The Tempest by William Shakespeare Literature Analysis Essay

How has Shakespeare influenced modern society? Well did you know that just within Act 1 he already set us off on an adventure into our own minds thinking about how The Tempest is steeped in magic and illusion? Shakespeare uses “the storm” to allow the audience to realize that just within the opening scene the play, “contains spectacle, in the form of the howling storm (the “tempest” of the play’s title) tossing the little ship about and threatening to kill the characters before the play has even begun.” William Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, uses the development of virtue and vengeance throughout his characters to explore the difference between what is right and wrong. This theory developed throughout the play influencing many character choices and the spectrums of how they act. During this literary analysis you will come to find that in Shakespeare's play he uses elements like characters, setting, tone, and imagery to create certain effects while looking into the theme of virtue and vengeance. 

In Shakespeare's play (The Tempest), on lines 27-28 of Act V, his character Prospero says to Ariel, “The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance” which demonstrates the range of uniqueness Prospero holds together. This allows Shakespeare to use Prospero as a manipulator of power throughout the play by playing his cards correctly, but also turns the table to use Prospero to forgive and sympathize. Shakespeare’s intended audience is put through the confusion of Prospero while he chooses vengeance over virtue until a great twist at the end. And while taking his vengefulness out on his brother throughout the play he learns just like the rest of us to forgive.

In the play, The Tempest, Caliban fools us into the uplifting statement of, “Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices That, if I then had waked after long sleep Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming The clouds methought would open and show riches Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked I cried to dream again (III.ii.130–138).” This quote is one of the most poetic quotes throughout this play but shows Caliban to be capable of using speech in a most sensitive way. He seems to be a complex character with a complex nature while simply wanting to rid the island and himself from the pain and suffering of the world. My analysis on this is that when Caliban says his quote he is speaking beautifully about what the right way of living should be and about the forcingly respected Prospero. He shouldn’t be “afeard” to do what he thinks is the right thing to do even when he may be in the wrong.

During, The Tempest,  Prospero has said a number of alarming things to his servants which are, “If thou neglect’st or dost unwillingly / What I command, I’ll rack thee with old cramps, / Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar” (I.ii.). Prospero also makes harsh threats against his other servant Ariel like, “If thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak / And peg thee in his knotty entrails” (I.ii.). Not only do Prospero’s threats prove his cruelty but also shows he has a domineering nature. The vengeance within the character Prospero is alarming but also a virtue in other times. He may even be a mad-man but knowing of Prospero’s arrogance, he is the main protagonist and sets the scene leading back to him in almost all scenarios. Making him not only the duke of Mulan, but the most twisted, artistic character of Shakespeare. 

Since the beginning of Shakespeare's writing days he has proven that he has great power and the ability to make us question him and ourselves when writing. He has proven to teach us the humanity within ourselves is most important when it comes to living and forging it into his writing has given us the ability to forgive when one has been wronged. Virtue and vengeance throughout Shakespeare's characters gives his readers insight on what can be right and wrong and doing so his characters may encourage change. Above all Shakespeare is an inspiring man who not only created 1700 of our words today but had also taught people that, “The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance” and “Be not afeard."