The Tempest
Major Characters
Miranda Prospero's daughter.
Antonio Prospero's younger brother.
Ariel A spirit of the air.
Caliban The offspring of the witch Sycorax and the devil.
Ferdinand The son of the king of Naples.
Alonso The king of Naples.
Sebastian Alonso's brother.
Gonzalo A counselor who saves Prospero's and Miranda's lives when they are exiled.
Stefano The king's butler.
Trinculo The king's jester.
Francisco and Adrian Two of the king's lords.
Boatswain The ship's petty officer. He is in charge of the deck crew.
About the Play
The Tempest published in 1611 and was selected for the performance on wedding celebration for Princess Elizabeth and the Elector Palatine. It was the last play by Shakespeare that written without collaboration.
Summary
His brother Antonio has exiled Prospero, the Duke of Milan and living on an island with his child Miranda together. The island, the place of banishment, once used to be the home of a witch called Sycorax. Prospero has the knowledge of magic that he uses to release the spirits imprisoned by the witch, and these now work for the Prospero. Caliban, the witch’s son is also under the control of Prospero and provides services for him. They are living there for twelve years and have no contact by any means form the outer world.
The play begins with a shipwreck carrying the usurper, Alonso, king of Naples, Alonso’s brother Sebastian and son Ferdinand. The plan of the shipwreck is rather operated by the Prospero; he used magical power to wreck the ship. The passengers are saved, but the Ferdinand remained aloof and thought to be drowned in the sea. Ferdinand, according to Prospero’s planning, is left with Miranda to have acquaintances; eventually, they fall in love. Prospero seems to be harsher to Ferdinand and examines his genuine character; he went through the hostile treatments of Prospero. On another part Alonso and Gonzalo, who had helped the Prospero in his banishment. Caliban became ready to kill the Prospero as performing his service to Stefano, a drunken butler, and Trinculo. As the conspirators approach, Prospero breaks off the masque of Iris, Juno, Ceres, which Ariel has presented to Ferdinand and Miranda. Caliban, Stefano, and Trinculo are driven off and Ariel brings the king and his courtiers to Prospero’s cell. All meet together and resolves all misunderstandings or wrong deeds to each other. Prospero greets Gonzalo his old preserver, forgives his brother, Antonio, on the condition that he will restore his dukedom. Alonso reunites with his son Ferdinand , who is discovered playing chess with Miranda. Alonso repents his wrong deeds done to Prospero. Antonio and Sebastian do not speak directly to Prospero, but pass ironical comments with each other.
Before leaving for Italy, Prospero frees Ariel from his service and leaves Caliban once more alone on the island.
Some Important Extracts from the Text
O, I have suffered
With those that I saw suffer.
(Miranda, Act 1 Scene 2)
With those that I saw suffer.
(Miranda, Act 1 Scene 2)
My library was dukedom large enough.
(Prospero, Act 1 Scene 2)
(Prospero, Act 1 Scene 2)
Ferdinand,
With hair up-staring – then like reeds, not hair –
Was the first man that leaped; cried ‘Hell is empty
And all the devils are here.’
(Ariel, Act 1 Scene 2)
With hair up-staring – then like reeds, not hair –
Was the first man that leaped; cried ‘Hell is empty
And all the devils are here.’
(Ariel, Act 1 Scene 2)
For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own king.
(Caliban, Act 1 Scene 2)
Which first was mine own king.
(Caliban, Act 1 Scene 2)
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
(Trinculo, Act 2 Scene 2)
(Trinculo, Act 2 Scene 2)
Hast thou not dropped from heaven?
(Caliban, Act 2 Scene 2)
(Caliban, Act 2 Scene 2)
I am your wife, if you will marry me:
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me, but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.
(Miranda, Act 3 Scene 1)
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me, but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.
(Miranda, Act 3 Scene 1)
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked,
I cried to dream again.
(Caliban, Act 3 Scene 2)
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked,
I cried to dream again.
(Caliban, Act 3 Scene 2)
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 baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd 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.
(Prospero, Act 4 Scene 1)
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd 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.
(Prospero, Act 4 Scene 1)
Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell I lie:
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily, shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
(Ariel, Act 5 Scene 1)
In a cowslip's bell I lie:
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily, shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
(Ariel, Act 5 Scene 1)
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't.
(Miranda, Act 5 Scene 1)
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't.
(Miranda, Act 5 Scene 1)
As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
(Prospero, Epilogue)
Let your indulgence set me free.
(Prospero, Epilogue)
Previous Posts:
Shakespearean Drama
Paraphrases of the poems
Miscellaneous
No comments:
Post a Comment