However, this demonstrates an appropriate ending, as it reveals the character traits of Prospero, which make him a good leader. For example, the fact that Prospero does not want revenge, is a good leadership skill, and that he can forgive without having to be apologised to, “I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art”. Prospero also demonstrates leadership skills within the given extract – at the end of act 5 scene 1, in that he demonstrates again how he is not blaming others for his mistakes but is instead making people see when they need to take responsibility. For instance, Prospero demonstrates to Alonso that he is not fully to blame for the murder plot by Trinculo, Stephano and Caliban against him. “Two of these fellows you must know and own”, and hence Prospero shows that he can allocate responsibilities of people, but yet, he also shows that he is partly to blame “this thing of darkness [Caliban] I must acknowledge my own”. Consequently, Prospero is showing that he can accept responsibility for his mistakes, or the bad that is done to him and therefore this shows that Prospero is ready to become Duke again, and be a responsible leader. Therefore the ending of the play is appropriate as it shows us how Prospero has undergone a transformation and hence is prepared to return to Milan and rule correctly as compared to his previous reign, “and thence retire me to my Milan, where every third thought shall be my grave”.
In the same way that the inclusion that Prospero has undergone a transformation and is ready to rule Milan, the ending is appropriate as it also shows how Caliban has also undergone a change. “What a thrice-double ass I was to take this drunkard for a god”, “I’ll be wise hereafter and seek for grace. These quotes show how Caliban can see his mistakes, and see how he is wrong unlike earlier in the play where Caliban is ready to make the same mistakes again that is to say that he trusts any human to be a god. The latter quote also shows how he wishes to be forgiven, which again demonstrates a change in the character of Caliban, as previously in the play, he showed no remorse for attempting to rape Miranda. Therefore the extract is an appropriate ending to the play, as it shows the transformations of characters which will allow them to become a duke and rule Milan (Prospero) or become a ruler of the island when it is returned to him (Caliban). It also shows that the whole experience i.e. Prospero’s project has worked. However we can also see how Caliban is still a monster, and due to the description of Caliban coming from a noble and reformed man (Prospero), we can believe that this description is in fact true. Prospero reflects the view of the Elizabethan audience in that he says Caliban is “disproportioned in his manners as in his shape” that is to say that outward appearance reflects inward character. This shows a number of things about the character of Caliban, in that it shows an even greater change in Caliban when he realises his wrongs, as even though he still looks like a monster meaning his outward appearance is still hideous, “strange thing as e’er I look’d on”, he has taken responsibility for what he has done, and not taken the expected action for someone with a hideous outward appearance, and hence evil character. This is appropriate to include at the end of the play, as it acts almost like a moral to the Elizabethan audience, that outward appearance is not always an accurate way to discover a person’s character, as even the most ugly creature can undergo a transformation of character, to become inwardly, not ugly even though the outer appearance remains unchanged.
In the given extract, good leadership skills are again shown when Prospero frees Ariel, “Ariel…be free and fare thou well”. This therefore shows that Prospero is a man of his word, in that he will keep his promises, as he did in saying he would free Ariel after he had carried out his project. This therefore demonstrates how Prospero will be a good leader when he returns to Milan in that he keeps his word, but also that he is prepared to sacrifice the great amount of power that Ariel gives him with his vast magical powers, and hence shows that Prospero is prepared to rule fully by himself, and is a good leader as he demonstrates he is not obsessed with power – he simply uses what he needs for what he needs, and does not thirst for more power. The granting of freedom of Ariel, and hence the ending of the play, also displays the restoration of power and the return of people to their correct places – as Ariel is now free to do as he wishes, rather than following orders, and hence everything is returned to the way it should be. As a result, the ending is appropriate, as it does not result in purely conflict, but in unity and restoration of where people should be, and the roles that they should possess.
Conversely, the ending could be seen as being unclear, as we are uncertain as to whether anyone has truly undergone a transformation for the better. For example, Antonio and Sebastian are punished for the usurpation of Prospero, and the plot to kill Alonso, however they never actually apologise for the act. Even when Prospero simply reminds them privately of what they did, they seem to show no remorse. “I [Prospero] here could pluck this highness’ frown upon you and justify you traitors…I will tell no tales” “[Sebastian] The devil speaks in him”. This therefore shows how perhaps all conflicts have not been resolved and hence there is a question of whether Prospero’s ‘project’ has fulfilled its purpose. This is again shown with Alonso, as, although he returns Prospero’s dukedom, and shows remorse, this does not automatically mean that Alonso has changed, as the returning of Prospero’s dukedom, does not directly affect him. That is to say that when Alonso returns to Italy, he will still be King, and nothing will have changed. It is therefore unclear as to whether Alonso has transformed his character by being on the island, and hence again, it is difficult to see whether the whole aim of bringing Alonso, Sebastian etc to the island was accomplished. Therefore the ending is perhaps inappropriate as it shows an element that the Prospero’s whole project has not been successful in the end.
However, on the other hand, the ending of the play is appropriate, as Prospero’s dukedom has been restored, even though the people who usurped it in the first place may not have changed at all, and may therefore try to usurp him again. In spite of this of transformation of Prospero’s character has undoubtedly taken place, and this is summarised in the epilogue of the play, “Now my charms are all o’erthrown and what strength I have’s mine own”. This emphasises the point that Prospero is ready to rule on his. He has made a huge sacrifice in giving up all the magical arts that gave him such power as to call “forth the mutinous winds” and to reawaken the dead, “graves at my command have waked their sleepers”. This hence shows that Prospero has undergone a huge transformation in that he is willing to sacrifice such things that gave him such power, and rule with his own human power. However, the epilogue also acts as a way of showing why the ending of the play is unclear, in that Shakespeare has created possible doubts as to whether the characters are truly changed and reformed and ready to return to their current positions. It is in fact the audience that decides what happens to the characters, as Shakespeare does not show the characters getting on a boat to sail back to Italy, nor does he show whether the characters have changed for the better. Instead he includes the epilogue as a way of addressing the audience and showing them that if they do not believe that the characters are ready to leave the island, then they never leave, as it is the audience who finish the story. “I must here be confined by you or sent to Naples. Let me not…dwell in this bare island by your spell”. This links not only to play itself, in that it is not completely finished by Shakespeare, and requires the audience’s imagination to decide the conclusion of the play, but it links to Shakespeare’s theatre, and Shakespeare’s magic of creating plays. The epilogue is a way of asking the audience to show whether they enjoyed the play by applauding, “release my from my bands, with the help of your good hands…gentle breath of yours my sails must fill, or else my project fails…let your indulgence set me free”. If the audience did not enjoy the play, then Shakespeare has no power, and hence “project” refers not only to Prospero’s project to return power and reform characters, but to Shakespeare’s writing, which is worthless without approval of the audience.
Hence, in conclusion the ending is appropriate as it gives the audience the power to decide the ending, and the result of Prospero’s project, and whether he deserves to rule as a duke, or remain trapped on the island, and because it shows how without the audience, Shakespeare’s plays are worthless. Therefore although the ending shows some uncertainty as to whether people are truly transformed, the final speech shows that it is not Shakespeare’s job to decide the result of the play, with relation to both the characters, and whether or not the play is a success.
