The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
Characters, synopsis
and quotes
,IMPORTANT CHARACTERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS:
• Prospero, the true Duke of Milan but now living on a deserted island
• Miranda – His daughter
• Antonio, brother of Prospero and usurper of the role of Duke of Milan
• Ariel, “an airy spirit” who does Prospero’s bidding
• Caliban, a savage creature controlled by Prospero
• Alonso, King of Naples
• Sebastian, his brother Ferdinand, son of the King of Naples
• Gonzalo, former advisor to Prospero, now principally serves Alonso
SYNOPSIS
ACT I, SCENE I
The play begins on the deck of a ship at sea in the middle of a violent tempest.
Amid loud sounds of thunder and flashes of lightning, the sailors fight to bring
down the sails in order to control the ship. The passengers, Alonso, Sebastian,
Antonio, and Ferdinand, come on deck to see what is happening, but the sailors
complain that they interfere with their work and make more noise than the
storm. Soon all appears lost as the ship breaks apart. The passengers and crew
believe they are about to drown.
ACT I, SCENE II
The scene changes to the island where Miranda and Prospero have viewed the
plight of the storm-tossed ship through Prospero’s magic powers. Removing his
magical robe, Prospero tells Miranda the history of her birth and her true place
and value.
He describes how he and Miranda, then not quite three years old, were forced to
board a rotting ship and put to sea to suffer certain death. The conspiracy to take
over Prospero’s power and station was the work of his brother who plotted with
the King of Naples, Prospero’s enemy. Now “by accident most strange,” all
these men have been brought close to the island where Prospero and Miranda
have been shipwrecked for the last twelve years. Through magic and the spirit
Ariel who is required to do his bidding, Prospero created the storm and chaos
among the sailors and passengers so that they would be separated and believe
the others drowned. However, Prospero has protected them all from harm and
hidden the ship under a charm.
When Ariel appears reluctant to continue to serve Prospero, he reminds the
spirit of its imprisonment by the witch Sycorax and Caliban, her child, until
Prospero worked his magic. (Ariel’s gender is unspecified.) Besides, Prospero
, promises complete freedom in just two days time if Ariel carries out his
designs.
Prospero awakens Miranda and they visit Caliban, “the slave,” who carries
wood, makes fire, and serves their basic needs. Caliban curses Prospero, his
master, for usurping his rightful rule of the island, and Prospero vows to punish
Caliban for these insults and his continued insolent behavior. Prospero recalls
how when he attempted to befriend Caliban and teach him language and
manners, Caliban tried to “violate the honor” of Miranda.
Meanwhile Ariel’s song and music has lured Ferdinand near to Prospero and
Miranda. Miranda is immediately impressed by Ferdinand’s good looks, and he
is equally smitten by her beauty, calling her a “goddess.” Prospero lets the
audience know through the vehicle of asides that this attraction is exactly what
he had planned and hoped for, and he only acts disapproving in order to make
their bond even stronger. Miranda pleads with her father to spare Ferdinand
while Prospero demands his subservience.
ACT II, SCENE I
Meanwhile Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo have washed up on
another part of the island. Gonzalo councils Alonso to see the optimistic side of
their predicament. Even though Ferdinand is missing, they should rejoice that
they are alive. This is, of course, the last thing that Alonso wants to hear.
Meanwhile Sebastian and Antonio ridicule Gonzalo, making fun of his
speeches. Cruelly, Sebastian even accuses Alonso of being responsible for
Ferdinand’s death. They wouldn’t have been on this journey if Alonso had
allowed his daughter to marry a European prince rather than the King of Tunis.
Gonzalo counsels moderation; no one is to blame. He also calls on the company
to observe the beauty of the island. Then he begins to describe the type of
government he would institute on this island. It would be a utopia of equality
with no marks of wealth or social status. All would have leisure and their needs
would be met “without sweat or endeavor.”
Ariel, who is invisible, passes among the men playing music, and all of the
company, except Antonio and Sebastian, suddenly fall into a deep sleep.
Antonio uses this moment to describe to Sebastian the opportunity he now has
to seize the crown from his brother.
With Alonso’s son and daughter out of the way, Sebastian can easily claim the
crown; all he has to do is kill Alonso. Antonio points to his own behavior as a
model. He overthrew his brother and now enjoys success. He vows to kill
Gonzalo to prevent his interference with their plot while Sebastian kills his
