7.1.2
Scene 1
Summary of Act 5, Scene 1 - Part 1
Summary of Act 5, Scene 1 - Part 1
Prospero forgives the King, has his status restored and reveals that Ferdinand is still alive.
Prospero becomes a Duke again
Prospero becomes a Duke again
- Ariel reveals the sorrowful (sad) state the royal party are in. He goes to collect them to bring them to Prospero.
- Prospero soliloquises (talks in a speech to the audience alone) about all his magic has achieved during the course of the play.
- Dressed as the Duke of Milan, Prospero has Ariel place the royal party around him before snapping them out of a magical trance and reconciling with the remorseful King Alonso who treated Prospero 'most cruelly'.
- The King then immediately returns Prospero’s title back to him.
Prospero forgives
Prospero forgives
- Prospero embraces the 'honourable man' Gonzalo, then turns to Antonio and Sebastian.
- Instead of charging them as traitors, Prospero shows forgiveness. He allows the ever important religious virtues to win: 'The rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance.'
- As the Bible teaches, it is better to forgive than avenge. Neither Antonio nor Sebastian offers a sincere apology. We don't get the sense they regret their actions either.
- The contrast highlights the positive characteristics of their brothers, Alonso and Prospero.
Return of Alonso's son
Return of Alonso's son
- Despite all of this reconciliation, King Alonso is still mourning the loss of his son.
- Prospero says he has also lost a child, but the audience know he only means through marriage (dramatic irony).
- Above the stage, a curtain unveils the young couple alive and playing chess. This is symbolic of the manipulation and plotting throughout the play. Alonso is filled with happiness and welcomes his new daughter-in-law to the family.
Summary of Act 5, Scene 1 - Part 2
Summary of Act 5, Scene 1 - Part 2
The finale of the play - Ariel reveals the boat, the plotters are punished and Ariel is finally set free.
Ariel reveals the boat
Ariel reveals the boat
- Ariel brings the boatswain and captain back on stage to reveal the boat is safely in the harbour, ready to sail home.
- Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano return, slightly more sober than previously seen but still rather intoxicated (drunk).
Prospero punishes the men
Prospero punishes the men
- Prospero tells all that these three had plotted to take all from him. This is even more shocking and appalling, given that Prospero just showed such grace and forgiveness.
- Caliban is immediately remorseful (although it isn't clear whether this is genuine or just in fear of more suffering).
- All three are ordered to ready Prospero’s cell for the royal party so they can spend the night there before their long sail home. It will give Prospero time to tell them tales of the past 12 years.
Miranda's last lines
Miranda's last lines
- Miranda’s infamous last lines: 'O wonder! / How many goodly creatures are there here! / How beauteous mankind is! / O brave new world / That has such people in't!'
- These lines are both ironic and pure - with characters such as Antonio, Sebastian and Caliban on stage, there are certainly some ‘un-goodly’ 'creatures' around.
- But you could also read these lines as showing the poet's awe at the variety and potential of mankind.
Ariel performs his final task
Ariel performs his final task
- Ariel then performs his last duty and calms the seas for the following day’s journey before being set free.
1Key Words
2Context & Overview
2.1Context & Overview
3Act 1
3.1Act 1 Analysis
4Act 2
4.1Act 2 Analysis
5Act 3
5.1Act 3 Analysis
6Act 4
6.1Act 4 Analysis
7Act 5
7.1Act 5 Analysis
8Key Characters
8.1Major Characters
8.2Minor Characters
9Themes
10Authorial Method
10.1Authorial Method
Jump to other topics
1Key Words
2Context & Overview
2.1Context & Overview
3Act 1
3.1Act 1 Analysis
4Act 2
4.1Act 2 Analysis
5Act 3
5.1Act 3 Analysis
6Act 4
6.1Act 4 Analysis
7Act 5
7.1Act 5 Analysis
8Key Characters
8.1Major Characters
8.2Minor Characters
9Themes
10Authorial Method
10.1Authorial Method
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