The Tempest

Introduction

Twelve years before the start of the play Prospero’s wicked brother, Antonio, took advantage of Prospero’s preoccupation with the magic arts to exile him from his position as the Duke of Milan. Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, have lived on a remote and significantly enchanted island ever since, along with the spirit Ariel and the monster Caliban. As we begin our story Prospero learns that a ship is in the vicinity of his island and that Antonio, his brother, is on board along with his partner in crime, Alonso, the King of Naples and Alonso’s brother, Sebastian. Prospero raises a storm (the tempest) to force them onto his island where he can control them and perhaps right some wrongs and teach some valued lessons. His spirit, Ariel, torments the new arrivals according to Prospero’s direction. Alonso believes his son, Ferdinand, has drowned in the wreckage, but Prospero has taken Ferdinand and Miranda and he have fallen hopelessly in love. Prospero schools the young couple toward their marriage. Caliban plots with the butler Stephano and the jester Trinculo to kill Prospero, as they wander the island drunk and ineffective. Ariel convinces Prospero to show mercy on the humans and he pardons them all, grants Ariel his freedom, gives up his magic and is rightfully restored as the Duke of Milan, where he plans to return and govern wisely.

For 12 years Prospero has loved his daughter , practiced his magic and simmered for revenge of those who unseated him from Milan. Miranda has grown into a beautiful young woman and now his chance for revenge has drifted right to his island. He gets revenge enough before Ariel and Miranda soften his heart enough in the end that he releases them and abandons his magic powers and secures his position once again as the Duke of Milan. Miranda came to the island as a near infant and has seen no other human but her father. When she meets Ferdinand she falls completely in love with him. They both have a wonderful innocence and innate goodness about them and they bring about a much needed transformation in the previously bitter Prospero. Miranda is the final of Shakespeare’s romantic heroines and she may be the finest of them all. Ariel is an invisible spirit who longs to be free. He is a big hearted spirit and teaches something of his simple goodness to Prospero before being set free. He may remind readers of Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Caliban, on the other hand, is a creature born of a witch and a sea monster. Although principally a comic character, he is earthy and dangerous and hates Prospero, who controls him utterly. He is essentially nature without nurture personified. He is a brute and a savage. His very name is an anagram of cannibal.

The Tempest is one of Shakespeare’s true masterpieces. It is also his final play, in which as Prospero, we hear him surrender his magic art before retiring to Stratford for good. Nowhere else is Shakespeare’s presence suggested more strongly than in the character of Prospero. There is certainly an autobiographical component for the Bard in The Tempest. ‘Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air; and, like the baselesss fabric of this vision, the cloud capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself, yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, and, like the insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed; bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled: be not disturbed with my infirmity.’ ‘This rough magic I here abjure. I’ll drown my book.’ Both Shakespeare and Prospero return to where they were before their days of magic: The Bard to Stratford-Upon-Avon and Prospero to Milan. The latest arrivals on the island stumble into a ‘brave new world’ and must reinvent that world and themselves according to their own moral perceptions. Some find a heaven, others a hell. It was only thirty years earlier that English explorers discovered their own ‘brave new world’ across the Atlantic in North America, where they created a New-found-land. Only two years before this play a crew of new colonists had become shipwrecked in Bermuda. This story of theirs was hugely popular when Shakespeare penned The Tempest. In fact, The Tempest is often portrayed today as a play about a colonist (Prospero) who enslaves the local population (Caliban) of a new found land. Caliban thus becomes a heroic freedom fighter. The play has become highly politicized therefore. It seems unquestionably the most sophisticated of the comedies, perhaps exceeding even Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure and The Winter’s Tale. And it is indeed a romantic-comedy, highlighted by the Prospero-Ariel relationship. Nobody is hurt in the play and in the end forgiveness is extended to everyone. This is a wonderful play about magic and wonder.

Act I (2 scenes)

Scene i

On a ship at sea in a tempest

Enter Boatswain, Alonso, Antonio, Gonzalo, Sebastian

Alonso: “Good Boatswain, have care.”

Boatswain: “I pray now, keep below. You mar our labour: keep to your cabins; you do assist the storm. What cares these roarers for the name of king? To your cabins! 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. Out of our way, I say.”

Gonzalo: “I have great comfort from this fellow. Methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable.”

Boatswain: (a cry within) “A plague upon this howling! They are louder than the weather. Yet again! What do you hear? Have you a mind to sink?”

Sebastian: “A pox on your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, uncharitable dog!”

Boatswain: “Work you, then.”

Antonio: “Hang, cur. We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.”

Enter Mariners, wet

Mariners: “All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost!”

Gonzalo: “The King and Prince at prayers! Let’s assist them, for our case is as theirs. Mercy on us! We split! We split! Farewell, my wife and children! Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground. The wills above be done, but I would fain die a dry death.”

Analysis

A very intense storm is destroying a vessel as the Boatswain does all he can to save the ship and crew. Some of the lords come up to remind the boatswain of just who is on board. (the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan and many lords and attendants). He cares not, but only wants to save the ship and himself. By the end of the scene the situation is hopeless and everyone prepares to die. But this is no typical tempest. This one was concocted by Prospero, our magician protagonist. He has wrought this storm in order to gather these specific people together on his island to get revenge for what has been done to him. We learn much more about this in the next scene. This is a play about magic and this storm is an example of such an event. We are also introduced to a conflict throughout the play between masters and servants, as the Boatswain is doing his best to survive the storm, while the lords are chirping at him about who is on board. This conflict will be much further developed once we reach the island. This is a most dramatic visual first scene when attending a live performance of The Tempest. Lots of screaming and panic, chaos and fear, thunder and rain, etc…

Act I

Scene ii

The island, before Prospero’s cell

Enter Prospero and Miranda

Miranda: “If by your art, my dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar, allay them. O, I have suffered with those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel, who had no doubt some noble creatures in her, dashed all to pieces! O, the cry did knock against my very heart! Poor souls, they perished.”

