7.1.1

Overview

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Overview of Act 5

Here is an overview of the key ideas and themes of Act 5:

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Forgiveness

  • Prospero forgives all of the people who have betrayed him in this scene - even if they don't seem particularly remorseful.
  • This shows that he is virtuous and a more noble man than the others.
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Illusion

  • In the final scene and The Epilogue, Shakespeare reveals several illusions, from the hidden ship to the fact that Ferdinand is still alive.
  • In The Epilogue, Prospero speaks to the audience, asking them to release him from his own service to them (by applauding his performance).
    • This reminds the audience that it is all illusion and trickery.

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