THE TEMPEST - PARAGRAPH
THE TEMPEST
By William Shakespeare
Introduction:
The Tempest was considered as one of the Shakespeare's
well-written play. It is believed that
the play was based on an actual wreck of a ship called the Sea venture of Bermuda
that was headed to Virginia. There is a strong evidence that Shakespeare used
elements of the story of the wreck.
My library was dukedom large enough. - (Prospero, Act 1 Scene 2) |
Tragedy that surrounded Prospero:
When the play, The Tempest
by William Shakespeare begins Prospero the overthrown Duke of Milan, and his
teenage daughter, Miranda live on an isolated island where they have been
marooned for the past twelve years. Their only companions are Ariel, a magical
spirit and Caliban, enslaved by Prospero. Prospero was originally Duke of Milan
but his position was appropriated by his brother Antonio possibly with the
approval of king of Naples.
“Let us not burthen our remembrance with
|
Ariel’s violent storm:
A ship with king of Naples,
his son Ferdinand, Antonio and the other nobles, is wrecked in Sea storm
created by the spirit Ariel, under the magic art of Prospero. Ariel explains
that he has carried out Prospero’s orders. He admits that he had destroyed the
ship and dispersed its passengers across the Island. Prospero instructs Ariel
to be invisible and spy on them. Prospero explains to his daughter that the
crew members in the ship are all safe and sound when he sees her glum. He puts
Miranda to sleep as Ariel comes there to report that the lords are on the
island as he had commanded, with Ferdinand separated from the others. Caliban,
a vicious native of the island who is
also controlled by Prospero, expresses his hatred to Prospero, but is forced to
do his command.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
-
Ariel (Act
1, Scene 2) |
Ferdinand meets Miranda:
Prospero gets Ariel to
lead Ferdinand across the island so that he meets Miranda, and fall in love. As
planned, Ferdinand stumbles across Miranda and they fall in love and decided to
marry. Prospero warns Miranda off and
decides to test Ferdinand’s loyalty. To test his worth, Prospero makes
Ferdinand’s carry out menial tasks. Ferdinand finds his labour pleasant because
of Miranda. Miranda, thinking that her father is asleep, tells Ferdinand to
take break. They propose marriage and they accept each other. Prospero who has
been on stage invisible to Ferdinand and Miranda is pleased with this
development.
“Good wombs have borne bad sons.”
-
Miranda (Act 1, Scene 2) |
Grieving
ship wrecked crew:
The rest of the shipwrecked crew are grieving
for their lost, loved ones. The search for Ferdinand goes in vain and Antonio
and the king of naplesfear him drowned. Gonzalo and the others think that the
spellbound men are suffering from the guilt of their past actions and promise
to ensure their safety.
“Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” |
King of Naples punished for disloyalty:
Ariel places a magical delicious
banquet before the lords which vanishes when they crave to eat. Ariel leads the
lords to Prospero, and they stand in a trance before him.
“Now I will believe that there are unicorns...” |
Prospero pardons Antonio:
Ariel rouses them, and they beg
forgiveness, which Prospero grants, and he is restored to his dukedom.
Ferdinand and Miranda are then revealed to them to their happiness. At the end
of the play, Ariel is told to provide good weather to guide the king’s ship
back to the royal fleet and then to Naples, where Ferdinand and Miranda will be
married.
“What’s
past is prologue.” -
Antonio (Act 2, Scene 1) |
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