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The Tempest: the plot
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The Tempest is a play about power, magic and forgiveness. Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, uses magic to bring his enemies to his island.
Act 1: the storm and the backstory
Prospero and his daughter Miranda have lived on an island for twelve years. Prospero's brother Antonio, helped by Alonso, King of Naples, stole his dukedom and set them adrift at sea.
Prospero's spirit servant Ariel raises a storm that wrecks his enemies' ship. The passengers are scattered across the island, unharmed.
Alonso's son Ferdinand meets Miranda and they fall in love at once.
Prospero's spirit servant Ariel raises a storm that wrecks his enemies' ship. The passengers are scattered across the island, unharmed.
Alonso's son Ferdinand meets Miranda and they fall in love at once.
Acts 2 to 4: plots on the island
Antonio persuades Sebastian (Alonso's brother) to kill the sleeping Alonso, but Ariel wakes Gonzalo just in time.
Caliban joins the drunken Stephano and Trinculo in a comic plot to kill Prospero.
Prospero tests Ferdinand by making him carry logs, then blesses the couple with a magical masque of spirits.
Caliban joins the drunken Stephano and Trinculo in a comic plot to kill Prospero.
Prospero tests Ferdinand by making him carry logs, then blesses the couple with a magical masque of spirits.
Act 5: forgiveness and freedom
Prospero has his enemies in his power, but he chooses mercy: "The rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance."
He gets his dukedom back, Ferdinand and Miranda are to marry, and he frees Ariel.
He gives up magic ("I'll drown my book") and, in the Epilogue, asks the audience to set him free with their applause.
He gets his dukedom back, Ferdinand and Miranda are to marry, and he frees Ariel.
He gives up magic ("I'll drown my book") and, in the Epilogue, asks the audience to set him free with their applause.
Why does Prospero cause the storm?
- He wants his enemies, Antonio and Alonso, brought to the island.
- Once they are there he can confront them and regain his dukedom.
- It also brings Ferdinand to meet Miranda.
Answer: To bring his enemies into his power so he can win back his dukedom and arrange Miranda's future.
Storm, backstory, love (Ferdinand and Miranda), two murder plots (Antonio and Sebastian; Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo), then Prospero chooses forgiveness, frees Ariel and gives up his magic.
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