WHAT WAS BACON ATTEMPTING TO CONVEY ON THE PATH OF INITIATION IN THIS PLAY?

In the path of INITIATION, the watery chaos of the emotional body describe illusions of maya at the beginning of the initiate's Path. If the "tempest" be overcome--thus marks the beginning of a "Sea change" in the initiate's life, viz, his perception of Truth--as he no longer is deluded or no longer "sees through a glass darkly".

Like the adept, Prospero, those who master the elements do so by first looking within, by following the Hermetic axiom to "know thyself"-- thereby mastering themselves, the vital elemental bodies within. With his "art" Prospero created "harmless" illusions for the shipmates in order to teach each valuable lessons viz "the cause you resolved to effect'. Prospero speaks to the karmic result of not just actions, but especially thoughts and inner motives, which weigh heavy on the Initiate's soul, binding them. Prospero is ready to forgive all, but not before dramatizing, in the same vein as Homer and the Eleusian Mysteries portrayed the valuable lessons to be learned in life.