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The Tempest by William Shakespeare/ Author Introduction / Historical Context / About the Work / Themes / Characters/ Summary & Analysis

 

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare





Brief Biography of William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's father was a glove-maker, and Shakespeare received no more than a grammar school education. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582, but left his family behind around 1590 and moved to London, where he became an actor and playwright. He was an immediate success: Shakespeare soon became the most popular playwright of the day as well as a part-owner of the Globe Theater. His theater troupe was adopted by King James as the King's Men in 1603. Shakespeare retired as a rich and prominent man to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613, and died three years later.

Other Books Related to The Tempest

The Tempest is different from many of Shakespeare's plays in that it does not derive from one clear source. The play does, however, draw on many of the motifs common to Shakespeare's works. These include the painful parting of a father with his daughter, jealousy and hatred between brothers, the usurpation of a legitimate ruler, the play-within-a-play, and the experiences of courtiers transplanted to a new environment. It is commonly classified with Pericles, The Winter's Tale, and Cymbeline in a small group of plays called "romances." These plays contain elements of comedy and, to a lesser extent, tragedy, but do not wholly belong to either category. Common elements in Shakespearean romances include experiences of loss and recovery, as well as imaginative realms in which magic can play an important role.
Key Facts about The Tempest
  • Full Title: The Tempest
  • When Written: 1610-1611
  • Where Written: England
  • When Published: 1623
  • Literary Period: The Renaissance (1500-1660)
  • Genre: Romance
  • Setting: An unnamed island in the Mediterranean Sea
  • Climax: Ariel appears as a harpy before Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian and condemns them for stealing Prospero's kingdom 

THEMES

1. Power and Control
- Prospero's journey from powerless to powerful, exploring the complexities of authority.
- The struggle for control between Prospero, Caliban, and Ariel.

2. Revenge and Forgiveness
- Prospero's conflicted desire for revenge against his enemies, ultimately choosing forgiveness.
- The consequences of holding onto grudges and the liberating power of forgiveness.

3. Identity and Self-Discovery
- Prospero's self-discovery and growth, as he confronts his past and re-evaluates his values.
- The exploration of identity through the characters of Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda.

4. Colonialism and Imperialism
- The complex relationships between colonizers and the colonized, as seen in Prospero's treatment of Caliban.
- Shakespeare's commentary on the exploitation and oppression of indigenous peoples.

5. Love and Relationships
- The blossoming romance between Ferdinand and Miranda, highlighting the redemptive power of love.
- Prospero's complicated relationships with his daughter, Ariel, and Caliban.

6. Betrayal and Loyalty
- The betrayal of Prospero by his brother Antonio and the King, contrasted with the loyalty of Ariel and Gonzalo.
- The consequences of betrayal and the rewards of loyalty.

7. Nature and the Supernatural
- The interplay between the natural world and the supernatural, as embodied by the tempest and Ariel's magic.
- Shakespeare's exploration of the mysteries and wonders of the natural world.

8. Aging and Mortality
- Prospero's confrontation with his own mortality, as he prepares to break his staff and abandon his magical powers.
- Shakespeare's meditation on the human experience of aging and mortality.

CHARACTERS

Here are the main characters in William Shakespeare's The Tempest:

1. Prospero
- The rightful Duke of Milan, stranded on a magical island with his daughter Miranda.
- A complex, powerful, and wise character who drives the plot.

2. Miranda
- Prospero's daughter, kind, innocent, and beautiful.
- Falls in love with Ferdinand and becomes a symbol of hope and redemption.

3. Ariel
- A spirit who serves Prospero, mischievous, quick-witted, and magical.
- Longs for freedom and becomes a symbol of the complexities of servitude.

4. Caliban
- A native inhabitant of the island, often depicted as a monster or a savage.
- Resents Prospero's colonization and treatment of him, seeking revenge.

5. Ferdinand
- The Prince of Naples, shipwrecked on the island and falls in love with Miranda.
- Chivalrous, kind, and genuine, becoming a symbol of redemption.

6. Alonso
- The King of Naples, Ferdinand's father, and a complex character with a troubled past.
- Guilt-ridden and seeking redemption, ultimately finding forgiveness.

7. Antonio
- Prospero's brother, who usurped his dukedom and stranded him on the island.
- Power-hungry and manipulative, ultimately facing justice.

