THE TEMPEST BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
(A violent, windy storm)
Act 1, scene 1:
★ Sailors caught in a storm on their way from the North Coast of Africa to Italy
★ Antonio, Alonso, Sebastian, Ferdinand, Gonzalo = noblemen on board the ship
★ Tension between the Boatswain (captain) and the noblemen
★ “You mar our labor, keep your cabins! You do assist the storm” = comparison of the loud, disruptive
noblemen to the treacherous storm
★ Noblemen point out their importance, boatswain mentions = they may have authority over man but
none over nature (meaning they can’t control the storm)
★ Sebastian Antonio use their authoritative power to verbally abuse the boatswain (someone with less
power)
★ Alonzo and Ferdinand pray for survival in the cabins
★ Storm hits at supernatural powers beyond human control
★ Power of nature is more powerful than anything despite the royal authority onboard
★ All noblemen are human and powerless against the storm they can’t control
★ Crisis on ship = shows the conflict between classes
Act 1, scene 2:
★ Prospero and Miranda, watch the ship being destroyed in the storm (Prospero instructed Ariel to do it)
★ Miranda suspects Propero and his magic caused it = begs Prospero to have mercy on inhabitants
★ “None will come to harm” = Prospero promise’s Miranda that nobody will get injured
★ Came to the island 12 years ago (when Miranda was 3), Prospero (duke of Milan) handed over some
duties to his brother Antonio as he wanted to focus on studying
★ Antonio grew more powerful and with the help of Alonso (duke of Naples), plotted to kill and betray
Prospero for his power to usurp him
★ Instead, Miranda and Prospero were put on a boat
★ The person in charge of the operation, Gonzalo (a Neapolitan) gave them water, food, clothing and
some of Prospero’s books
★ Enemies who got rid of him were the people on the wrecked ship
★ Puts Miranda to sleep, Ariel appears to report that everyone except the sailers has jumped ship =
passengers are now dispersed in groups around the island
★ Ariel reminds Prospero that he was promised freedom
★ Prospero rescued Ariel from imprisonment in a tree from witch Sycorax
★ “I am sorry. I will do your bidding” = Ariel thanks Prospero for rescuing him and promises to do
Prospero’s dirty work
★ Caliban (son of Sycorax), cursing at Prospero for taking the island, he tried to rape Miranda
★ Ferdinand walks with invisible Ariel singing, sings a song suggesting Ferdinand’s father has drowned,
Ferdinand believes it
★ Miranda is immediately enchanted by Ferdinand’s handsomeness, mutual love at first sight
★ Prospero accuses Ferdinand of being a spy, sent to take the island (imprisons him) = Miranda is
distressed from Prospero’slack of pity
Act 2, scene 1:
★ Gonzalo encourages the Nobles to see the good, escaped a deadly disaster
★ Antonio and Sebastian mock Gonazlo’s positive attitude
★ Clothing hasn’t suffered from the sea wreck
, ★ Reason for travel: going to Clarabelle’s wedding in Africa, way home they got stuck in the storm =
Gonzalo blames his daughter for the wreck
★ Alonso believes Ferdinand is dead
★ Antonio and Sebastian suggest Alonso is the reason for Ferdinand’s death
★ Gonzalo wants to rule the island (unrealistic optimism) = promises equality, no slaves, no kings, no rich,
no poor (Antonio and Sebastian mock this idea)
★ Invisible Ariel enters and puts everyone but Antonio and Sebastian to sleep
★ Sebastian wants the thrown, himself and Antonio agree to kill both Alonso and Gonzalo at that moment
(Ariel returns and wakes everyone, ruining the murder plan)
★ Economic barriers, social classes restricted people from social mobility and land ownership = key to a
powerful and wealthy existence for the Nobles
★ Commonwealth utopia on the island raises the question of who should rule who and how leaders
should govern who they serve
★ Magical aspect reveals how Prospero controls all, like a playwright he creates an illusionary world to
fulfil a specific purpose
Act 2, scene 2:
★ Caliban is cursing about Prospero, believes Prospero cursed him and sent spirits to provoke him, hides
under his cloak
★ Trinculo (Alonso’s jester) spots Caliban and thinks he’s a dead fish or human, hides with Caliban under
his cloak
★ Drunk Stephano (Alonso’s butler) spots the 4 legged monster beneath the cloak
★ When confusion is cleared up, Stephano and Trinculo believe they’re the only two survivors of the
shipwreck
★ Caliban is enchanted by Stephano and his celestial liquor, seeing Stephano as a god, Caliban swears
to be Stephano’s loyal subject
★ Trinculo suggests taking Caliban to England to make money, thinking people will pay to see a ‘freak
show’ but won’t use the money to help the helpless among them
★ At end of scene Trinculo, Stephano and Caliban are all drunk
★ Slapstick comedy (comic relief) contrast to the murderous plot of Antonio and Sebastian
★ Serious scenes feature aristocrats, more comical scenes feature lower-ranked characters (servants
★ Caliban things all his encounters are planned by Prospero (who he fears) becomes wary of
noises/animals, his misery about Prospero pushes him to promise himself to Stephano
Act 3, scene 1:
★ Prosper secretly spies on Ferdinand and Miranda, Ferdinand is instructed by Prospero to carry logs
★ “That very instant that I saw you, did My heart fly to your service. There resides to make me slaves to it”
= Ferdinand isn’t fazed by the labour, he is happy to serve Miranda
★ Miranda is upset about his hard labour, wants him to rest and even asks to assist in carrying logs
★ Miranda tells Ferdinand her name, something Prospero told her not to do
★ “I pledge my deep love and devotion to you” = Ferdinand confesses his love to Miranda
★ Spying Prospero recognizes the true nature of their love
★ Romantic love = the focus of the scene
★ Two young lovers (Ferdinand and Miranda) explore the character of their affection
★ Ferdinand’s slavery is seen as a voluntary servitude, intened to keep him near Miranda
