SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, PUNE

1ST INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

SUBJECT: ENGLISH

ESSAY TOPIC: WORK OF LITERATURE THAT DEALS WITH THE THEME

OF REVENGE, ANALYSING IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF
ESTABLISHING THE FUITILITY OF REVENGE, OR, CONVERESELY OF
JUSTIFYING THE RELEVANCE OF REVENGE

SUBMITTED BY:

NAME: KOSHA DOSHI

COURSE: BA LLB (2019-2024)

DIVISION: E

P.R.N NUMBER: 19010125488

 The Tempest by William Shakespeare

“The rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance”

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest
writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He combined poetic genius
with a practical sense of the theater. Shakespeare’s work has made a lasting impact on theater
and literature, expanding the dramatic potential of characterization, plot, language, and genre.
His works express the complete range of human experience. Shakespeare’s characters were
complex and human in nature, commanding the sympathy of audiences. By making the
protagonist's character development central to the plot, he changed what could be accomplished
with drama. “The Tempest”, written in 1610, is Shakespeare’s last complete play. The story
draws heavily on the tradition of the romance, and it was influenced by tragicomedy and the
courtly masque.

Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan dwells on an enchanted island with his
daughter Miranda. Prospero is the protagonist of the play while his brother Antonio is the
antagonist. Twelve years ago Prospero had given the dukedom affairs to his brother. Antonio
along with Alonso, the King of Naples conspired to usurp his throne. They banished Prospero
and Miranda on a rotten carcass, eventually getting them marooned on an island. Prospero due to
his magic frees an airy spirit Ariel and brings under control a half human half monster named
Caliban. Prospero with the help of his magical powers conjures up a storm causing a ship wreck
containing all his enemies and thereby bringing them onto the island. Prospero craved the
revenge against all his enemies as he had been wronged by his own brother which hurt him the
most. Divided into groups, Antonio provokes Alonso’s brother, Sebastian to murder his brother
for the throne. Side characters such as Stephano and Trinculo along with Caliban also plot to
murder Prospero.

The concept of revenge is the main object fuelling the story and the reason behind
Prospero’s strange action. The gripping plot line of a banished duke turned magician who
revenges himself benevolently upon his enemies is supported by several subjects. Every action
committed by Prospero is deeply influenced by his desire of revenge. Mercy does come naturally
to a man. Ariel, Prospero’s spirit then tells Prospero that if he were human he would definitely
forgive them if they were repentant. This strikes a chord in Prospero’s heart that if Ariel being a
spirit can choose virtue over vengeance then he is a human and he could definitely rise above.
Though it is not very believable that Prospero would be dissuaded from revenge so easily, by one
single sentence from his servant but mercy, forgiveness and compassion are virtues that abrupt
and can be felt anytime.

Prospero rises above the ignoble passion of revenge. Shakespeare’s cries for the ‘quality of
mercy’ in Merchant of Venice are evident here too. He manages to overcome his personal agony
of twelve years and forgive his younger brother Antonio for banishing him. He forgives Antonio
and Sebastian by not exposing their treacherous plot to kill Alonso. He offers pardon to his
brother Antonio, even though he did not ask for it. He also shows mercy to Trinculo and
Stephano. There is an illusion of justice as the idea of justice is highly subjective. He uses his
power not to inflict on his enemies all that he has suffered but to teach them a lesson and restore
the proper order of life. His justice is restorative rather than punitive. Prospero is drawn as
having remarkable strength one such as of delineation of peculiar profundity.

The transition from a sin to atonement, forgiveness to reconciliation and reunited to rejoicing is
visible. Alonso recalls his sin against Prospero, repents of it, atones for his evil deed and
reconciles with him. There are instances of injustices as one character that is Prospero holds the
fate of others that is his enemies. When his enemies were under his spell and controlled by him
Ariel tells him that he would pity them had he been a human. Listening to this he decides to lift
his spell and forgive them. Forgiving nature is the noblest quality of Prospero. Although having
unlimited power to punish his enemies he treats them with leniency. Prospero does this at the
need of the play by both giving up his power and desire for revenge. He softens towards his
enemies and in his epilogue speaks of mercy, prayer and forgiveness.

Prospero feels free to forgive those who sinned against him only after he has emerged triumphant
and has seen the men, now mournful and "penitent", pay for their transgressions.Instead of
satisfying his instinct for revenge, he is satisfied with remorse and repentance on part of his
enemies. Due to his forgiveness the family gets reunited and all conflict is resolved. He frees
himself from his own need for revenge through his gift of mercy, and forgiveness is shown to be
the most significant power explored in the play. Revenge is futile as the man himself does not
transform. Forgiveness is the more humane quality and at a greater point of view it is the mercy
that matters.

Thus through this ‘swan’s song’ by the prolific English playwright, William Shakespeare, the
audience is enlightened of the futility of revenge. The outed Duke turned magician forgives his
enemies for their ignoble stooping and paved the way for merrier days that lie ahead. With this
approach he is able to win back his dukedom and also find a worthy husband for his beloved
daughter, Miranda. In all, ‘The Tempest’ is successful in establishing the futility of revenge by
showing us the contrasting natures between two brothers and how they suffer or prosper because
of the same. As the only way to destroy the power of revenge is by absorbing it rather than
unleashing it.