Prospero: ” Be collected; no more amazement; tell your piteous heart there’s no harm done. No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing of whence I am, nor that I am more better than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, and thy no greater father. ‘Tis time I should inform thee farther; have comfort. The dire spectacle of the wreck, which touched the very virtue of compassion in thee, I have with such provision in my art so safely ordered that there is no soul – not so much as a hair betides to any creature in the vessel which thou heard cry, which thou saw sink. Sit down, for thou must now know farther.”

Miranda: “You have often begun to tell me what I am; but stopped, concluding ‘stay, not yet’.”

Prospero: “The hour’s now come; obey and be attentive. Can thou remember a time before we came unto this cell? I do not think thou can; for then thou was not three years old.”

Miranda: “Certainly, sir, I can. ‘Tis far off, and rather like a dream. Had I not four or five women once, that tended me?”

Prospero: “Thou had, and more, Miranda. What see’st thou else in the dark backward and abysm of time? How thou came here thou may’st.”

Miranda: “But that I do not.”

Pprospero: “Twelve years since, Miranda, thy father was the Duke of Milan.”

Miranda: “What foul play had we that we came from thence? Or blessed was it we did?”

Prospero: “Both, both, my girl. By foul play, as thou say, were we heaved thence; my brother and thy uncle, called Antonio, he, whom next to thyself of all the world I loved, and to him put the manage of my state. The government I cast upon my brother, thy false uncle, new created the creatures that were mine and set all hearts in the state to what tune pleased his ear. I thus neglected worldly ends, all dedicated to the bettering of my mind. In my false brother awakened an evil nature; hence his ambition growing – Dost thou here?”

Miranda: Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.”

Prospero: “He thinks me now incapable; confederate with the King of Naples, to give him annual tribute and do him homage.”

Miranda: “To think but nobly of my grandmother: good wombs have borne bad sons.”

Prospero: “This King of Naples, being an enemy to me, hearkens my brother’s suit; which was, that he should presently extirpate me and mine out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan with all the honours on my brother. Whereon, a treacherous army levied, one midnight did Antonio open the gates of Milan; and in the dead of darkness hurried thence me and thy crying self.”

Miranda: “Wherefore did they not that hour destroy us?”

Prospero: “Well demanded! Dear, they dare not, so dear the love my people bore me; they hurried us aboard a bark; bore us some leagues to sea; there they hoisted us to cry to the sea, that roared to us.”

Miranda: “How came we ashore?”

Prospero: “By providence divine. Some food we had and some fresh water that Gonzalo, out of his charity, did give us, with necessities, of his gentleness. Knowing I loved my books, he furnished me from my own library with volumes that I prized above my dukedom.”

Miranda: “Would I might but ever see that man!”

Prospero: “Here in this island we arrived.”

Miranda: “And now, I pray you, sir, your reason for raising this sea-storm?”

Prospero: “By accident most strange, bountiful fortune, hath my enemies brought to this shore; here cease more questions; thou art inclined to sleep; ’tis a good dullness, and give it way.”

Miranda sleeps

Prospero: “Come way, servant, come; I am ready now. Approach, my Ariel, come.”

Enter Ariel

Ariel: “All hail, great master! I come to answer thy best pleasure.”

Prospero: “Hast thou, spirit, performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?”

Ariel: “To every article. The deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement, the fire and cracks of sulphurous roaring.”

Prospero: “My brave spirit! Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil would not infect his reason?”

Ariel: “Not a soul but felt a fever of the mad, and played some tricks of desperation. All but mariners plunged in the foamy brine, and quit the vessel. Then, the King’s son, Ferdinand, with hair up-staring, was the first man that leapt; cried ‘hell is empty, and all the devils are here’.”

Prospro: “Why, that’s my spirit! But are they, Ariel, safe?”

Ariel: “Not a hair perished; not a blemish, but fresher than before, and, as thou bad’st me, in troops I have dispersed them about the isle. The King’s son have I landed by himself.”

Prospero: “Of the King’s ship, the mariners, say how thou hast disposed, and all the rest of the fleet.”

Ariel: “Safely in harbour is the King’s ship; there she’s hid; the mariners all under hatches stowed, who, I have left asleep; and for the rest of the fleet, which I dispersed, they all are upon the Mediterranean, bound sadly home for Naples, supposing that they saw the King’s ship wrecked, and his great person perish.”

Prospero: “Ariel, thy charge exactly is performed; but there’s more work.”

Ariel: “Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, let me remember thee what thou hast promised, which is not yet performed me.”

Prospero: “How now, moody?What is it thou can demand?”

Ariel: “My liberty.”

Prospero: “Before the time be out? No more!”

Ariel: “I prithee, remember I have done thee worthy service, told thee no lies, made thee no mistakes, served without grudge or grumblings. Thou did promise to bait me for a full year.”

Prospero: “Dost thou forget from what a torment I did free thee?”

Ariel: “No.”

Prospero: “Thou dost.”

Ariel: “I do not, sir.”

Prospero: “Thou liest, malignant thing. Hast thou forgot the foul witch Sycorax.”

Ariel: “No sir.”

Prospero: “Thou, my slave, was then her servant; she did confine thee, in her most unmitigable rage, into a cloven pine; within which imprisoned thou did painfully remain a dozen years; within which space she died, and left thee there. Then was this island – save for the son that she did litter here – not honoured with a human shape.”

Ariel: “Yes, Caliban, her son.”

Prospero: “Dull thing, I say so, he, that Caliban, whom now I keep in service. Thou best knows what torment I did find thee in; thy groans did make wolves howl; it was a torment to lay upon the damned. It was my art, when I arrived and heard thee, that let thee out.”

Ariel: “I thank thee, master.”

Prospero: “If thou more murmurs I will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails, till thou has howled away twelve winters.”

Ariel: “Pardon, master; I will be correspondent to command.”

Prospero: “Do so; and after two days I will discharge thee.”

