exercise strength and when tenderness,when to be stern and when to forgive". As he has reached an advanced manhood he is capable of viewing life from an altitude of wisdom and serenity. He has a philosophic cast of mind which makes him look upon life and the world "as a baseless fabric of vision and man as being basically " made of such stuffs dreams are made on". Besides it is because of his philosophic calm born of his vast wisdom that he at times feels a sense of alienation from the common joys and sorrows of the world. This especial trait of Prospero has lead many a critic to identify him with Shakespeare.
Prospero's phenomenal power as a necromancer establishes his identity in the spirit world. He holds his sway over the forces of nature, over the mind of man at one and same time. Of course he uses his supernatural powers only to bring about the happiest results. He causes the tempest and the shipwreck only to overpower his enemies and not to destroy them. He frustrates and foils the sinister plots of the conspirators. He forgives Sebastian and Alonso and sets Ariel free. Thus the wrongs are righted, the lovers are made happy. The powerful magician retires into the solitude of Milan. An air of forgiveness and freedom hangs over the play. Prof. Dowden pertinently observes: ' Prospero's forgiveness is an embodiment of impartial wisdom and loving justice'. He is a lover of reconciliation and abhors vengeance. Prospero says, "The rarer action is virtue than in vengeance".
In fine we can say echoing the words of Gervinus that Prospero is a man whose moral excellence is more powerful than his magic, whose virtue conquers revenge.
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