THE TEMPEST
Info
drama/play by William Shakespeare (playwright)
The Tempest is the final play that Shakespeare wrote. This has led some readers to interpret
Prospero’s final monologue as a sort of retirement speech from Shakespeare himself. They
see the magic as representing Shakespeare’s skill of creating worlds for the audience to
believe in and enjoy.
Title: Tempest = (literal) sudden, violent storm out on the sea - leads to death and
boat wrecked
(Figurative) going through tempests in your life - going through challenges
Setting: It is set on an island near Italy, P = the one-time Duke of Milan
Magic, desire to revenge, desire to build
Not a tragedy where everyone dies and a sad ending, not entirely a comedy,
tragicomedy (be able to talk about elements of both, singing of songs, insults and
situation where Trinculo thinks stephano is a monster = comedy, tragedy = where
prospero falls from reign and is banished)
End: reconciliation when prospero reveals Ferdinand and Miranda together
Lit motifs (recurring images)
drowning and hanging
Plot:
Start with imbalance- prospero banished to island
Rising action - Tempest and calibans plot
Climax- confrontation
falling action/reconciliation - Wedding
Denouement/balance - Happily ever after
In a “nutshell”:
A ship is caught in a tempest and begins to sink.
Prospero tells Miranda that he caused the storm.
Ariel fetches Ferdinand, who falls in love with Miranda.
Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso, the King of Naples.
The ship’s jester and butler meet Caliban and feed him alcohol.
Caliban suggests that they should kill Prospero, and Ariel overhears.
Prospero uses magic to scare Alonso and spoil Caliban’s plot.
Prospero forgives the passengers for their former betrayals.
Sub-plots = Caliban(just wants revenge on Prospero so betrays him) with Trinculo (Jester)
and Stephano (wants to kill P to become ruler of island), Antonio (Ps brother) and Sebastian
(Alonso’s brother) want to kill Alonso and Gonzalo in their sleep in order for Sebastian to
become king of Naples - Ferdinand the heir is dead, and his sister Claribel is too far away to
rule
, Character Analysis - Protagonists
Prospero
(magician/sourcerer) banished duke of Milan - been on the island for 12 years, wants
revenge, angry, has a staff, punishes everyone but has a human empathetic heart-
conflicted, forgets his staff and returns to human world
Harmatia: inherent flaw (weakness) is his desire to read (magic book) which causes
his to be overthrown by his brother as duke of Milan
Unjust/just actions
Tempest - unjust "if by your Art../ you have put the wild waters in this roar"
Miranda sleep - just "…/Thou art inclined to sleep."
Manipulates Ferdinand - just he draws but is "charmed from moving" "Sir, have pity."
Watching Prospero work through The Tempest is like watching a
dramatist create a play, building a story and developing his plot so that
the resolution. Many critics and readers of the play have interpreted
Prospero as a surrogate for Shakespeare
Miranda
(prospers daughter) and Ferdinand fell in love at first sight because prospero wants
to reconcile with his enemies (Alonso) they live in a cave
Because she has been sealed off from the world for so long, Miranda’s
perceptions of other people tend to be naïve and non-judgmental.
She is compassionate, generous, and loyal to her father.
Miranda's compassion is evident in the first act, with her concern for the
passengers caught up in the storm. Miranda is also justifiably indignant
at her father's story of betrayal. Her tenderness is also evident when she
begs her father not to use magic to control Ferdinand, whom she loves.
Miranda is an obedient daughter
Caliban
(Monster), Prospero's slave, holds a grudge against prospero, doesn’t like carrying
wood for prospero the way Ariel takes it, plans to overthrow prospero. Also tries to
overthrow prospero and betray him.
Rebellious and is only controlled through the use of magic. Caliban claims the island
as his own and maintains that Prospero has tricked him in the past.
Ariel
(spirit) once trapped in a pine tree but freed by prospero then becomes his slave who
does all the magic, has wings and is ensalved, tries to be free, good slave, captive
by prospero, made the Tempest
Ariel reminds Prospero that he only does the sorcerer’s bidding in order to gain his
freedom, and not out of any real sense of loyalty or enjoyment. - tension in
relationship
Ariel willingly carries out Prospero's wishes because he is eager to be free. Although
he wants his freedom in exchange, Ariel approaches his tasks with enthusiasm,
quickly doing what is asked and promptly reporting any activities that he observes
Ariel's willing obedience of Prospero's wishes stands in stark contrast to Caliban's
cursing and plotting against the same master.
