Importance Of Self-Occeptance In Shakespeare's The Tempest

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Self-acceptance is a concept that has proven to be difficult said than done. It takes self-reflection, self-awareness, and wholehearted confidence in oneself and their situation. As well, it takes an understanding of one’s own faults and shortcomings. In literature, Shakespeare’s The Tempest explores Prospero’s journey to acceptance as he learns to forgive and endure despite having been wronged. Prospero comes to accept himself and his reality by acknowledging and finding the balance between the projections of his conscious and unconscious mind, as found in his servants: Ariel and Caliban. Caliban represents Prospero’s unconscious mind and he embodies the unpleasant feelings and thoughts of Prospero that Prospero does not openly acknowledge. …show more content…

Ariel is the means by which Prospero affects others and is responsible for most of the action that Prospero takes towards other people. It is through Ariel that Prospero is able to cause the Tempest, and Prospero’s conscious vengeance and hatred for his brother and the other royalty is embodied in Ariel. Ariel is also responsible for some of Prospero’s decision making. In Act 5 Scene 1, Ariel’s pity is the reason that Prospero chooses to forgive all those who have wrong him at the end of the …show more content…

Ariel is consciously aware of his position as a servant and understands that if he does well, he may be set free. In order to speed up this process, he consciously tries to impress him to speed up that process. This is in contrast to Caliban, who doesn’t consider following Prospero’s orders and instead acts up out of spite and hatred. Although Prospero is conscious of Ariel as his most powerful spirit and a part of himself, he is too reliant on him and his magic, which prevents him from accepting himself without otherworldly interference or ability. By setting Ariel free, Prospero is able to achieve this is able to find the balance between all parts of

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