Position:Home>Theater & Acting> What does Shakespeare want his audience to take out after reading the play The T

Keep in mind, first, that Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed as entertainment, and he wanted the audience to go home entertained!.

Then, in The Tempest he deals one more time with one of his favorite themes, usurpation!. In combination with regicide, it's the theme of most of his histories and most of his best tragedies; but in The Tempest, as in As You Like It, it's treated more lightly--not that the act of usurpation itself is treated lightly, but because no one is killed, the crime is reversible!. (Interestingly, in both these comedies, the overthrown ruler is merely a duke, not a king, and therefore has not received the semi-sacrament of anointing and coronation!.)

In addition, in many of Shakespeare's plays of all three genres, there's a strong emphasis on natural or rightful order!. The tragedies end with a restoration or order, usually in the form of the overthrown and murdered ruler's heir succeeding to his rightful position!. At the end of many of the comedies, especially those that take place in a a magical or out-of-the way setting, people return to their proper roles and responsibilities in life!. This is certainly true of The Tempest!. Propsero's usurping brother steps aside to allow Prospero to return to his position as Duke, and Prospero gives up the magic he loves (his study of which, with the resultant neglect of his duties as ruler, was what allowed his brother to oust him twelve hears earlier) to do so!.

Then there's the revenge aspect!. The Tempest is not Shakespeare's only play in which a person who has been wronged finds his enemies delivered into his hands!. If Prospero had been a different kind of person, The Tempest might hve been a tragedy!. But, having his enemies in his power, Prospero chooses only to embarrass them--to bring them to a realization of their own misdoings!.

Finally, keep in mind, too, that The Tempest is Shakespeare's next-to-last play--and his last major one!. When Prospero takes off his magician's robe and says, "This rough magic I here abjure," it's hard not to see the moment as Shakespeare's farewell to the theater!.

So what are we supposed to take away!? A feeling of satisfaction that everything was put back as it should have been, a feeling of gratification that the bad guys were made sorry and reconciled with their victim rather than vanquished, and probably a feeling of regret that the magic is finally over--but it was great while it lasted!
Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

Remember, Shakespeare's audiences don't read the play!. they see it and hear it!. It's a very different experience!.
Prospero gets all the people who have wronged him in one place, and what does he do with them!? He forgives them!.
Shakespeare wrote this play near the end of his career!.
Many scholars see echoes of Shakespeare resigning his pen when prospero breaks his staff!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---