Ariel: “That’s my noble master! What shall I do? Say what.”

Prospero: “Go make thyself subject to no sight but thine and mine, invisible to every eyeball else. Go hence with diligence!”

Exit Ariel

Prospero: “We’ll visit Caliban, my slave, who never yields us kind answer.”

Miranda: “‘Tis a villain, sir, I do not love to look on.”

Prospero: “But he does make our fire, fetch our wood, and serves in offices that profit us. What ho! Slave! Caliban!”

Caliban: “There’s wood enough.”

Prospero: “Come forth, I say; there’s other business for thee. Come, thou tortoise! When? Thou poisonous slave, come forth.”

Caliban: “A wicked dew drop on you both! A south-west blow on ye and blister you all over.”

Prospero: “For this, be sure, tonight thou shall have cramps; thou shall be pinched, each pinch more stinging.”

Caliban: “This island’s mine, by Sycorax, my mother, which thou takes from me. When thou came first, thou stroked me and made much of me, would give me water with berries in it, and then I loved thee, and showed thee all the qualities of the isle. Cursed be I that did so! All the charms of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! Here you sty me in this hard rock, while you do keep me from the rest of the island.”

Prospero: “Thou most lying slave, I have use thee, filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee in my own cell, till thou did seek to violate the honour of my child.”

Caliban: “O ho, O ho! Would it had been done. Thou did prevent me; I had peopled else this isle with Calibans.”

Miranda: “Abhorred slave, being capable of all ill! I pitied thee, took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour one thing or another. But thy vile race, though thou did learn, had that in it which good natures could not abide to be with; therefore was thou deservedly confined into this rock.”

Caliban: “You taught me language, and my profit of it is I know how to curse.”

Prospero: “Hag-seed, hence! Fetch us fuel. If thou neglects, or does unwillingly what I command, I’ll wrack thee with old cramps, fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar, that beasts shall tremble at thy din.”

Caliban: “No, pray thee. (aside) I must obey. His art is of such power it would control my dam’s god, Setebos, and make a vassal of him.”

Prospero: “So, slave; hence!”

Exit Caliban

Enter Ariel invisible, playing music and singing, with Ferdinand following

Ferdinand: “Where should this music be? In the air or the earth? Surely, it waits upon some god of the island. Weeping again the King my father’s wreck, this music crept by me upon the waters, allaying both their fury and my passion with its sweet air; thence I have followed it, or it hath drawn me rather. I hear it now above me.”

Prospero: “The fringed curtains of thine eye advance and say what thou sees.”

Miranda: “What is it? A spirit? Believe me, sir, it carries a brave form. But ’tis a spirit.”

Prospero: “No, wench; it eats and sleeps and has such senses as we have. This gallant that thou sees was in the wreck; and but he’s something stained with grief, that’s beauty’s canker, thou might call him a goodly person. He has lost his fellows, and strays about to find them.”

Miranda: “I might call him a divine thing; for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.”

Prospero: (aside) “It goes on, I see, as my soul prompts it.”

Ferdinand: “Most sure, the goddess on whom these airs attend! May know if you remain on this island; and that you will some good instruction give how I may bear me here. My prime request is, O you wonder! If you be maid or no?”

Miranda: “No wonder, sir; but certainly a maid.”

Ferdinand: “My language? heavens!”

Prospero: “What were thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?”

Ferdinand; “A single thing that wonders to hear thee speak of Naples. Myself am Naples, who beheld the King my father’s wreck.”

Prospero: “Delicate Ariel, I’ll set thee free for this. (to Ferdinand) A word, good sir; I fear you have done yourself some wrong.”

Miranda: “Why speaks my father so ungently? This is the third man that ever I saw; the first that ever I sighed for. Pity move my father to be inclined my way!”

Ferdinand: “O, if a virgin, and your affections not gone forth, I’ll make you the Queen of Naples.

Prospero: “Soft, sir! One word more. (aside) They are both in either’s powers; but this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning make the prize light. (to Ferdinand) One word, I charge thee that thou attend me: thou dost put thyself upon this island as a spy, to win it from me, the lord on it.”

Ferdinand: “No, as I am a man.”

Miranda: “There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.”

Prospero: “Speak not you for him; he’s a traitor. Come; I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together. Sea-water shall thou drink; thy food shall be withered roots and husks.”

Ferdinand: “No. I will resist such entertainment till mine enemy has more power.”

Ferdinand draws and is charmed from moving

Miranda: “O dear father, make not too rash a trail of him, for he’s gentle.”

Prospero: “Put up thy sword, traitor; for I can here disarm thee with this stick and make thy weapon drop.”

Miranda: “Sir, have pity.”

Prospero: “Silence! One more word shall make me chide thee. What! An advocate for an imposter! Hush! Thou thinks there are no more such shapes as he, having seen but him and Caliban, and they to him are angels.”

Miranda: “I have no ambition to see a goodlier man.”

Prospero: “Come on; obey. Thy nerves are in their infancy again.”

Ferdinand: “So they are; My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up in my father’s loss, the weakness which I feel, the wreck of all my friends, this man’s threats to whom I am subdued, are but light to me, might I but through my prison once a day behold this maid. Space enough have I in such a prison.”

Prospero: (aside) “It works.”

Miranda: “My father’s of a better nature, sir, than he appears by speech; this is unwonted, which now came from him.”

Analysis

This 500 line scene follows up on the tempest itself. Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, has witnessed it and appeals to her father on behalf of the people on board the ships. Prospero assures her that nobody was hurt, that it was his magic that caused the storm and that it is time they talked about where they came from and who he is. They came from Milan where he was Duke before his brother, Antonio, conspired with Alonso, the King of Naples, to seize his dukedom and banish both he and Miranda to the sea and their likely deaths. But Prospero is very learned in the art of magic and he managed to enable them to safely arrive on the island they have been on now for 12 years. It was sheer luck that his enemies have just now floated so near their island, enabling Prospero to cause the storm which lands them within his reach. He has used his magic to ensure they are not harmed, but now he will finally engineer the revenge he has so long sought. He has had Ariel, his spirit, disperse them around the very parts of the island, as he chooses. Ariel wants to be set free, but Prospero needs this one task completed first. 

