Prospero- A Character of Compassion

            Prospero really comes full circle in Act V, scene i. Throughout the play, Prospero is obsessed with getting revenge against his enemies. He is still bitter about his exile and removal of power by his brother that he wants everyone to feel the pain that he went through. Prospero uses his servants, spirits, and magic to complete his elaborate plan, but in this scene, his morale changes ever so slightly. His unbreakable confidence diminishes somewhat as he sympathizes for his enemies. Prospero sees Gonzalo weeping uncontrollably and cannot help but feel pain himself. This human sensation of feelings is Shakespeare’s way of reminding his audience that although Prospero is magical and almighty, he is still human, just like the others. Prospero feels compassion for his enemies that he never thought he would feel: “The rarer action is/ In virtue than in vengeance. They being penitent/ The sole drift of my purpose doth extend/ Not a frown further” (Lines 27-30). Once he sees the remorse that they feel, he decides not to punish them even further and breaks them of his spell. Prospero also lets Ariel free, which shows that he can actually follow through on a promise. It is a way for him to slowly let go of his powers that he holds on to so dearly. Prospero needed this whole experience on the island as a way to let go of this grudge that he was holding on to for years. The breaking of his staff and drowning of his books is sort of a cleansing process for Prospero. It is necessary for him to break away from his past in order to live the rest of his life happy.