The Tempest has many themes including reconciliation and forgiveness However, while it is clear that the theme of forgiveness is the main theme of the work, what is in discussion is to what extent the author achieves this forgiveness. After reading the attitudes and actions of the play's main characters, particularly Prospero, little, if any, true forgiveness and reconciliation is shown in The Tempest. A strong Christian lesson on the true nature of forgiveness can be found in Christ's Sermon on the Mount: But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who despise you... Because if you love those who love you, what thanks will you have? Even sinners do the same. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing… (Luke 6:27-35). Prospero's conduct from the moment the play begins appears to contradict the basic lessons of Christian forgiveness. Prospero's enemies are close at hand and Prospero takes the opportunity to take revenge. “The desire for revenge remained apparently dormant in Prospero during the years of exile, and now, with the sudden advent of his enemies, the great wrong of twelve years before is once again touchingly present, arousing the passions and stimulating the will to act” ( Davidson 225). Although Prospero does not intend to harm anyone and asks his servant: "But am I, Ariel, safe?" (1.1.218), wants to subject men to the pain and agony of what they believe is a horrible disaster that led to the death of Prince Ferdinand. For Prospero those who have harmed him must suffer for what they have done to him before he offers them his forgiveness, even if it means... middle of paper... the short "forgive me" of o is enough to please Prospero: “First of all, noble friend/Let me embrace your age, whose honor cannot be measured nor limited” (5.1.124-6). This confirms Prospero's propensity for forgiveness and reconciliation of the two men. Prospero truly forgives those who "hate" him? His reaction to Antonio says a lot: To you, most wicked lord, who to call brother would also infect my mouth, I forgive your most serious sins, all of them, and I will ask you for my dukedom, which by force , I know, you will have to restore.(5.1.130-4)Prospero makes proposals of forgiveness, but for us his sincerity is lost.Moreover, there is clearly no reconciliation between Prospero, Sebastiano and Antonio still considers Antonio a "evil lord" (5.1.130) and Antonio, focused on killing the island's demons, will not even recognize Prospero.