The Tempest

The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare probably written in 1610-1611 and thought to be one of the last plays that Shakespeare wrote alone. After the first scene which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest the rest of the story is set on a remote island where the sorcerer Prospero a complex and contradictory character lives with his daughter Miranda and his two servants-Caliban a savage monster figure and Ariel an airy spirit. The play contains music and songs that evoke the spirit of enchantment on the island. It explores many themes including magic betrayal revenge and family. In Act IV a wedding masque serves as a play-within-the play and contributes spectacle allegory and elevated language.Though The Tempest is listed in the First Folio as the first of Shakespeares comedies it deals with both tragic and comic themes and modern criticism has created a category of romance for this and others of Shakespeares late plays. The Tempest has been put to varied interpretations-from those that see it as a fable of art and creation with Prospero representing Shakespeare and Prosperos renunciation of bsignaling Shakespeares farewell to the stage to interpretations that consider it an allegory of Europeans colonizing foreign lands.A ship is caught in a powerful storm there is terror and confusion on board and the vessel is shipwrecked. But the storm is a magical creation carried out by the spirit Ariel and caused by the magic of Prospero who was the Duke of Milan before his dukedom was usurped and taken from him by his brother Antonio (aided by Alonso the King of Naples). That was twelve years ago when he and his young daughter Miranda were set adrift on the sea and eventually stranded on an island. Among those on board the shipwreck are Antonio and Alonso. Also on the ship are Alonsos brother (Sebastian) son (Ferdinand) and trusted counsellor Gonzalo. Prospero plots to reverse what was done to him twelve years ago and regain his office. Using magic he separates the shipwreck survivors into groups on the island: Ferdinand who is found by Prospero and Miranda. It is part of Prosperos plan to encourage a romantic relationship between Ferdinand and Miranda and they do fall in love.Trinculo the kings jester and Stephano the kings drunken butler who are found by Caliban a monstrous figure who had been living on the island before Prospero arrived and who Prospero adopted raised and enslaved. These three will raise an unsuccessful coup against Prospero acting as the plays comic relief by doing so.Alonso Sebastian Antonio Gonzalo and two attendant lords (Adrian and Francisco). Antonio and Sebastian conspire to kill Alonso and Gonzalo so Sebastian can become King at Prosperos command Ariel thwarts this conspiracy. Later in the play Ariel in the guise of a Harpy confronts the three nobles (Antonio Alonso and Sebastian) causing them to flee in guilt for their crimes against Prospero and each other.The ships captain and boatswain along with the other sailors are asleep until the final act.Prospero betroths Miranda to marry Ferdinand and instructs Ariel to bring some other spirits and produce a masque. The masque will feature classical goddesses Juno Ceres and Iris and will bless and celebrate the betrothal.