Ellen Pearl N.

Lagunzad IV-1 BEE

6ElementsofHumanisminTheTempestbyWilliamShakespeare

1. Humanismisaprogressivephilosophyoflife
Bynotacceptingthesituationheisinanymore,ProsperotheformerDukeof
MilandecidedtousehismagicalpowerstocauseastormonKingAlonsosship
which resulted wreckage and the divide of the people aboard. Now that his
enemiesareinhisisland,hewasabletomanipulatethecourseofthepeoples
trails (and through his orders done by Ariel). Towards the end of the play,
Prosperoregainedhisdukedom.
2. Humanismiswithoutsupernaturalism.
Althoughthepresenceofmagicalpowersareevidentintheplay.Theeventsin
thelifeofProsperoandthecharactersdidnothappenbecauseofanysupernatural
guidanceormeddlingofanyGodsand/orGoddessesbutratherthecharacters
decisions and actions are what affected their lives. For example, Antonios
betrayaltoProsperoistherootforhimandhisdaughterMirandatobeexiledina
recluseisland.
3. Humanismaffirmsourabilityandresponsibility.
InActV,KingAlonsobeggedforProsperosforgivenessandmercyfornotdoing
whatsrighttwelveyearsagowhenAntoniosbetrayalhappenedwhichresulted
forProsperotobestrippedfromhisdukedom
Worriedtomakehisdaughterslifebetterthanlivinginanislandandassuming
hisrightfulthrone,ProsperocausedastorminAlonsosshipandhavingtheroyal
groupinfullcircleforhisreturntoroyalty.
4. Humanismisaboutleadinganethicallife.
Arielisthemostethicalpersonintheplay.First,hispresencepavedwayon
makingProsperosplanshappen,hewasfaithfulandagoodservanttohim.A
particularsceneintheplaywhereSebastianandAntoniotriedtokillKingAlonso
inhissleep,ArielwhisperedtoKingAlonsosearandorderedhimtowakeup
andbecauseofthisAlonsosurvivedhisdeath.
ProsperoforgaveAntonioswrongdoingsandacceptedKingAlonsosapologies
tohim.
5. ThegoalofHumanismistolivealifeofpersonalfulfillment.
ThroughFerdinand,Mirandafoundloveandviceversa.Byjustlookingintoeach
otherseyestheyknewthattheywereinlovewitheachother;indeedtheyseized
themomentforthemselvesandwithouthesitationsprofessedtheirloveforeach
other.FerdinandandMirandaachievedpersonalfulfillmentbythejoyandspirit
theyhadbyfallinginloveandfightingthroughadversity.
6. Humanismaspirestothegreatergoodofhumanity.
Prosperosufferedlivinginanislandandhavinghistitlestrippedbecauseofhis
brothersbetrayal.Feelingresponsibletogainhisrightfultitleandbringamore
comfortablelifeforhisdaughterMiranda,Prosperodecidedtousehispowersand
orderapresenceofafairynamedArieltohelphimonspyingtheroyalgroupthat
wentashoreandarewanderingtheisland.Hewasabletomakethingsbetterfor
himselfandotherpeopletorealizetheirmistakes[KingAlonso],givethemthe
Ellen Pearl N. Lagunzad IV-1 BEE

punishmenttheydeserve[TrinculoandStefano]andexperiencelove[Miranda
andFerdinand].