Prospero's famous epilogue in The Tempest has been suggested to represent the playwright himself. Prospero's final farewell to the audience can be seen as Shakespeare's farewell to his audience. Prospero's speech about using magic to manipulate those around him, to control their minds and destinies, is essentially what Shakespeare has done as a living. He has created and molded characters. He has decided their intentions and their destinies, and knows every ending because of his absolute power over his characters. When Prospero forgives the ever-so flawed people surrounding him, he realizes that amongst these flaws, love, humor, and surprise can still exist and that these things can be beautiful. Likewise, Shakespeare has an appreciation for the differences in character the human condition carries. He knows that these differences fill the world with intricate people with lives full of ups and downs; Shakespeare finds beauty in every difference, good or bad.
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