Act II (2 scenes)

Scene i

Another part of the island

Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian and Francisco

Gonzalo: “Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause. So have we all, of joy; for our escape is much beyond our loss. For the miracle, few in millions can speak like us. Then wisely, good sir, weigh our sorrow with our comfort.”

Alonso: “Prithee, peace. The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.”

Gonzalo: “Here is everything advantageous to life.”

Antonio: “True, save means to live.”

Sebastian: “Of that there’s none, or little.”

Gonzalo: “But the rarity of it is that our garments being, as they were, drenched in the sea, hold their freshness. Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we put them on.”

Alonso: “My son is lost. What strange fish hath made his meal on thee?”

Francisco: “Sir, he may live; I saw him beat the surges; he trod the water and oared himself with his good arms in lusty stroke to the shore. I doubt not that he came alive to land.”

Alonso: “No, no, he’s gone.”

Sebastian: “We have lost your son, I fear, forever.”

Gonzalo: “My lord Sebastian, the truth you speak doth lack some gentleness, and time to speak it in; you rub the sore, when you should bring the plaster.”

Enter Ariel, playing music

All fall asleep except Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio

Antonio: “We two, my lord, will guard your person while you take your rest, and watch your safety.”

Alonso: “Thank you – wondrous heavy.”

Alonso sleeps

Sebastian: “What a strange drowsiness possesses them! Why does it not then our eyelids sink? I find not myself disposed to sleep.”

Antonio: “Nor I; methinks I see it in thy face, what thou should be; my strong imagination sees a crown dropping upon thy head. Noble Sebastian, thou let’s thy fortune sleep – die rather; while thou are waking. The King’s son, tis impossible that he’s undrowned.”

Sebastian: “I have no hope that he is undrowned.”

Antonio: “O, out of that ‘no hope’ what great hope have you! No hope that way is another way so high a hope. Will you grant with me that Ferdinand is drowned?”

Sebastian: “He’s gone.”

Antonio: “Then tell me, who’s the next heir of Naples? O that you bore the mind that I do! Do you understand me?”

Sebastian: “I remember you did supplant your brother Prospero.”

Antonio: “True. And look how well my garments sit upon me; my brother’s servants are now my men.”

Sebastian: “But, for your conscience?”

Antonio: “Ay, sir; where lies that? Here lies your brother; if he were that which now he’s like – that’s dead; whom I with this obedient steel can lay to bed forever.”

Sebastian: “As thou got Milan, I’ll come by Naples. Draw thy sword. One stroke shall free thee from the tribute which thou pays; and I the king shall love thee.”

Antonio: “Draw together, and when I rear my hand, do you the like, to fall it on Gonzalo.”

Enter Ariel

Ariel: “My master through his art foresees the danger that you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth – for else his project dies – to keep them living.”

Ariel sings in Gonzalo’s ear

Antonio: “Then let us both be sudden.”

Gonzalo:”Now, good angels preserve the King!”

Alonso: “Why, how now? Why are you drawn?”

Gonzalo: “What’s the matter?”

Sebastian: “Whiles we stood here securing you repose, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing; did it not wake you?”

Alonso: “I heard nothing.”

Antonio: “Sure it was the roar of a whole herd of lions.”

Alonso: “Heard you this, Gonzalo?”

Gonzalo: “A humming did awake me; I shook you, sir, and cried; as my eyes opened, I saw their weapons drawn – there was a noise, that’s verily.”

Alonso: “Let’s make further search for my poor son. Lead the way.”

Analysis

While Alonso searches hopelessly for his son, Fernando, we already know that he is safe and falling in love with Miranda, Prospero’s daughter. While all but Sebastian and Antonio fall asleep, the two of them discuss murdering Alonso so that Sebastian can take over Naples just as Antonio has done in Milan, by usurping a brother’s crown. Just as they draw their swords to murder Alonso and Gonzalo, Ariel enters and distracts them with singing, which awakens both King Alonso and Gonzalo. Gonzalo shouts ‘preserve the King’ and this stirs everyone awake. We can now see the difference between the good Ferdinand and the good Gonzalo compared to the more evil and sinister Sebastian and Antonio, prepared, as they were, to murder the King, Alonso, just as they usurped Prospero’s title and left he and Miranda essentially to die at sea. 

Act II

Scene ii

Another part of the island

Enter Caliban with a burden of wood

Caliban: “All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs on Prospero fall, and make him a disease.”

Enter Trinculo

Caliban: “Here comes a spirit of his to torment me for bringing wood in slowly. I’ll fall flat.”

Trinculo: “Here’s neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all, and another storm is brewing. I know not where to hide my head. What have we hear? A man or a fish? Dead or alive? a fish: he smells like a fish. A strange fish. Were I in England now, there would this monster make a man. He’s legged like a man and his fins are like arms. I do now let loose my opinion: this is no fish, but an islander. (thunder) Alas, the storm has come again! My best way is to creep under his gaberdine; misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.”

Enter Stephano, singing, and drinking from a bottle in his hand

Stephano: “I shall no more to sea; here shall I die ashore. Here’s my comfort.”

Caliban: “Do not torment me, O.”

Stephano: “Have we devils here? Ha! I have not escaped drowning to be afeared now of your four legs. This is some monster of the isle with four legs. Where the devil should he learn our language? If I can recover him, and keep him tame, and get to Naples with him, he’s a present for any emperor.”

Caliban: “Do not torment me.”

Stephano: “He shall taste of my bottle.”

Caliban: “Thou does me yet but little hurt.”

Stephano: “Open your mouth; here is that which will give language to you. Open your mouth.”

Trinculo: “I should know that voice; it should be – but he is drowned; and these are devils. O, defend me!”

