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The Tempest Human Nature Essay

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The composer's representation of the human experience as an awareness of humanity's capacity for evil but a greater capacity for good facilitated through relationships prompts self-reflection, resulting in the rediscovery of the power of empathy as a means to liberate oneself from the past and make peace with oneself and the world. In Shakespeare's play The Tempest (1610-11), the protagonist Prospero's discovery and subsequent understanding of human nature allows him to see others' flaws and strengths reflected in himself, enabling him to forgive and release himself from the shackles of his past. Similarly, in Johnathan Teplitzky's film The Railway Man (2013), the protagonist Eric Lomax discovers that the human experience is characterised by …show more content…

Awareness of the evil of human nature is demonstrated in the recount of his life story told to Miranda, explaining how pursuit of knowledge led him to neglect his leadership duties, "I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated / To closeness and the bettering of my mind … in my false brother / Awaked an evil nature", using personification to emphasise his discovery of the dark side of human nature in his brother, like a monster that has "awaked" from a deep sleep, poised to wreak havoc on all that stands in its way. The interrupted construction "in my false brother / Awaked an evil nature" conveys a sense of urgency through fragmentation and statement compression, adding dramatic effect, thus illuminating Prospero's awareness of the evil inherent in human nature. As a foil to Antonio and Sebastian, Gonzalo exemplifies the goodness of human nature, while amplifying the manipulative, evil side of human nature that Antonio and Sebastian represent, facilitating Prospero's awareness of the duality of human nature. Through the dramatic device of Prospero tracing out a circle on the stage and speaking to the court party that enter about their actions, he praises Gonzalo, "Holy Gonzalo, honourable man", acknowledging the innate kindness of compassion of human nature. This is in contrast to his criticism of

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