Info
drama/play by William Shakespeare (playwright)
The Tempest is the final play that Shakespeare wrote. This has led some readers to interpret
Prospero’s final monologue as a sort of retirement speech from Shakespeare himself. They
see the magic as representing Shakespeare’s skill of creating worlds for the audience to
believe in and enjoy.
Title: Tempest = (literal) sudden, violent storm out on the sea - leads to death and
boat wrecked
(Figurative) going through tempests in your life - going through challenges
Setting: It is set on an island near Italy, P = the one-time Duke of Milan
Magic, desire to revenge, desire to build
Not a tragedy where everyone dies and a sad ending, not entirely a comedy,
tragicomedy (be able to talk about elements of both, singing of songs, insults and
situation where Trinculo thinks stephano is a monster = comedy, tragedy = where
prospero falls from reign and is banished)
End: reconciliation when prospero reveals Ferdinand and Miranda together
Lit motifs (recurring images)
drowning and hanging
Plot:
Start with imbalance- prospero banished to island
Rising action - Tempest and calibans plot
Climax- confrontation
falling action/reconciliation - Wedding
Denouement/balance - Happily ever after
In a “nutshell”:
A ship is caught in a tempest and begins to sink.
Prospero tells Miranda that he caused the storm.
Ariel fetches Ferdinand, who falls in love with Miranda.
Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso, the King of Naples.
The ship’s jester and butler meet Caliban and feed him alcohol.
Caliban suggests that they should kill Prospero, and Ariel overhears.
Prospero uses magic to scare Alonso and spoil Caliban’s plot.
Prospero forgives the passengers for their former betrayals.
Sub-plots = Caliban(just wants revenge on Prospero so betrays him) with Trinculo (Jester)
and Stephano (wants to kill P to become ruler of island), Antonio (Ps brother) and Sebastian
(Alonso’s brother) want to kill Alonso and Gonzalo in their sleep in order for Sebastian to
become king of Naples - Ferdinand the heir is dead, and his sister Claribel is too far away to
rule
, Character Analysis - Protagonists
Prospero
(magician/sourcerer) banished duke of Milan - been on the island for 12 years, wants
revenge, angry, has a staff, punishes everyone but has a human empathetic heart-
conflicted, forgets his staff and returns to human world
Harmatia: inherent flaw (weakness) is his desire to read (magic book) which causes
his to be overthrown by his brother as duke of Milan
Unjust/just actions
Tempest - unjust "if by your Art../ you have put the wild waters in this roar"
Miranda sleep - just "…/Thou art inclined to sleep."
Manipulates Ferdinand - just he draws but is "charmed from moving" "Sir, have pity."
Watching Prospero work through The Tempest is like watching a
dramatist create a play, building a story and developing his plot so that
the resolution. Many critics and readers of the play have interpreted
Prospero as a surrogate for Shakespeare
Miranda
(prospers daughter) and Ferdinand fell in love at first sight because prospero wants
to reconcile with his enemies (Alonso) they live in a cave
Because she has been sealed off from the world for so long, Miranda’s
perceptions of other people tend to be naïve and non-judgmental.
She is compassionate, generous, and loyal to her father.
Miranda's compassion is evident in the first act, with her concern for the
passengers caught up in the storm. Miranda is also justifiably indignant
at her father's story of betrayal. Her tenderness is also evident when she
begs her father not to use magic to control Ferdinand, whom she loves.
Miranda is an obedient daughter
Caliban
(Monster), Prospero's slave, holds a grudge against prospero, doesn’t like carrying
wood for prospero the way Ariel takes it, plans to overthrow prospero. Also tries to
overthrow prospero and betray him.
Rebellious and is only controlled through the use of magic. Caliban claims the island
as his own and maintains that Prospero has tricked him in the past.
Ariel
(spirit) once trapped in a pine tree but freed by prospero then becomes his slave who
does all the magic, has wings and is ensalved, tries to be free, good slave, captive
by prospero, made the Tempest
Ariel reminds Prospero that he only does the sorcerer’s bidding in order to gain his
freedom, and not out of any real sense of loyalty or enjoyment. - tension in
relationship
Ariel willingly carries out Prospero's wishes because he is eager to be free. Although
he wants his freedom in exchange, Ariel approaches his tasks with enthusiasm,
quickly doing what is asked and promptly reporting any activities that he observes
Ariel's willing obedience of Prospero's wishes stands in stark contrast to Caliban's
cursing and plotting against the same master.