Stephano: “Four legs and two voices; a most delicate monster! His forward voice, now, is to speak well of his friend; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches and to detract. Come – Amen! I will pour some in thy other mouth.”

Trinculo: “Stephano!”

Stephano: “Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy! This is a devil and no monster.”

Trinculo: “Stephano! If thou be Stephano speak to me; for I am Trinculo.”

Stephano: “If thou be Trinculo, come forth; I’ll pull thee by the lesser legs.”

Trinculo: “Art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hid me under the dead moon-calf’s gaberdine for fear of the storm.”

Caliban: (aside) “These be fine things. And bears celestial liquor. I will kneel to him.”

Stephano: “How did thou escape? Swear by this bottle how thou came hither.”

Caliban: “I’ll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject, for the liquor is not earthly.”

Stephano: (passing the bottle) “Here, kiss the book.”

Trinculo: “O Stephano, hast any more of this?”

Stephano: “My cellar is in a rock by the seaside, where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf!”

Caliban: “Hast thou not dropped from heaven?”

Stephano: “Come, kiss the book. I will furnish it anon with new contents.”

Caliban drinks

Trinculo: “This is a very shallow monster. A most poor credulous monster. Well drawn, monster!”

Caliban: “I’ll show thee every fertile inch of the island; and I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my god.”

Trinculo: “A most perfidious and drunken monster!”

Caliban: “I’ll kiss thy foot; I’ll swear myself thy subject.”

Trinculo: “I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him.”

Caliban: “I’ll show thee the best springs; I’ll pluck thee berries; I’ll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough. A plague upon the tyrant that I serve! I’ll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee, thou wondrous man.”

Trinculo: “A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a poor drunkard!”

Caliban: “Let me bring thee where crabs grow and instruct thee how to snare the nimble marmoset.”

Stephano: “Lead the way without any more talking.”

Caliban: (sings drunkenly) Farewell, master.”

Trinculo: “A howling monster; a drunken monster.”

Caliban: “Caliban has a new master! Freedom, freedom!”

Stephano: “O brave monster! Lead the way.”

Analysis

Caliban thinks Trinculo is one of Prospero’s spirits and lies down to hide under his cloak. Trinculo hears the storm coming and climbs under the cloak for safety. He cannot decide whether Caliban is a man or a fish. Stephano enters with a bottle of booze and sees the cloak with four legs sticking out of it and assumes it is a four legged monster. Stephano offers the monster a drink in both of its mouths. Stephano and Trinculo recognize one another and Caliban loves the liquor so much he believes that Stephano is a god worthy of being worshipped. The two men think Caliban a most curious monster and Caliban promises to take them all over the island and show them springs, berries and wood. Trinculo and Stephano, a butler and a jester from the ship, are comic foils to the main action in the play and one might have thought that Caliban would know better, except the liquor presides him otherwise, at least for the time being. 

Act III (3 scenes)

Scene I

Before Prospero’s cell

Enter Ferdinand, bearing logs

Ferdinand: “There be some sports are painful. This my mean task would be as heavy to me as odious, but the mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead, and makes my labours pleasures. I must remove some thousands of these logs, and pile them up; my sweet mistress weeps when she sees me work.”

Enter Miranda, and Prospero unseen

Miranda: “Alas, now; pray you, work not so hard. Set it down and rest. My father is hard at study; pray, now, rest yourself. If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while; pray give me that; I’ll carry it to the pile.”

Ferdinand: “No, precious creature; I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo.”

Miranda: “You look wearily.”

Ferdinand: “No, noble mistress; ’tis fresh morning with me when you are by at night. What is your name?”

Miranda: “Miranda.”

Ferdinand: “Admired Miranda! Indeed the top of admiration. O you, so perfect and so peerless, are created of every creature’s best!”

Miranda: “I do not know one of my sex; no woman’s face remember, save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen more that I may call men than you, good friend, and my dear father. But I would not wish any companion in the world but you.”

Ferdinand: “I am, in my condition, a prince, Miranda. Hear my soul speak: the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly to your service; and for your sake am I this patient log-man.”

Miranda: “Do you love me?”

Ferdinand: “O heaven, O earth, I, beyond all limit of what else in the world, do love, prize, honour you.”

Miranda: “I am a fool to weep at what I am glad of.”

Prospero: (aside) “Fair encounter of two most rare affections!”

Ferdinand: “Wherefore you weep?”

Miranda: “At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer what I desire to give, and much less take what I shall die to want. Hence, bashful cunning! I am your wife, if you will marry me; if not, I’ll die your maid. My husband, then?”

Ferdinand: “Ay. Here’s my hand.”

Miranda: “And mine, with my heart in it. And now farewell till half an hour hence.”

Exit Ferdinand and Miranda separately 

Analysis

Ferdinand seems to have taken over Caliban’s job of moving logs. But he doesn’t mind at all as it serves to advance his relationship with Miranda. They are quickly falling in love with one another. Indeed, she asks him if he loves her and he answers enthusiastically. They determine to marry. Prospero has been listening and watching them and this seems a part of his master plan of managing the events surrounding the tempest he has raised. He is proud of his daughter, approves of her choice but remains somewhat sad to see her finally growing up and discovering the world. Prospero does not give up control easily.

Act III

Scene ii

Another part of the island

Enter Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo

Stephano: “Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack. Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster. Moon-calf, speak.”

Caliban: “How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I’ll not serve him; he is not valiant.”

Trinculo: “Thou liest, most ignorant monster. Will thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?”

Caliban: “Lo, how he mocks me! Will thou let him, my lord? Bite him to death, I prithee.”

Stephano: “Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head. The poor monster’s my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.”

Caliban: “I thank my noble lord.”

Enter Ariel, invisible

Caliban: “I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.”

Ariel: “Thou liest.”

Caliban: “Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou; I would my valiant master would destroy thee. I do not lie.”

Stephano: “Trinculo, if you trouble him any more, I will supplant some of your teeth.”

