How Does Prospero Use Magic In The Tempest

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In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the main character, Prospero, uses magic throughout the play to fulfill his plans for revenge and regain the power of his dukedom. By the end of the play, Prospero has decided to give up his magic. Prospero previously used his magic to be influential. Now, he no longer needs magic for control, having regained the power of his dukedom. He also has forgiven those that have wronged him, including his brother. As a result of these realizations, Prospero chooses to surrender his powers. Marking this moment in 5.1, Prospero delivers a soliloquy reflecting on his previous uses of magic and the act of surrendering his powers. There are multiple ways to consider the tone of Prospero’s reflection. On the one hand, it could be an appreciative reflection on his mastery of magic. On …show more content…

He is not concerned with the imperfection of his skills, but focuses on the positive aspects of his magic. Prospero notes that “…but this rough magic / I here abjure…” (5.1.59-60). By describing his magic as ‘rough,’ Prospero is showing that he has not reached the limits of his magic. ‘Rough’ has connotations of being simple and not being fully been perfected. While he could do many scary and powerful magical skills as seen in the play and as described within the context of this speech, he still believes he could have accomplished much more. Although he does note that his abilities are unpolished, he does not dwell on this fact. Instead, he spends much more time in his speech focusing on the abilities that he has gained through magic, asserting his powers. This shows that Prospero has placed the emphasis of his reflection on the positive aspects of magic. Prospero’s magical strengths have become a core part of his achievements while on the island, allowing him to assert his powers that he has gained over

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