8. Sebastian
- Alonso's brother, who conspires with Antonio to overthrow the King.
- Ambitious and treacherous, ultimately facing consequences.

9. Gonzalo
- A loyal and honest counselor to the King, who helped Prospero and Miranda survive on the island.
- Wise, kind, and compassionate, serving as a voice of reason.

10. Trinculo
- A jester and a fool, providing comic relief and serving as a commentary on the social hierarchy.

11. Stephano
- A drunken butler, providing comic relief and serving as a foil to the more serious characters.

Summary & Analysis

A raging storm at sea threatens a ship bearing Alonso, King of Naples, and his court on their voyage home from the wedding of Alonso's daughter in Tunisia. Frustrated and afraid, the courtiers and the ship's crew exchange insults as the ship goes down.

From a nearby island, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, and his daughter Miranda watch the ship. Miranda worries about the ship's passengers, suspects that her father has created the storm using his magical powers, and begs him to calm the waters. Prospero then reveals to Miranda the details of their past, telling how, 12 years ago, his brother Antonio betrayed and overthrew him. With the help of Alonso, Antonio arranged for Prospero and Miranda to be kidnapped and set adrift at sea. Now, Prospero says, circumstances allow him to take revenge on his enemies, and for this reason he has conjured the storm.

Prospero charms Miranda, and she falls asleep. He then summons his spirit-servant Ariel, who created the storm. Ariel says that he has made sure everyone made it to the island alive, but scattered separately, then mentions that Prospero promised to free him from servitude early in return for good service. Prospero angrily reminds the spirit that he saved him from the prison in which the witch Sycorax put him. (Sycorax was the previous ruler of the island.) Ariel apologizes and follows Prospero's orders—he makes himself invisible and goes to spy on the shipwrecked courtiers. Prospero then awakens Miranda and summons his servant Caliban, the son of Sycorax. Caliban curses Prospero, and denies that he owes Prospero anything for educating him. To prove his point, he recounts how Prospero stripped him of his rulership of the island.

Meanwhile, Ariel, still invisible, leads Ferdinand, Alonso's son, to Prospero. Ferdinand and Miranda fall immediately in love, but Prospero puts a spell on Ferdinand and takes him into custody. Elsewhere, Alonso, Gonzalo (an advisor to Alonso), Antonio, and Sebastian (Alonso's brother) awaken to find themselves safely on shore. Alonso mourns, thinking that Ferdinand has drowned in the storm. Ariel enters and plays solemn music that puts Gonzalo and Alonso to sleep. While they sleep, Antonio persuades Sebastian to try to murder Alonso and become king of Naples. Ariel wakes the sleeping men just in time to prevent the deed.

On still another part of the island, Caliban encounters Alonso's butler Stephano and jester Trinculo. He mistakes them for gods because they give him wine and get him drunk. With Ariel listening in, Caliban persuades them to help him murder Prospero with the promise that he will serve them as lords of the island.

While Ferdinand does hard labor for Prospero, he encounters Miranda. They express their affection for each other. With Prospero secretly looking on, they agree to marry.

A bit later, Antonio and Sebastian resume their plot against Alonso, but Ariel again disrupts it. Appearing as a harpy, he accuses them and Alonso of overthrowing Prospero and says that only sincere repentance can save them now. Alonso immediately repents. Antonio and Sebastian pledge to fight back, but Prospero soon enchants and traps them all.

Back at Prospero's cave, Prospero gives his blessing to Miranda and Ferdinand's marriage. He summons spirits to perform an elaborate masque (dramatic performance) for the couple. Suddenly, Prospero remembers Caliban's plot to murder him. He abruptly ends the masque and, with Ariel's help, tricks and then chases off the three would-be murderers.

In the play's final scene, Prospero, with Ariel's counsel, decides that rather than taking revenge he will instead give up his magic and forgive his enemies. He presents himself to them in the robes he wore as Duke of Milan. The courtiers are astounded. Alonso apologizes and relinquishes control of Milan, though Antonio remains silent. Alonso and Ferdinand are reunited, and Alonso gives his blessing to the marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand. Prospero summons Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban and exposes them to general scorn. Caliban curses himself for mistaking them for gods. Prospero then charges Ariel to ensure a safe voyage back to Italy for all, and then grants Ariel his freedom. The play ends with Prospero's epilogue, in which he asks the audience to applaud and set him free.


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