Prospero, the Divine Shepherd, and Providence: Psalm 23 as a Rubric for Alonso’s Redemptive Progress and the Providential Workings of Prospero’s Spiritual Restoration in Shakespeare’s The Tempest

In this essay, I argue that Psalm 23 serves as a thematic rubric through which to understand how Prospero’s machinations affect the progress of the redemption of King Alonso throughout the play. At the same time, however, recognizing Prospero’s moral complexities and deficiencies, I also argue that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Religions (Basel, Switzerland ) Switzerland ), 2019-08, Vol.10 (8), p.448
Main Author: Urban, David V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alonso
Ariel
Bible
Caliban
Death & dying
Drownings
Epilogue
Gonzalo
John Calvin
Malvolio
Prospero
Providence
Richard Hooker
Spirituality
The Tempest
Twelfth Night
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Summary:In this essay, I argue that Psalm 23 serves as a thematic rubric through which to understand how Prospero’s machinations affect the progress of the redemption of King Alonso throughout the play. At the same time, however, recognizing Prospero’s moral complexities and deficiencies, I also argue that Prospero’s mercy toward and reconciliation with Alonso ultimately demonstrates the sovereign influence of a Providence beyond Prospero’s control—a Providence that works through charity and grace beyond Prospero’s initial intentions. This higher providential power, therefore, ought rightly to be seen as the ultimate shepherd of the play—one who works to affect not only Alonso’s but also Prospero’s spiritual restoration.
ISSN:2077-1444
2077-1444
DOI:10.3390/rel10080448