One interpretation of The Tempest is that it is a play about approaching death. This interpretation focuses on the play's many references to death and dying, such as the opening scene in which Prospero conjures up a storm, and the final scene in which he renounces his magic and returns to Milan.
The play also contains a number of characters who are associated with death, such as Ariel, who is a spirit of the air, and Caliban, who is a monstrous creature who is half-man and half-beast. These characters can be seen as representing different aspects of death, such as the fear of the unknown, or the loss of one's humanity.
The play's ending can be seen as a resolution of the theme of death. Prospero, having accepted his own mortality, is able to let go of his power and return to the mortal world. This suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that should be embraced as part of life.
Evidence from the play
There are a number of passages in the play that support this interpretation. For example, in Act II, Scene I, Prospero says:
> "We are such stuff
> As dreams are made on, and our little life
> Is rounded with a sleep."
This passage suggests that life is but a fleeting illusion, and that death is the ultimate reality.
In Act III, Scene II, Ariel sings a song that contains the following lines:
> "Full fathom five thy father lies;
> Of his bones are coral made;
> Those are pearls that were his eyes:
> Nothing of him that doth fade;
> But doth suffer a sea-change
> Into something rich and strange."
This passage suggests that death is not the end of life, but rather a transformation into something new and beautiful.
Significance of this interpretation
This interpretation of The Tempest offers a unique perspective on the play. It allows us to see the play as a meditation on the human condition, and on the universal experience of death. This interpretation also highlights the play's beauty and its power to move us emotionally.