In The Tempest, the character Prospero fits the role of a Shakespearean "Comic Individual". In Act 1, Scene 2, Prospero explains the story of his downfall to his daughter, Miranda. Prospero was once the Duke of Milan, but began to study books about magic and other areas that he believed would better his mind. Studying these books soon became Prospero's obsession and he secluded himself and ignored his people and his duties as the Duke. Ignoring his duties caused his brother, Antonio, to be allowed to take over Prospero's position as Duke of Milan, while Prospero and Miranda were exiled to go live on a deserted island. Prospero is a Comic Individual, for his actions caused his negative situation to occur and there is no one at fault but Prospero. Also, like a Comic Individual, Prospero never loses his rationality. While he does create a tempest that capsizes the ship of those who exiled him, he makes sure that no one dies or gets hurt in any way at all. Prospero only wants the people on the ship to feel the emotional pain and suffering that he did when he was exiled, and does not wish death or harm upon any of them.
The ending of The Tempest is that of a Shakespearean "Comic Solution". The ending is a happy ending, for Prospero is allowed to once again take his place as the Duke of Milan. However, Prospero must remember and become the Duke he was before his obsession made him turn a blind eye to his people and his duties. In Act 5, Scene 1, Prospero vows that he will break his staff and bury it and that he will also throw his book into the sea where he can never find it again. He also frees his servant spirit, Ariel, as his last words before the Epilogue, sending the spirit off unburdened and no longer under his command. These actions make sure that Prospero never falls back into his old ways and that his obsession will never relapse. With those distractions gone, Prospero is able to take back into his rightful place as Duke of Milan and serve as the leader he should be.
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