Summary of Full Fathom Five Thy Father Lies | The heritage of Words

UNIT TWO : ECOLOGY AND CHANGE
FULL FATHOM FIVE THY FATHER LIES
ENGLISH | THE HERITAGE OF WORDS
W. Shakespeare

The poem "Full Fathom Five Thy Father Lies" is written by famous English poet and playwright (dramatist)William Shakespeare. This poem appears to be in Act-I, Scene-2 of his tragic comedy play The Tempest. Aerial sings this song to Ferdinand, the prince of Naples who mistakenly thinks that his father is drowned and arrives on the Solitary Island in search of his father.

Aerial says that the body of Ferdinand’s father keeps lying 30 ft. below in the sea. His bones are changed into precious corals and his eyes have been transformed into pearls. No part of his body has decayed but changed into something very strange and precious thing belonging to the sea. The sea nymphs are ringing the funeral bell every hour and morning the death of Ferdinand’s father.

Aerial consoles Ferdinand that even the death of his father becomes very meaningful because no part of his body is decayed rather changed into strange and very precious things of the sea. The poet in his poem expresses that death is the door step towards eternity which is an inevitable truth of life. Everyone has to confront (face) it, presenting the poem beautifully using various poetic devices, the poet expresses that even the death could be very meaningful it leads towards eternity and spiritual freedom.