著者

宮之原 匡子 Kyoko Miyanohara 桃山学院大学文学研究科博士後期課程

出版者

桃山学院大学総合研究所

雑誌

国際文化論集 = INTERCULTURAL STUDIES (ISSN:09170219)

巻号頁・発行日

no.26, pp.81-99, 2002-07-20

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By confining the whole action of the play to an island in the sea in The Tempest, Shakespeare presented it as the place of purification or regeneration, the locus of sea-change. In this island for twelve years Prospero continued to devote himself to the study of white magic, while at the same time fostering Miranda to be a pure and wonderful woman. The mutual love at the first sight between her and Ferdinand, the crown prince of Naples, encourages to cultivate virtues of endurance and devotion. The "marriage of true minds" not only leads to the new auspicious relationship between Milan and Naples, but also brings the hope of prosperity and happiness of both countries. Experiencing distress and suffering in the island, the hateful enemies to Prospero, except for his brother Antonio, repent of their past foul acts and regenerate themselves. Prospero himself also undergoes spiritual growth, and he forgives even his incorrigible brother who usurped the dukedom of Milan and put him and his three-year old daughter to certain death. Under Prospero's theurgical power, the island becomes the place of regeneration, enabling true love of the innocent young, repentance of the wicked through suffering, spiritual growth after discovering their true selves, reconcilation of the adversaries. Thus, a hope of the restoration of peace and order once destroyed is made possible.