Suffering In Shakespeare's Plays

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on him when he is convinced of this by Iago.

In The Tempest, the theme of purification through suffering can
clearly be seen. Prospero, in his long exile from Milan, has more than attoned
for whatever mistake he might have made while he ruled. Ferdinand must suffer
through Prospero's hardships and laborious tests before he can win Miranda's
hand. Most significantly, Alonso must undergo the suffering that Prospero has
designed for him before he is forgiven.

Prospero, who is the real Duke of Milan was overthrown 12 years earlier
by his younger brother Antonio. Prospero was driven out of the island along
with his daughter Miranda; the two were cast out to sea. His suffering has
occured in a physical and a non-physical way, he is deeply hurt from losing his
kingdom and from being cast out to die. Despite this, he is generous in
forgiving. He is not only in control of those around him but he punishes the
guilty and demands repentance.

When Ferdinand ...

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how physical suffering can bring on
emotional suffreing. This can be seen in the two main characters of each subplot.
Lear, King of Brittain, is described as "a very foolish old man, fourscore and
upward." His fatal flaw of rashness causes his suffering. The Earl of Gloucester
lacks Lear's capacity for wrath but shares his fatal flaw of rashness. Like Lear,
he is made to suffer greatly by his children before he gains true insight.
Cordelia, Lear's daughter, suffers emotional pain. She is disowned by her father
but in the end, she survives to comfort him and proves her own selflessness.

King Lear is the epitomy of suffering. "His suffering includes a sense
of guilt for misusing ...

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