Analysis of Shakespeares The Tempest - The Epilogue :: Shakespeare The Tempest

The Epilogue of the Tempest   The Epilogue of the Tempest by William Shakespeare is an resplendent -- if not the best -- example of Shakespeares brilliance.   In 20 lines Shakespeare is able to salve an excellent ending to his play, while speaking through his characters about Shakespeares hold life and career.  Even more amazingly, he seemlessly ties the two together.             In the setting of the story Prosperos monologue makes perfect sense.  He has lost his magical power, so his charms are oerthrown, and what lastingness Prospero haves his own, which is closely faint.  He is now confined on the Island, for his other choice would be to go to Naples and reclaim his dukedom, but he doesnt want to do that because he has already pardoned the deceiver who took his position more years ago.  Prospero then says something a little strange, but it makes sense in the context of the story, he ask us to rel ease him from his bands with the help of your untroubled hands.  In other words, clap so that the sails of the boats his friends are riding in will be safely returned and Prospero can be relieved by prayer of the listening.             All of what Prospero has said is very nice cute, but the most interesting part of this monologue is what Shakespeare himself is saying.  Now that my charms are all oerthrown, and what strength I haves mine own means, now  my plays are over, and its no long my characters speaking.  The Island or stage Shakespeare is on is now bare and it is time for you the audience to release Shakespeare and his actors from this play with the help of your good hands.  Shakespeare was not only macrocosm released for the performance of the play, he was being release from his career as a playwright.  But there are more reasons to clap besides the axiomatic reason that the play is over, Shakespeare c ould not allow his final play to be bad, his project was to please.  He reiterates this point by saying and my ending is discouragement unless I be relieved by prayer, or the set of the audience and it frees all faults and allows Shakespeare to indulge the clapping and joy of the audience.             Finally, after we seperate the two different perspectives, we can step back and see how Shakespeare magically kit and boodle them together.