Whither are they vanished? Into the air; and what seemed corporal melted, as breath into the wind

Whither are they vanished? Into the air; and what seemed corporal melted, as breath into the wind

The quote “Whither are they vanished? Into the air; and what seemed corporal melted, as breath into the wind” is from William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”. This line is spoken by Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan who has magical powers and uses them to manipulate the events on the island where he and his daughter Miranda have been stranded.

In this particular scene, Prospero is reflecting on the ephemeral nature of life and the transience of human existence. He is referring to the spirits and magical beings that he has summoned to help him achieve his goals, and how they seem to disappear into thin air once their tasks are completed. This quote encapsulates the idea that everything in life is temporary and fleeting, and that nothing lasts forever.

The imagery of things vanishing into the air and melting like breath into the wind is a powerful metaphor for the impermanence of life. It suggests that everything in the world is ultimately insubstantial and transient, and that we should not become too attached to material things or earthly pleasures. This theme of impermanence is a common one in Shakespeare’s works, and is often explored through the use of metaphors and symbols.