The Tempest
consider Prosperos appeal to Shakespeare audience and a modern audience
compare what way both audiences would react
compare what way both audiences would react
Both audiences would see Prospero as a complicated character. He is bitter about why he is on the island and has spent many years perfecting his magic as a way of gaining revenge. Yet he is somewhat sympathetic in the sense that he lost his kingdom through no real fault of his own. He was not a bad ruler, but made a simple error in trust. At the end, however, he is happy and thus the audience would be happy for him.