BACKGROUND
The Tempest evolves out of several different interesting contexts. The first context is that,
paradoxically, it is the only play that Shakespeare did not derive from a previous source. The
setting of a maritime adventure and being castaway upon a deserted island is fitting for the
period. In the decade in which Shakespeare wrote the play, 1611, the exploration of the world
sped up greatly in the early 1600s, there had been several expeditions to the New World,
including Captain John Smith's settlement at Jamestown, and a highly published shipwreck of
a British expedition on an island that we know today as Bermuda (the story, published in
numerous pamphlets in London, may have been inspiration for Shakespeare's play). The issue
of British exploration and colonisation of alien worlds was fairly new when Shakespeare wrote
the play.
SETTING
The setting of The Tempest takes place on an island somewhere in the Mediterranean.
MAIN CHARACTERS
PROSPERO
The rightful duke of Milan. After his brother, Antonio, seized his title and property, Prospero
was exiled with his daughter and eventually found refuge on an island.
MIRANDA
Prospero's daughter. She has been on the island with her father for 12 years — since she
was three years old
ANTONIO
Prospero's younger brother, who is now the duke of Milan. He had plotted against Prospero
years earlier and now convinces Sebastian to murder his own brother, the king of Naples.
ARIEL
A spirit of the air, he assists Prospero in seeking retribution over his enemies.
, CALIBAN
The deformed offspring of the witch Sycorax and the devil. Prospero has made Caliban his
servant or slave, and in response, Caliban plots to murder Prospero.
FERDINAND
The son of the king of Naples. During the storm, he is separated from the rest of the king's
party, meets Miranda, and falls in love with her.
ALONSO
The king of Naples. He believes his son has died and is overjoyed to later find him. Alonso is
repentant for the pain he caused Prospero in the past.
SEBASTIAN
Alonso's brother. He is easily led into planning his own brother's (the king's) murder.
GONZALO
An elderly councillor who saves Prospero's and Miranda's lives when they are exiled. He
provides a sense of hope and optimism when Ferdinand is lost.
STEFANO
The king's butler. He arrives on the island in an intoxicated state and quickly becomes
involved in a plot to murder Prospero.
TRINCULO
The king's jester. When Stefano arrives with wine, Trinculo joins him in drinking and then
agrees to a plot to murder Prospero.
FRANCISCO AND ADRIAN
Two of the king's lords. They try to offer hope and protection to Alonso.
BOATSWAIN
The ship's petty officer. He is in charge of the deck crew, the rigging, and the anchor. He
must try to keep the boat afloat during the storm, even when the king's party makes
demands upon his time.
The Tempest evolves out of several different interesting contexts. The first context is that,
paradoxically, it is the only play that Shakespeare did not derive from a previous source. The
setting of a maritime adventure and being castaway upon a deserted island is fitting for the
period. In the decade in which Shakespeare wrote the play, 1611, the exploration of the world
sped up greatly in the early 1600s, there had been several expeditions to the New World,
including Captain John Smith's settlement at Jamestown, and a highly published shipwreck of
a British expedition on an island that we know today as Bermuda (the story, published in
numerous pamphlets in London, may have been inspiration for Shakespeare's play). The issue
of British exploration and colonisation of alien worlds was fairly new when Shakespeare wrote
the play.
SETTING
The setting of The Tempest takes place on an island somewhere in the Mediterranean.
MAIN CHARACTERS
PROSPERO
The rightful duke of Milan. After his brother, Antonio, seized his title and property, Prospero
was exiled with his daughter and eventually found refuge on an island.
MIRANDA
Prospero's daughter. She has been on the island with her father for 12 years — since she
was three years old
ANTONIO
Prospero's younger brother, who is now the duke of Milan. He had plotted against Prospero
years earlier and now convinces Sebastian to murder his own brother, the king of Naples.
ARIEL
A spirit of the air, he assists Prospero in seeking retribution over his enemies.
, CALIBAN
The deformed offspring of the witch Sycorax and the devil. Prospero has made Caliban his
servant or slave, and in response, Caliban plots to murder Prospero.
FERDINAND
The son of the king of Naples. During the storm, he is separated from the rest of the king's
party, meets Miranda, and falls in love with her.
ALONSO
The king of Naples. He believes his son has died and is overjoyed to later find him. Alonso is
repentant for the pain he caused Prospero in the past.
SEBASTIAN
Alonso's brother. He is easily led into planning his own brother's (the king's) murder.
GONZALO
An elderly councillor who saves Prospero's and Miranda's lives when they are exiled. He
provides a sense of hope and optimism when Ferdinand is lost.
STEFANO
The king's butler. He arrives on the island in an intoxicated state and quickly becomes
involved in a plot to murder Prospero.
TRINCULO
The king's jester. When Stefano arrives with wine, Trinculo joins him in drinking and then
agrees to a plot to murder Prospero.
FRANCISCO AND ADRIAN
Two of the king's lords. They try to offer hope and protection to Alonso.
BOATSWAIN
The ship's petty officer. He is in charge of the deck crew, the rigging, and the anchor. He
must try to keep the boat afloat during the storm, even when the king's party makes
demands upon his time.
