The+Tempest

=**__THE TEMPEST__**=

[|The Tempest] is one of Shakespeare's comedies. Though it is believed by some to be his final play, //The Two Noble Kinsmen// and //Henry VIII// were written later. However, the last scene of the play in which Prospero surrenders his magic is thought to be Shakespeare "farewell to the stage". It is the final of his four great romances along with //Pericles, Cymbeline,// and //The Winter's Tale//. //The Tempest// combines tragedy, romantic comedy and poses deep unanswered question, in the romantic style that brings the characters at the end to harmony in a happy ending. The Tempest can be boiled down to a single question, which Shakespeare asked in many of his plays "What is a human being?"

__Summary__
Prospero, a sorcerer and duke of Milan and his daughter have been stranded on an island for twelve years. Prospero's jealous brother Antonio, sent him adrift with his three year old daughter in order to obtain dukedom. Prospero is served by two creatures of the island. One, is the sprite Ariel which he saved from entrapment for eternity. She had been trapped by the withc Sycorax who died upon Prospero's arrival to the island. The other is a monterous creature named Caliban, he is the witch's son. Caliban taught Prospero and Miranda how to survive on the island and in turn they taught him religion and language. However, Caliban fell out of their good graces upon trying to take advantage of Miranda. Prospero forced him to serve as a slave.

The play begins on a ship, which Antonio, Alonso, the King of Naples, and Ferdinand, his son, Sebastian, Alonso's brother, and others are on board. As the ship is passing the island, Prospero raises a terrible storm, causing the ship to run aground. With his magic Prospero separates the members of the ship so that each believes the others are dead.

Three plots follow the shipwreck. In one Trinculo and Stephano, two drunken men, find Caliban. They soon get Caliban drunk as well and the three plan a rebellioin against Prospero. In another plot, Prospero is trying to form a relationship between Ferdinand and Miranda, who fall in love instantly. Prospero is not satisfied though, he makes Ferdinand become his servant so to prove he loves Miranda. In the third plot, Antonio and Sebastian are conspriing to kill Alonso and his advisor Gonzalo so that Sebastian may become King. The play is thwarted when Ariel, upon Prospero's command, appears to them as a harpy and chastises them for betraying Prospero.

In the conclusion of the play, all are brought together before Prospero. Prospero shows them that Miranda and Ferdinand have fallen in love and must be married upon their arrival back to Italy. He forgives his betrayers, and frees the spirit Ariel. He uses his magic to ensure that everyone returns to Italty and then gives up his magic to return to Milan.

__Dramatis Personae__
Prospero; Duke of Milian Miranda; his daughter Ariel; Prospero's servant, spirit of the island Caliban; Prospero's servant Ferdinand; Son of Alonso Alonso; King of Naples Antonio; Prospero's brother Sebastian; Alonso's brother Gonzalo; an old, honest lord Trinculo; a jester Stefano; a drunken butler Sycorax; witch and mother of Caliban (does not appear in play) Iris, Ceres and Juno; spirits

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