Trinculo: “Why, I said nothing.”

Caliban: “Thou shalt be lord of it all, and I’ll serve thee.”

Stephano: “Can you bring me to the party?”

Caliban: “Yea, my lord; I’ll yield him thee asleep, where thou may knock a nail into his head.”

Ariel: “Thou liest; thou cannot.”

Caliban: “Thou scurvy patch! I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows, and take his bottle from him.”

Stephano: “Trinculo, run into no further danger; interrupt the monster one word further and, by this hand, I’ll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a stock-fish of thee.”

Trinculo: “Why, what did I? I did nothing.”

Stephano: “Did not thou say he lied?”

Ariel: “Thou liest.”

Stepano: “Do I so? Take thou that. (beats him) As you like this, give me the lie another time.”

Trinculo: “I did not give the lie. Out of your wits and hearing too? A pox on your bottle! This can sack and drinking do.”

Caliban: “Ha, ha ha! beat him enough; after a little time, I’ll beat him too.”

Stephano: “Come, proceed.”

Caliban: “‘Tis a custom with him in the afternoon to sleep; there thou may brain him, having first seized his books; or with a log batter his skull. Remember, first to possess his books; for without them he is but a sot. Burn but his books. And then most deeply to consider is the beauty of his daughter. She will welcome thy bed, I warrant, and bring thee forth brave brood.”

Stephano: “Monster, I will kill this man; his daughter and I will be king and queen and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?”

Trinculo:”Excellent.”

Stephano: “Give me thy hand; I am sorry I beat thee.”

Caliban: “Within this half hour will he be asleep. Will thou destroy him then?”

Stephano: “Ay, on my hour.”

Ariel: “This will I tell my master.”

Caliban: “Thou makes me merry; I am full of pleasure.”

Ariel plays music

Trinculo: “This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of nobody.”

Stephano: “If thou be a man, show thyself in thy likeness.”

Trinculo: “O, forgive me my sins.”

Caliban: “Be not afeared. This isle is full of noises that give delight, and hurt not.”

Stepano: “This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.”

Caliban: “When Prospero is destroyed.”

Analysis

We are back with Caliban, Stephano an Trinculo again as they wander the island drunk. Caliban convinces Stephano to kill Prospero, make Miranda his queen and take control of the entire island. Fortunately, Ariel is there and overhears everything. Caliban is very happy to serve his new, drunken, master and be rid of Prospero. But naturally, Arial will inform Prospero of the plot on his life.

Act III

Scene iii

Another part of the island

Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio and Gonzalo

Gonzalo: “I can go no further, sir; my old bones ache. I needs must rest.”

Alonso: “O lord, I cannot blame thee; sit down and rest. Even here I will put off my hope; he is drowned whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks our frustrated search on land.”

Antonio: (aside to Sebastian) “Do not, for one repulse, forgo the purpose you resolved.”

Sebastian: (aside to Antonio) “Let it be tonight.”

Music is heard and Prospero is present but invisible. Enter several strange shapes, bringing in a banquet, dancing and inviting the King to eat. They depart.

Alonso: “What harmony is this?”

Gonzalo: “Marvellous, sweet music.”

Sebastian: “Now I will believe that there are unicorns.”

Gonzalo: “If in Naples I should report this, would they believe me? If I should say, I saw such islanders, who though they are of monstrous shape yet, their manners are more gentle than of our human generation you shall find.”

Prospero: (aside) “Honest lord, thou hast said well; for some of you there present are worse than devils.”

Thunder and lightning. Enter Ariel. The banquet vanishes

Ariel: “You are three men of sin, whom destiny has caused to belch you up; you amongst men being most unfit to live. I have made you mad.” 

Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio draw their swords

Ariel: “You fools! The elements of whom your swords are tempered may as well wound the winds; my fellow ministers are invulnerable. Remember, that you three from Milan did supplant good Prospero; him, and his innocent child; for which foul deed the powers, delaying, not forgetting, have incensed the seas and shores against your peace.”

Ariel vanishes in thunder; then music returns along with the shapes, who dance and mock

Prospero: “Bravely hast thou performed, my Ariel. And these mine enemies are all knit up in their distractions. They now are in my power.”

Gonzalo: “Sir, why stand you in this strange stare?”

Alonso: “O, it is monstrous, monstrous! Methought the billows spoke, the wings did sing, and the thunder pronounced the name of Prospero.”

Analysis

King Alonso and his companions are walking all over the island exhausted. Alonso has pretty much given up on finding his son, Ferdinand, alive and Sebastian and Antonio still await an opportunity to kill Alonso and take over the island. Then strange music plays and spirits present a banquet. The visitors can hardly believe their eyes. But just as suddenly Ariel appears as a harpy and the banquet vanishes. Ariel accuses them of the crime of usurping Prospero’s throne and abandoning he and Miranda to the sea. Prospero applauds the work of Ariel, as now his enemies are all under his power and control. This is the highlight of Prospero’s revenge, as his victims are confronted with their crimes and await their punishment.

Act IV (1 scene)

Scene i

Before Prospero’s cell

Enter Prospero, Ferdinand and Miranda

Prospero: “If I have too austerely punished you, your compensation makes amends; for I have given you here a third of mine own life, or that for which I live; all thy vexations were but my trial of thy love, and thou hast strangely stood the test. Then, as my gift, worthily purchased, take my daughter. But if thou does break her virgin-knot before all sanctimonious ceremonies, barren hate, disdain and discord shall bestrew the union of your bed with weeds. Therefore take heed, as Hymen’s lamps shall light you.”

Ferdinand: “As I hope for quiet days, fair issue, and long life, our worser genius can never melt mine honour into lust.”

Prospero: “Fairly spoke. Sit, then, and talk with her; she is thine.”

Enter Ariel

Prospero: “Go bring the rabble here to this place; for I must bestow upon the eyes of this young couple some vanity of mine own art; it is my promise, and they expect it from me.”

Ariel: “Do you love me, master? No?”

