Summary
The Tempest Summary and Analysis
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In-depth analysis and summary of William Shakespeare's play, The Tempest. Plot summary, Theme and Motif analysis and Character Analysis are included. Typed out notes.
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The Tempest by William Shakespeare● His last play- is a homage to his art and a goodbye to the audience
● More character driven than plot driven
● Lots of introspection and complex themes
● There’s no completely good or completely bad (adds to complexity)
Plot
Introduction
The play opens on a deck of a ship which is caught in a great storm. The noblemen on board
are then washed up on different parts of an island. Prospero and Miranda watch from the
island and Properso explains to Miranda that they were exiled 12 years ago (Prospero was
the Duke of Milan). We are then introduced to Ariel- a spirit who assists Prospero in his plan
and Caliban- Propero’s slave (both are slaves but have different attitudes toward Prospero)
Rising action
Miranda and Ferdinand meet and fall in love, but Propero obstructs their romance as he
believes they will not appreciate each other if they do not work for it. Antonio and Sebastian
plot to kill Alonso and Gonzalo as they sleep so that Antonio will become King of Naples.
Ariel wakes the sleeping men in time and informs Propero of their plot. Caliban meets
Stephano and Trinculo and, after drinking some of their wine, decides to worship them as
gods.
Climax
Miranda and Ferdinand decide to get married. Caliban convinces Stephano to kill Prospero
in his sleep and take Miranda as his bride. Prospero arranges a phantom banquet for
Antonio, Sebastian and Alonso. Ariel, disguised as a Harpy, admonishes the men for what
they did to Prospero and makes the banquet vanish. Alonso is repentant and vows to join his
son (whom he believes has drowned) while Antonio and Sebastian declare they will fight.
Falling action
Prospero consents to the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda and delights the lovers with a
Masque of goddesses (Juno, Ceres and Iris) who bless their union. Prospero ends the
masque suddenly when he remembers the plot against his life at the hands of Caliban,
Stephano and Trinculo. After setting a trap he sends spirits in the form of angry dogs to
chase the three.
Dénouement
Prospero reveals his identity to Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian and Gonzalo. Alonso repents
and restores Prospero’s dukedom. Prospero reveals that Ferdinand is alive and engaged to
marry Miranda. He forgives Sebastian and Antonio (even though they do not repent).
Prospero frees Ariel. They all get ready to sail back to Naples, leaving Caliban behind on the
island. In an epilogue, Prospero renounces his magic and urges the audience to set him free
from the island with their applause.
, Themes, motifs and symbols
Themes
Sea journeys
● Voyage- Prospero and Miranda’s exile from Milan and the company’s return journey
from the wedding of Alonso’s daughter in Tunisia
● Inspiration from accounts of European travellers (start of the exploration of the new
world/discovery)
● “Sea change” idiom- It is perilous but it presents opportunities. Antonio, Sebastian,
Stephano and Trinculo are lured by power. Ferdinand gains love. Alonso receives
forgiveness
● The sea brought them back together
● Quotes
○ “What care these roarers for the name of king?” Act 1, scene 1, line 16
○ “Both doth suffer a sea change” Act 1, scene 2, line 401
○ “Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. I have cursed them without
cause.” Act 5, scene 1, line 179
Noble Savagery
● Viewing another civilisation as innocent or child-like (in need of your protection). The
“advanced” civilisation needs to help them develop. Treated as “sub-human”
● The relationship between Caliban and everyone else
● Quotes
○ “Their manners are more gentle, kind, than of our human generation you shall
find many, nay, almost any.” Act 3, scene 3, line 32
○ “O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous
mankind is! O, brave new world that has such people in ‘t” Act 5, scene 1, line
182
○ Act 1, scene 2, lines 337, 358, 364
■ “And then I loved thee, and showed thee all the qualities o’ th’ isle”
■ “I endowed thy purposes with words that made them known.”
■ “You taught me language, and my profit on ‘t is I know how to curse.”
Europe and its ‘others’
● Micro-society showcasing macro-society. Those from Italy and Caliban (And briefly
Tunisia- King of Tunis)
● Civilised Europe and uncivilised other
Land, Language
● Land- Who really owns the island?
○ “This island’s mine by Sycorax, my mother, which thought tak’st from me.”
Act1, scene 1, line 333
○ “...the King and all our company else being drowned, we will inherit here.” Act
2, scene 2, line 171
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