What Role Does Vengeance Play In The Tempest

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Virtue is the act of showing high moral standards. Vengeance is punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong. In The Tempest, both of these ideas are demonstrated clearly, but vengeance plays a much more prominent role. Although virtue has more value, vengeance is a more powerful motivator. In scene one of “Act V”, the line “the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance,” shows that vengeance is a much more common thing in the world. The need for revenge is similar to the need for power. When vengeance is achieved, it feels as though the avenger has the upper hand. It is in human nature to crave power; Shakespeare illustrates this idea through Antonio and Sebastian. Convincingly, Antonio talked about all of the power

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