Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th’ quick,
Yet with my nobler reason ‘gainst my fury
Do I take part. The rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel:
My charms I’ll break, their senses I’ll restore,
And they shall be themselves.
– William Shakespeare
The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1. Prospero is ready to forgive the betrayals of his enemies, and forgoes the infliction of punishment and revenge on those who betrayed him, even though he has been deeply wounded by them. Instead of retaliation he chooses compassion – "the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance." He accepts that those who wronged him are remorseful and bids Ariel to release them from their imprisonment and says that he will break his spell on them and restore their senses. As a deep human emotion is touched in Prospero, prompted by the very human display of compassion by the non-human spirit Ariel, this is an important step in Prospero’s voyage of self-discovery