The Tempest - Plot Summary, Character Analysis and Theme
Uploaded by Dillinator on Oct 29, 2004
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Plot Summary
The Tempest takes place on an enthralled island somewhere between Africa and Italy, that has been inhabited by a benevolent magician named Prospero, his daughter, Miranda, a misshapen monster who is a servant of theirs, Caliban, an airy spirit, Ariel, and several other spirits and nymphs.
Prospero was the Duke of Milan, until his traitor brother, Antonio, scheming with the King of Naples, Alonso, detained his position. With the help of an honest old Councellor named Gonzalo, Prospero was able to escape with his daughter, and the books that are the source of his magical powers. Prospero and his daughter arrived on the island where they have been living for twelve years. His enemies are now unknowingly heading his way, and he raises a tempest to make things right with them.
The storm strikes the ship that’s carrying Alonso, his son named Ferdinand, his brother named Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, a butler named Stephano, a jester named Trinculo, and the crew of the ship. During the tempest, a lot of the characters’ traits are revealed to the reader. We see Antonio and Sebastian depict their evil by being rude to the boatswain. Their rude actions foreshadow how they’re going to behave in the rest of the play. By contrast, Alonso, Ferdinand, and Gonzalo, behave respectfully, and give up their authority to listen to someone with more proficiency in the matter.
It seems as though Prospero’s incarcerated servant and chief magical agent, Ariel, carries out virtually every task Prospero needs accomplished throughout the play. We learn that it was actually Ariel who raised the tempest, set fire to the mast, and now has just made sure that they all got safely onto the island and they are separated from each other into small groups. Ariel then reminds Prospero that he was promised freedom if he performed these tasks without complaint. Prospero then chastises Ariel and reminds him that he had rescued him from a long imprisonment at the hands of a witch. This is one of the few times where we think Prospero might not be that munificent. Ariel is then ordered to take the shape of a sea nymph and be invisible to all but Prospero. If he completes a few more tasks, he shall be at liberty.
Prospero along with Miranda go to visit Caliban. Caliban starts to curse Prospero and Prospero then sends him to fetch firewood....