sacrific and forgiveness
...n Act 3 Scene 1, Ferdinand expresses what he is sacrificing for Miranda’s hand in marriage: “I am in my condition A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king; I would, not so!--and would no more endure This wooden slavery than to suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak: The very instant that I saw you, did My heart fly to your service; there resides, To make me slave to it; and for your sake Am I this patient log--man.” In this excerpt from the play, Ferdinand is telling Miranda that he is sacrificing his royal dignity for her love. He is stooping to the level of a laborer, while he is a king and should not be doing this work. This part of the play demonstrates sacrifice from the heart, and for love. Ferdinand is working hard so he can prove to Prospero that he is worthy of Miranda’s hand in marriage. Sacrifice is revealed as a theme in another instance in the play, this time concerning two different characters. There are many different kinds of sacrifice that occur in ‘The Tempest.’ The sacrifice that Ferdinand made for Miranda was for love, and the sacrifice that Gonzalo makes for Prospero is out of loyalty. In Act 1, Scene 2, Prospero is explaining to Miranda the only reason they made it to the island alive, and the sacrifice that their loyal subject, Gonzalo, made for them: “Some food we had and some fresh water that A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, Out of his charity, being then appointed Master of this design, did give us, with Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.” This passage explains the sacrifices made and risks run by Gonzalo in order to ensure Prospero and Miranda a safe landing on the island. Also, Gonzalo supplied Prospero with the books he needed to study magic and eventually control the island. From supplying Prospero with materials and goods like he did, Gonzalo risked the possibility that Antonio might have found out, in which case Gonzalo would have sacrificed his high position and reputation in Milan. Sacrifice, however, is not the only major theme in the play. Throughout the play, sacrifice is coupled with the other main theme, forgiveness. Prospero is marooned on the island because of his selfish broth...