The Tempest Act 5

Which characters are dynamic? For example, which characters are repentant? Why?

Alonso and Caliban are dynamic. Alonso is dynamic and remorseful because he came to the realization that what he did to Prospero and Miranda is very wrong, and proves this by giving Prospero his old position back. And Caliban is also dynamic because he went from wanting to kill Prospero in Act 4 to begging for forgiveness and apologizing for ever serving Stephano in place of Prospero in Act 5. He proves this by going and continuing his servitude to Prospero by going to clean his room.

How does Ariel describe the three tranced men, especially Gonzalo? What does Ariel imply he would do if he were Prospero? Why?

Ariel describes Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio as three crazed men, while the rest of the nobility grieve heavily over them, especially Gonzalo who has tears running down his face. Ariel says that if he were human like Prospero he would feel sorry for them because of how out of state they are.

What does Prospero decide to do about those who wronged him? Why?

Prospero decides to forgive and reconcile with them. He doesn't do any harm to any of them. He does this because he knows that revenge won't solve anything, especially as they show understanding for the wrong that they did to him.

Why does Prospero make a costume change? How does his new costume indirectly characterize him?

Prospero makes a costume to change to symbolize him throwing away his life as a magician away. It indirectly characterizes him as more serious about his life and job as the Duke of Milan, and how he is starting fresh with nothing to distract him.

What does Prospero promise to tell to everyone? How does Prospero "break the fourth wall" to the audience? What does he say will finally free him from the island and return to Naples?

Prospero promises to tell everyone how Miranda and he survived the island and what their life had been like for the past 12 years. Prospero "breaks the fourth wall" in the epilogue when he asks the audience to do their part when he had already finished his by imagining him as the Duke of Milan and showing that they are by applauding. He says this is the only way he will get set free from the island and be able to return to Europe, if the audience applauses and approves of him.

What was Prospero's tragic flaw, and what theme is implied based on what happened to Prospero twelve years ago? What did Prospero neglect? Why?

Prospero's tragic flaw is that he is too trustworthy and negligent. The theme that is implied is revenge because 12 years ago Prospero got betrayed and that would seem to be the likely response to what happened. But Prospero neglected to realize that he is too trustworthy and caring. That's why he couldn't go through with it. And why he got rid of his magic so he can try to conform to what he thinks he has to be as for a betrayal to not happen again. He blames himself only instead of the people actually at fault.

Who does not show remorse to Prospero for what they did to him? How are these characters static? Why?

Sebastian and Antonio show no remorse towards Prospero. They barely even say or do anything throughout the whole act. These characters are static because they are still the same selfish people lusting over having as much power as they can, even if they are hurting others.

The Tempest was Shakespeare's last play that he wrote by himself. Why do some critics believe that Prospero is a metaphor for Shakespeare himself?

Some critics believe that Prospero represents Shakespeare himself because of the commentary about old age in the book. Prospero mentions how he is going to die soon in Act 5, and Shakespeare wrote the Tempest about 6 years before he died. I agree with this because of that reason and because of all the power Prospero put into books. Caliban mentioned before that you can't defeat Prospero unless you completely destroy his books and I feel like the same thing applies to Shakespeare.

The Tempest was Shakespeare's last play that he wrote by himself. Why do some critics believe that Prospero represents Shakespeare himself? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Some critics believe that Prospero represents Shakespeare himself because of the commentary about old age in the book. Prospero mentions how he is going to die soon in Act 5, and Shakespeare wrote the Tempest about 6 years before he died. I agree with this because of that reason and because of all the power Prospero put into books. Caliban mentioned before that you can't defeat Prospero unless you completely destroy his books and I feel like the same thing applies to Shakespeare.

What can Ferdinand and Miranda's game of chess that they're playing symbolize? How? How does Miranda feel about returning to Naples, being off the island, and being Ferdinand's wife?

The goal of chess is to capture the king and they are playing chess when the nobility from Europe finally meet up with the rest of the people on the island, symbolizing the King getting captured. Miranda is very excited about returning to Naples and is curious on all the people and how life would be there. And as she is truly in love with Ferdinand, in her eyes there is nothing better than to be his wife.

What is the implied resolution? What conflicts are resolved? Which conflicts aren't resolved? Why?

The implied resolution is that everything is forgiven and forgotten and everybody on the island will go back to Europe in the morning. The conflicts that are resolved are Prospero's relationship with all the nobility and Caliban. He forgave them so their relationship is restored. The only conflict that isn't resolved is Antonio and Sebastian versus Alonso. It can be assumed that they still want to go through with the plan especially since the audience hasn't seen a moment where they could have killed him, so that is assumed to still be a problem that needs to be solved.

If Prospero is supposed to represent King James I, Shakespeare's benefactor, how does Shakespeare's portrayal of Prospero flatter King James I?

The portrayal flatters King James I because in the end Prospero ended up being the good guy, and he made what seem to be good decisions throughout the entire play. In the beginning he seemed vengeful but for right reasons, but he decided forgiveness is the best option and he also didn't throw Sebastian and Antonio under the bus as traitors when he could have easily done so. He is shown as a loving father to Miranda and also Ferdinand and in the end of the play is very nice to Ariel as well. He doesn't have considerable negative traits to him, which would be considered a very big compliment to the King at the time.

What does Prospero's decision imply as a theme? Why?

The theme of The Tempest is largely reconciliation and forgiveness, but also areas of betrayal and love. The whole story started off because of betrayal but through the decision of figuring out that enacting revenge on people who did you wrong is not the best decision to make, the only other good option there is is to forgive and recreate a new relationship after understanding that there has been a change on the personalities of both parties.

What does Prospero do to begin the process of giving up his magical abilities? Why is Prospero a "good" magician instead of, for example, the witches in Macbeth?

To begin the process of giving up his magical abilities Prospero destroys his magic staff and drowns his magic book. He also changes his clothes from magicians clothes to politicians clothes. Prospero could be considered a "good" magician rather than the witches in Macbeth because in the end he caused no harm or major suffering to anyone like he planned to. But the witches were the reason Macbeth ended up dying in the last act of the book Macbeth.