The Tempest
- William Shakespeare
The Tempest opens in the midst
of a storm, as a ship containing the king of Naples and his party struggles to
stay afloat. On land, Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, watch the storm
envelop the ship. Prospero has created the storm with magic, and he explains
that his enemies are on board the ship.
The story Prospero relates is that he is the rightful Duke of
Milan and that his younger brother, Antonio, betrayed him, seizing his title
and property. Twelve years earlier, Prospero and Miranda were put out to sea in
little more than a raft. Miraculously, they both survived and arrived safely on
this island, where Prospero learned to control the magic that he now uses to
manipulate everyone on the island. Upon his arrival, Prospero rescued a sprite,
Ariel, who had been imprisoned by the witch Sycorax. Ariel wishes to be free
and his freedom has been promised within two days. The last inhabitant of the
island is the child of Sycorax and the devil: Caliban, whom Prospero has
enslaved. Caliban is a natural man, uncivilized and wishing only to have his
island returned to him to that he can live alone in peace.
Soon the royal party from the ship is cast ashore and separated
into three groups. The king's son, Ferdinand, is brought to Prospero, where he
sees Miranda, and the two fall instantly in love. Meanwhile, Alonso, the king
of Naples, and the rest of his party have come ashore on another part of the
island. Alonso fears that Ferdinand is dead and grieves for the loss of his
son. Antonio, Prospero's younger brother, has also been washed ashore with the
king's younger brother, Sebastian. Antonio easily convinces Sebastian that
Sebastian should murder his brother and seize the throne for himself. This plot
to murder Alonso is similar to Antonio's plot against his own brother,
Prospero, 12 years earlier.
Another part of the royal party — the court jester and the
butler — has also come ashore. Trinculo and Stefano each stumble upon Caliban,
and each immediately sees a way to make money by exhibiting Caliban as a
monster recovered from this uninhabited island. Stefano has come ashore in a
wine cask, and soon Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano are drunk. While drinking,
Caliban hatches a plot to murder Prospero and enrolls his two new acquaintances
as accomplices. Ariel is listening, however, and reports the plot to Prospero.
Meanwhile, Prospero has kept Ferdinand busy and has forbidden
Miranda to speak to him, but the two still find time to meet and declare their
love, which is actually what Prospero has planned. Next, Prospero stages a
masque to celebrate the young couple's betrothal, with goddesses and nymphs
entertaining the couple with singing and dancing.
While Ferdinand and Miranda have been celebrating their love,
Alonso and the rest of the royal party have been searching for the king's son.
Exhausted from the search and
with the king despairing of ever seeing his son alive, Prospero
has ghosts and an imaginary banquet brought before the king's party. A god-like
voice accuses Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian of their sins, and the banquet
vanishes. The men are all frightened, and Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian run
away.
Prospero punishes Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano with a run
through a briar patch and swim in a scummy pond. Having accomplished what he
set out to do, Prospero has the king's party brought in. Prospero is clothed as
the rightful Duke of Milan, and when the spell has been removed, Alonso rejects
all claims to Prospero's dukedom and apologizes for his mistakes. Within
moments, Prospero reunites the king with his son, Ferdinand. Alonso is
especially pleased to learn of Miranda's existence and that Ferdinand will
marry her.
Prospero then turns to his brother, Antonio, who offers no
regrets or apology for his perfidy. Nevertheless, Prospero promises not to
punish Antonio as a traitor. When Caliban is brought in, Caliban tells Prospero
that he has learned his lesson. His two co-conspirators, Trinculo and Stefano,
will be punished by the king. Soon, the entire party retires to Prospero's cell
to celebrate and await their departure home. Only Prospero is left on stage.
In a final speech, Prospero tells the audience that only with
their applause will he be able to leave the island with the rest of the party.
Prospero leaves the stage to the audience's applause.
