not unlike how it has been for me for so many years
so many storms and so many wishes.
The relief freedom is supposed to bring has not sunk in yet
and I remain
stuck in my old habits listening to my old master,
wondering what more he could want.
I watch the freest of us all demand more freedom
from other shadows,
unseen but heard and present nonetheless.
Should I have known
that a few hours could shift what for years was stagnant,
or that the next few hours will reset what the last few set in place?
I gave Prospero his tempest and he gave up his staff.
Now, thunder comes,
though not by my hand.
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My poem was inspired by the end of The Tempest, when Prospero frees Ariel and then addresses the audience.
Now my charms are all overthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands:
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
The tension between Prospero and Ariel that is present throughout the play is now seemingly resolved. I found it interesting that Prospero, who until this point has been the primary captor, in the epilogue goes on himself to ask for freedom to the audience. I tried to imagine what Ariel’s perception of Prospero’s speech would be. While there is never as overt animosity between Prospero and Ariel as there was between Prospero and Caliban, Ariel does repeatedly beg Prospero for his freedom in the play. I also expanded on the meta-theatrical aspect of the epilogue. While in The Tempest only Prospero seems to be aware of the audience, in order for Ariel to hear Prospero’s final monologue, he had to be aware of them as well. This in a way increases Ariel’s significance, which is under emphasized by Prospero throughout the play.