Act 5 Sc. 1

Question 1

Significant A05 by Coleridge

Answer 1

Coleridge - Epilogue = words of XP - final goodbye to theatre as he soon retired

Question 2

‘my charms are all o’erthrown’

Answer 2

• refers to P. abandonment of his art & the actor themselves reaching the end of the play
• ‘charms’ - links back to this mystical quality of the isle, charm = potentially charisma, suggests illusion
• ‘overthrown’ - suggests weakness, perhaps P was not as great of a magus figure as previously believed

Question 3

SF of bondage: ‘I must be here confined by you’, ‘unless I be relieved…frees all faults’, ‘release me from my bands with the help of your good hands’

Answer 3

AO1/2:
‘confined….bands’ - imagery of being captive & bound, constraints = perhaps plays into the idea that the island is some sort of prison or punishment. - - pleading to the audience for reprieve & theological lang. = P. recognition of himself as a sinner
- P. pleads for forgiveness from God himself
Contrasts with the Freedom & liberty of ‘relieved….frees…release’ = the metaphor of vocal praise & applause as a freeing idea = Prospero needs constant reassurance of his power, he is just as performative as his brother as his ‘art’ is done just to glean respect and entertainment. - Prospero as unhinged?