Essay on Comparing Puck and Prospero - 1255 Words

Shakespeare’s characters of Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Prospero from The Tempest share some traits of speech and manipulation. The Tempest was written late in the author’s career. It features an older character tinkering about with the lives of the younger people around him. This brings to mind an easy comparison between Prospero and the writer himself. The character of Prospero is controlled by no one else. He is strong, he is in charge, and he is, in his own thoughts, wise. Like Prospero, Shakespeare is able to shape the events, emotions, and environment. Prospero can be seen a caricature of Shakespeare written by the author himself. Shakespeare was an older, experienced man, author, actor, and courtier. Prospero†¦show more content†¦A happy ending is not something that came about with Hollywood films, it has been a long standing conclusion. They want to construct undemanding rouses to baffle and confound the players, as well as t he audience. Both parties would have been equally confused about the actions of the play. The dreamers of the play, with all the falling in and out of love, would have been mystified over the actions of the night, just as the groundlings standing for hours in cramped theatre would have been. In Pucks epilogue, he offers an olive branch to the audience to appease their bewilderment. If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber’d here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends. (V, i. 440-455) In a sense, he is offering them a choice: they can decide whether or not they want to believe in the events that have taken place. He offers them the choice of believing it was all dream, not just for the characters, but also for the audience. It is a smart piece of writing by Shakespeare, he gives the audience a sense of belonging in the play itself. He also asksShow MoreRelated A Comparison of Romantic Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night1505 Words   |  7 Pagesthe feeling that there is perhaps hope for the future of the families. Family and friendly love are also present, although more as a subplot emotion. Viola and Sebastian, as well as Olivia and her late brother in Twelfth Night; Miranda and Prospero in The Tempest. Obviously there is much less emphasis on this type of love in this selection of Shakespearean plays. One of the most innovative and unique traits of Shakespeares plays are his characterisations. While the characters often