The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Summary: The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a mixture of drama, comedy and romance taken to be a mirror of the depth of the human characterture in the form of Shakespeare's autobiographical container, Prospero.
Characters (Dramatis Personae):
Prospero - The rightful Duke of Milan
Alonso, King of Naples - Planned to overthrow Prospero
Sebastian - Alonso's brother
Antonio - Was able to steal the dukedom of Milan from his brother
Miranda - Prospero's daughter
Ferdinand - Alonso's son
Ariel - Spirit of the island
Gonzolo - The honest councilor to the King
Adrian and Francisco - Noblemen
Caliban - Prospero's only subject and native of The Island
Trinculo - Alonso's drunken fool
Stephano - Trinculo's friend, Alonso's butler
Master of a Ship, Mariners - Try to get the ship to sail through the storm in the beginning and brings back the party in the end
Boatswain - Ship Master's right hand, argues with Alonso
Iris, Ceres, Juno, Nymphs, Reaper - presented by spirits
Act I:
- On a Ship at Sea. A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard and shipmaster and Boatswain try to keep the ship from wrecking
- The boatswain is irritated by Alonso, Sebastian, Ferdinand, Antonio, Gonzalo when they go on deck
- Antonio, Gonzalo and Sebastian bid their lives good-bye
- The Boatswain: "What cares these roarers for the name of king?"
- Introduced to Ariel who says that all have made it ashore according to plan
- Prospero had created the tempest that was battling the ship and people there upon
- Miranda says,"If by your art, my dearest father, you have / Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them"; this is to tell him to stop the tempest
- Prospero was once the Duke of Milan but was banished to this island with Miranda by Antonio, his brother who took over Prospero's dukedom of Milan
- An introduction to Ariel, Prospero's magic fairy who tells about the men onboard the ship have all made it ashore unharmed as planned
- Caliban, a misformed beast is also introduced.
- Aerial leads Ferdinand to Miranda and the two immediately fall in love
- Prospero decides to be rude to Ferdinand, fearful to enter a courtship to rapidly
Act II:
- The rest of the shipwreck survivors wake up on The Island
- Having just been in a shipwreck, the survivors have clothes that smell and feel fresh like one's bought at market which amazes them
- With the exception of Sebastian and Antonio, the song puts them all to sleep again
- Prospero loses his title as Duke of Milan
- Antonio manipulates Sebastian, King Alonso's brother by replacing King Alonso
- Sebastian and Antonio are about to kill Alonso in his sleep but Ariel awakens everyone and they make an excuse for drawing their swords
- Alonso in a drunken stupor and discovers Trinculo and Caliban under a cloak and thinks that he can make money in England displaying this novelty
- Stephano, Trinculo's friend eventually finds Trinculo under Caliban's huge frame
- Stephano gives Caliban alcohol, causing Caliban to think Stephano is more powerful than Prospero whom Caliban hates.
- The three men (Stephano, Caliban and Trinculo) set off together later deciding to kill Prospero
Act III:
- Prospero who is now invisible to Ferdinand and Miranda, witnesses Ferdinand and Miranda expressing their deep love for one another
- Ferdinand, realizing he is witnessing a truly rare meeting of hearts, approves of Ferdinand for his daughter
- Ferdinand takes Miranda for his wife;Ferdinand:"Ay, with a heart as willing as bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand."
- Prospero is pleased about Ferdinand taking Miranda for his wife;Prospero:"Fair encounter of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace on that which breeds between them!"
- Prospero takes care of errands before dinner;Prospero:"At nothing can be more. I'll to my book; for yet, ere supper time, must I perform much business appertaining."
- Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban continue on with their plans to murder Prospero
- Caliban blindly follows Stephano who has delusions of grandeur
- Caliban is thought to be foolish by Trinculo in his efforts to follow Stephano
- Caliban suggests some gruesome ways to kill Prospero. Ariel lures entrances the group and lures them away
- Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian and Francisco and others witness a banquet on the island but it is an illusion
- Ariel returns and verbally punishes Alonso, King of Naples, Antonio and Sebastian for their roles in exiling Prospero, Ariel's master
Act IV:
- A betrothel masque is played for the party by the spirits of Prospero: Ceres, Juno, Iris and brings about blessings for Miranda's and Ferdinand's good marriage
- Prospero tells Ferdinand that he no longer will punish him, but instead will freely give her daughter's hand in marriage to him
- Prospero conjures up a beautiful, mythical, illusory party to celebrate
- Goddesses and nymphs attend the party
- Prospero instructs Ariel to lead the shipwrecked men on the island to him
- Stephano has "bloody thoughts"
- Prospero promises Ariel that he will soon be free;Prospero:"Lie at my mercy all mine enemies:Shortly shall all my laboursnend, and thou [Ariel] shalt have the air at freedom: for a little...follow, and do me service"
Act V:
- Prospero brings everyone except Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo before him in a circle
- Prospero verbally reprimands several of the men who exiled him while other nobles are in his magic circle, enchanted
- Prospero tells Ariel that he will soon be free and that Prospero will miss him
- Prospero intends to destroy his ability to use magic
- Prospero forgives King Alonso
- Prospero tells Sebastian and Antonio he will keep secret their plan to kill Alonso and Forgives Sebastian and Antonio
- King Alonso is glad to see his son Ferdinand is alive
- Ferdinand's marriage to Miranda is announced
- Prospero forgives Stephano and Trinculo
- Caliban is embarrassed that he followed a fool (Trinculo)
- Caliban is given his freedom
- Prospero announces that in the morning they will all set sail for Milan
- Ariel is set free
Epilogue:
- Prospero asks the audience to free him as the Duke of Milan in Naples
- The audience is told by Prospero that they have a great power and can decide future events
Other Notes:
- A tempest is a violent wind
- Often compared to A Midsummer Night's Dream also by William Shakespeare
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