Prospero: “Dearly, my delicate Ariel.”

Enter Iris

Iris: “Ceres, most bounteous lady.”

Juno descends in her car

Enter Ceres

Ceres: “Hail, many-coloured messenger. Why hath thy Queen summoned me hither?”

Iris: “A contact of true love to celebrate.”

Ceres: “Highest Queen of state, great Juno, comes.”

Juno: “Go with me to bless this twain, that they may prosperous be and honoured in their issue.”

They sing

Juno: “Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, long continuance, and increasing, hourly joys be still upon you!”

Ceres: “Earth’s increase, barns never empty; vines with clustering bunches growing. Scarcity and want shall shun you., Ceres’ blessing so is on you.”

Ferdinand: “This is a most majestic vision. May I be bold to think these spirits?”

Prospero: “Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines called to enact my present fancies.”

Ferdinand: “Let me live here ever; so rare a wondered father makes this place paradise.”

Iris: “You nymphs, answer your summons; come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate a contract of pure love.”

Enter nymphs

Iris: “Come hither and be merry; make holiday.”

Prospero: (aside) “I had forgot that foul conspiracy of the beast Caliban and his confederates against my life; the minute of their plot is almost come. (to the spirits) Well done; no more!”

Ferdinand: “This is strange; your father’s in some passion that works him strongly.”

Miranda: “Never till this day saw I him touched with anger so distempered.”

Prospero: “You do look, my son, as if you were dismayed; be cheerful, sir. Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air; and, like the basic fabric of this vision, the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself, yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, and, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed; bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled; be not disturbed with my infirmity, A turn or two I’ll walk to still my beating mind. Ariel, come.”

Ariel: “Thy thoughts I cleave too. What’s thy pleasure?”

Prospero: “Spirit, we must prepare to meet with Caliban.”

Ariel: “They were red hot with drinking, yet always bending towards their project.”

Prospero: “A devil, a born devil, on whose nature nurture can never stick; and as with age his body uglier grows, so his mind cankers. I will plague them all, even to roaring.”

Prospero and Ariel remains invisible 

Enter Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo

Caliban: “Pray you, tread softly; we now are near his cell. Prithee, my king, be quiet. This is the mouth of the cell; no noise, and enter. Do that good mischief which may make this island thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban, for aye thy foot licker.” 

Stephano: “Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.”

Trinculo: “O King Stephano! O peer! Look what a wardrobe here is for thee.”

Caliban: “Leave it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.”

Stephano: “Put off that gown, Trinculo.”

Caliban: “Do the murder first. If he awake, from toe to crown he’ll fill our skins with pinches.”

Enter spirits in the shape of dogs and hounds, hunting

Prospero: “Fury, fury! There, tyrant, there! hark, hark!”

Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo are driven away

Prospero: “Go charge my goblins that they grind their joints with dry convulsions, shorten up their sinews with aged cramps.”

Ariel: “Hark, they roar.”

Prospero: “Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour lies at my mercy all mine enemies. Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou shall have the air of freedom.”

Analysis

Prospero finally gives his blessing to Ferdinand and Miranda. He arranges for a very festive gathering of spirits to sing and dance for the couple’s engagement. But they are not just any spirits. In fact, they are Juno, Queen of the gods, Iris, Juno’s messenger, and Ceres, the goddess of agriculture. They bless the couple with song and dance but the celebration is quickly ended when Prospero realizes that Caliban and his confederates are presently intent on killing him in his cell. Prospero makes a famous speech about the world being as insubstantial as a play. ‘We are such stuff as dream are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.’ Just as Caliban and his two friends are entering the cell Prospero sends a pack of wild hounds after them, which scares them off. Prospero is in total control. Caliban and company seem as comic figures against his magic, Miranda and Ferdinand are a lovely couple and his enemies approach, as does Act V.

Act V (1 scene)

Scene i

Before Prospero’s cell

Enter Prospero in his magic robes, and Ariel

Prospero: “Now does my project gather to a head. Say, my spirit, how fares the king and his followers?”

Ariel: “Confined together just as you left them; all prisoners, sir; they cannot budge till your release. The King, his brother, and yours, abide all three distracted, full of sorrow and dismay. Your charm so strongly works them that if you now beheld them your affections would become tender.”

Prospero: “Dost thou think so, spirit?”

Ariel: “Mine would, sir, were I human.”

Prospero: “And mine shall. Hast thou, which are but air, a touch, a feeling of their afflictions, and shall not myself, one of their kind, be kindlier moved than thou art? The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance, they being penitent. The sole drift of my purpose doth extend not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel; my charms I’ll break, their senses I’ll restore, and they shall be themselves.”

Ariel: “I’ll fetch them, sir.”

Prospero: “I have be-dimmed the noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds. To the dead rattling thunder have I given fire, the strong-based promontory have I made shake, graves at my command have awaken’d their sleepers, opened up, and let them forth, by my so potent art. But this rough magic I abjure; I’ll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and I’ll drown my book.”

Ariel enters, then Alonso, attended by Gonzalo, Sebastian and Antonio. They stand in a circle, charmed by Prospero

Prospero: “A solemn air within thy skull! There stand, for you are spell-stopped. Holy Gonzalo, honourable man, my true preserver, and a loyal sir. Most cruelly did thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter; thy brother was a furtherer in the act. Thou art pinched for it now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood, you, brother mine, that entertained ambition, who, with Sebastian – whose inward pinches therefore are most strong – would here have killed your king, I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art. Ariel, fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell. I will present as I was sometimes Milan. My dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee; but yet thou shall have freedom. To the King’s ship, there shall you find the mariners asleep under the hatches. Being awakened, enforce them to this place; and presently, I prithee. Behold, Sir King, the wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero. And to thee and thy company I bid a hearty welcome.”

Alonso: “Since I saw thee, the affliction of my mind amends, with which, I fear, a madness held me. Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero be living and be here?”

