Tempest The

Performed variously as escapist fantasy celebratory fiction and political allegory The Tempest is one of the plays in which William Shakespeare's genius as a poetic dramatist found its fullest expression. This Penguin Shakespeare edition is edited with an introduction by Martin Butler. 'How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world That has such people in't!' A storm rages. Prospero his daughter Miranda and his monstrous servant Caliban watch from their desert island as a ship carrying the royal family is wrecked. Miraculously all on board survive. Plotting mistaken identities bewitching love and drunkenness follow as the travellers explore the strange place of spirits and monsters on which they have landed. They soon begin to realize all is not as it seems in a play whose magical setting and classical unity of time and place have inspired films as varied as Forbidden Planet Peter Greenaway's Prospero's Books and Julie Taymor's The Tempest starring Helen Mirren as 'Prospera'. This book contains a general introduction to Shakespeare's life and Elizabethan theatre a separate introduction to The Tempest a chronology suggestions for further reading an essay discussing performance options on both stage and screen and a commentary. If you enjoyed The Tempest you might like The Merchant of Venice also available in Penguin Shakespeare. 'Shakespeare coming upon me unawares struck me like a thunderbolt' Hector Berlioz About the Author William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain) many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced including Romeo and Juliet (1595) Henry V (1599) Hamlet (1601) Othello (1604) King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (1606) as well as a collection of 154 sonnets which number among the most profound and influential love poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1list of partsPROSPERO the right Duke of MilanMIRANDA his daughterALONSO King of NaplesSEBASTIAN his brotherANTONIO Prospero's brother the usurping Duke of MilanFERDINAND son to the King of NaplesGONZALO an honest old councillorADRIAN and FRANCISCO lordsTRINCULO a jesterSTEPHANO a drunken butlerMASTER of a shipBOATSWAINMARINERSCALIBAN a savage and deformed slaveARIEL an airy spiritIRIS CERES JUNO spirits commanded by Prosperoplaying roles of NYMPHS REAPERSThe Scene an uninhabited islandAct 1 Scene 1 running scene 1A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard. Enter a Shipmaster and a BoatswainMASTER Boatswain!BOATSWAIN Here master. What cheer?MASTER Good speak to th'mariners. Fall to't yarely or we run ourselves aground! Bestir bestir!ExitEnter MarinersBOATSWAIN Heigh my hearts! Cheerly cheerly my hearts! Yare yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to th'master's whistle.- Blow till thou burst thy wind if room enough.Enter Alonso Sebastian Antonio Ferdinand Gonzalo and othersALONSO Good boatswain have care. Where's the master? Play the men.BOATSWAIN I pray now keep below.ANTONIO Where is the master boatswain?BOATSWAIN Do you not hear him? You mar our labour. Keep your cabins! You do assist the storm.GONZALO Nay good be patient.BOATSWAIN When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin! Silence! Trouble us not.GONZALO Good yet remember whom thou hast aboard.BOATSWAIN None that I more love than myself. You are a counsellor if you can command these elements to silence and work the peace of the present we will not hand a rope more use your authority. If you cannot give thanks you have lived so long and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour if it so hap.- Cheerly go|William Shakespeare was born in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and died in 1616. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor of the University of Birmingham and Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.Martin Butler is Professor of English Renaissance Drama at the University of Leeds.|'The magic in The Tempest is real ... It contains a great many unanswered questions' Margaret AtwoodA storm rages. Prospero and his daughter watch from their desert island as a ship carrying the royal family is wrecked. Miraculously all on board survive. Plotting mistaken identities bewitching love and enchantment follow as the travellers explore this mysterious place of spirits and monsters and discover that all is not as it seems. Shakespeare's late great play is a work filled with marvels music and strangeness fully exploiting the power of language and the magic of theatre.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited with an Introduction by Martin Butler