Essay/Term paper: The creator speaking through his creation

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Cliff Notes

Prospero"s epilogue at the

conclusion of The Tempest provides

interesting parallels to its

author"s life. Written near the end

of his career, numerous scholars

suggest that it is Shakespeare"s

written farewell. Just as

Shakespeare sculpts a world from

nothing, Prospero authors the events

on the island. Prospero"s

monologue flows naturally with they

story and provides a natural ending

to the work. He describes the loss

of his magical power at the

beginning of his monologue when he

says, "My charms are all o"erthrown,

and what strength I have"s mine own,

which is most faint." He remains

"confined" on the Island because he

has already "pardoned the deceiver"

and does not wish to return as the

Duke of Naples. He follows this

with a peculiar request of those

listening to "release me from my

bands with the help of your good

hands." This could be seen

literally as a request of the

audience to clap so that the sails

of the boats will be filled, for his

friends" return trip home.

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Contrast this to what

Shakespeare is voicing through

Prospero. "Now that my charms are

all o'erthrown, and what strength I

have's mine own," takes on a new

meaning. Now his plays have ended,

and anything more he yearns to say

can only come directly from him, not

through his characters. Furthermore,

the "Island" or stage Shakespeare is

on is now "bare" and it is time for

the audience to release him and his

from the play with the "help of

[y]our good hands." Not only was he

requesting release from the

performance, but from his career as

a playwright. In addition, the

audience"s pleasure fills his sails,

or makes him happy. If no one finds

pleasure in his works then what he

sent out to accomplish has not been

achieved.



Finally, after separating the

perspectives, one can see how

closely they are intertwined. This

is evidenced through the puns found

throughout the epilogue. Such as

the before mentioned "faint" and

"please". Just as Shakespeare

creates different worlds in each of

his plays and dictates the actions

within them. So does Prospero on

his island where he has control of

the outcome of the occurrences.

Shakespeare"s magic is in the world

he creates. He is the magician and

the stories are his tricks.