Prospero: “Welcome, my friends all! (aside to Sebastian and Antonio) But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, I here could pluck his highness’ frown upon you, and justify you traitors; at this time I will tell no tales.”

Sebastian: (aside) “The devil speaks in him.”

Prospero: “No. For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother would even infect my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault, all of them; and require my dukedom of thee, which perforce I know thou must restore.”

Alonso: “If thou be Prospero, give us particulars of your preservation; how thou hast met us here, where I have lost my dear son, Ferdinand.”

Prospero: “Howsoever you have been justled from your senses, know for certain that I am Prospero. Welcome, sir; this cell’s my court; here have I few attendants.”

Prospero shows Miranda and Ferdinand playing chess

Alonso: “Now all the blessings of a glad father compass thee about! Arise, and say how thou came here.”

Miranda: “O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in it!”

Prospero: “‘Tis new to thee.”

Alonso: “What is this maid?”

Ferdinand: “She’s mine. I chose her when I could not ask my father for his advice, nor thought I had one. She is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan, of whom I have received a second life and second father this lady makes him to me.”

Gonzalo: “Look down, you gods, and on this couple drop a blessed crown.”

Alonso: “I say, amen, Gonzalo. (to Ferdinand and Miranda) Give me your hands. Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart that doth not wish you joy.”

Re-enter Ariel with the Boatswain amazed

Gonzalo: “What is the news?”

Boatswain: “The best news is that we have safely found our King and company; the next, our ship is tight and yare, and bravely rigged, as when we first put out to sea.”

Ariel: (aside to Prospero) “Sir, all this service have I done since I went.”

Prospero: (aside to Ariel) “My tricksy spirit!”

Alonso: “These are not natural events; they strengthen from strange too stranger. Say, how came you hither?”

Boatswain: “We were dead asleep, and all clapped under hatches. We were awakened; straightway at liberty.”

Prospero: (aside to Ariel) “Come hither, spirit; set Caliban and his companions free; there are yet missing of your company some few odd lads that you remember not.”

Re-enter Ariel with Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo

Prospero: “These three have robbed me; and this Demi-devil had plotted with them to take my life. Two of these fellows you must know and own; this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.”

Caliban: “I shall be pinched to death.”

Sebastian: “He is drunk now; where had he wine?”

Alonso: “And Trinculo is reeling ripe; where should they find this grand liquor?”

Sebastian: “Why, how now, Stephano?”

Stephano: “O touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.”

Alonso: (pointing to Caliban) “This is as strange a thing as ever I looked on.”

Prospero: “He is as disproportioned in his manners as in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell.”

Caliban: “Ay, that I will; and I will be wise hereafter, and seek for grace. What a thrice double ass was I to take this drunkard for a god, and worship this dull fool!”

Prospero: “Go to, away.”

Exit Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo

Prospero: “Sir, I invite your highness and your train to my poor cell, where you shall take your rest for this one night, which I’ll waste with such discourse as, I doubt not, shall make it go quick away – the story of my life. And in the morn I’ll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples, where I have hope to see the nuptial of these our dear beloved solemnized, and thence retire me to my Milan, where every third thought shall be my grave.”

Alonso: “I long to hear the story of your life.”

Prospero: “I’ll deliver all; and promise you calm seas. (aside to Ariel) My Ariel, That is thy charge. Then to the elements. Be free, and fare thou well!”

Analysis

Once Ariel informs Prospero that the King and his companions are under guard Prospero delivers his speech about giving up his art and drowning his book, for his job is done. Prospero speaks to his captives and forgives the King and even Sebastian and Antonio for their past crimes against him. He merely demands the return of his dukedom. The King still mourns for his lost son and Prospero shows him Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess together. Naturally the King is thrilled. Miranda is also thrilled to see so many new people: ‘O brave new world that has such people in it.’ After dealing with Caliban, Prospero invites the King to spend the night, where he will tell the gatherers the story of his past twelve years before everyone sails to Naples for the wedding of Miranda and Ferdinand. 

Prospero has fulfilled his wish. His daughter is marrying a fine young man and he is being reinstated as the Duke of Naples, having made peace with the very people who were responsible for he and Miranda spending the last twelve years here on the island with Caliban and Ariel. He no longer requires his magical arts and, much like Shakespeare himself, he is prepared to return home and live out the final portion of his life in peace.

Epilogue

“Now my charms are all overthrown, and what strength I have’s mine own, which is most faint. Now ’tis true, I must be here confined by you, or sent to Naples. But release me from my bands with the help of your good hands. Gentle breath of yours my sails must fill, or else my project fails, which was to please. And my ending is despair unless I be relieved by prayer, as you from crimes would pardoned be, let your indulgence set me free.”

Analysis

Prospero tells the audience that he is confined by them, but could be released simply by their applause, which he hopes for, since all he ever intended was to please. Sounds like a combination of Prospero and Shakespeare here and that has always been the speculation, that Shakespeare is saying goodbye to his audience and his magical art once and for all. He is about to return home to Stratford, just as Prospero is returning to Naples and Milan. Adieu, Master Shakespeare and thank you. 

Final Thoughts

This is one of only perhaps two plays that are Shakespeare originals, not based upon earlier works. The other is Love’s Labour’s Lost. The Tempest was likely written and first staged in 1611 and Richard Burbage played Prospero. The play was transformed into an Opera in 1667 and called The Enchanted Island. It was very popular for over a century and a half. The special effects required 140 technicians. Forty-six different operas have been written for The Tempest. It was not until after 1900 that the original text was restored. John Gielgud has been the most admired Prospero since that time, portraying the lead in four separate productions. Max Von Sydow, Derek Jacobi, Vanessa Redgrave, Charles Laughton, Ralph Richardson and Patrick Stewart also played notable Prosperos. According to critics, Richard Burton portrayed the finest Caliban while Peggy Ashcroft, Jessica Tandy and Claire Bloom were notable Mirandas. Thee are several full length plays and films of The Tempest on youtube along with lots of analysis and many clips.