In a play that is essentially about Prospero getting his
revenge on those who exiled him so long ago, it is interesting that it is finally Ariel
that has to draw his lord and master's attention to the way in which he has succeeded in
his goal and has awakened contrition in some of his prisoners. At the beginning of Act V
scene 1, Ariel reports to Prospero about how his "project" is going and whether he is
succeeding in his goal or not. It is Ariel in this scene that seems to move Prospero
towards showing mercy. Note how he reminds Prospero that the hour has arrived when
Prospero said "our work should cease," and paints a pitiful picture of the King and his
followers:
The King,
His brother, and yours abide all three
distracted,
And the remiander mourning over
them,
Brimful of sorrow and dismay; but
chiefly
Him that you termed, sir, the good old Lord
Gonzalo.
His tears run down his beard like winter's
drops
From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works
'em,
That if you now beheld them, your
affections
Would become
tender.
Note the simile used
by Ariel to evoke our pity and Prospero's for Gonzalo, whose tears, we are told, run
down his beard "like winter's drops / From eaves of reeds." At every stage, Ariel shows
the success of Prospero's plan and makes sure that Prospero is given all the glory,
whilst trying to evoke a feeling of pity and sympathy in his master. Ariel supports this
by saying that if he were human, he could not help but feel sorry for
them.
It is based on this report from Ariel that Prospero
decides to show mercy, saying "The rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance." Now
that these men have shown themselves to be "penitent," he resolves to free them and
reveal himself.
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