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The Tempest: Set free at last?

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Actor John Bell
The Tempest: Set free at last?

SUBJECTS:  Arts, English

YEARS:  7–8, 9–10


The Tempest Act 5.1 Epilogue


The epilogue in 'The Tempest' signals Prospero's acknowledgment that his time is over.

He has given up his powers and seeks to return to Naples to live out the rest of his days.

John Bell of Bell Shakespeare delivers Prospero's farewell directly to camera in a powerful and evocative plea for release.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What is the function of an epilogue in a play? Can you think of any plays, books or films that feature an epilogue?
  2. 2.What does Prospero reveal about his powers? What will the audience's hands be able to do? What power does Prospero attribute to prayer? What does he beg of the audience in the final lines? Describe Prospero's state of mind in this epilogue.
  3. 3.

    During the play, Prospero tricks, enslaves and manipulates a number of characters with his magic powers. What does this monologue suggest about his state of mind at the end of the play? Why do you think Prospero needs the audience in particular to forgive him? How might an audience demonstrate their forgiveness?

  4. 4.

    Some scholars consider this speech to be William Shakespeare's farewell to his audience, given that he seems to have retired after writing 'The Tempest'. Consider Prospero's speech. In what ways can it be read as a kind of retirement speech from Shakespeare? Investigate this theory further.


Teachers

Visit Bell Shakespeare's website

Discover programs, workshops and more performances at one of Australia's great theatre companies.

Download a PDF with the full synopsis for each play.

Full plot summaries of Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet.


Acknowledgements

Created by ABC Splash in collaboration with Bell Shakespeare.


Production Date: 2014


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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