William Shakespeare – The Tempest (Detailed Act and Scene-wise Summary)
The Tempest (c. 1610–1611) is Shakespeare’s last independently written play and one of his greatest romances. It blends tragedy, comedy, and reconciliation through the story of the exiled Duke Prospero, his daughter Miranda, and the magical island they inhabit. The play unfolds in five acts, containing ten scenes and a brief epilogue, moving from chaos to harmony, wrath to forgiveness, and illusion to reality.
Act I – The Storm and the Revelation
Scene 1: The Shipwreck
The play opens with thunder and lightning at sea. A ship carrying King Alonso of Naples, his brother Sebastian, Prince Ferdinand, and Antonio (Duke of Milan, Prospero’s brother) is caught in a violent tempest. Amid cries of “All lost! To prayers!”, nobles and sailors clash over authority. The ship appears to sink — but the “wreck” is an illusion, a magical storm conjured by Prospero.
Scene 2: Prospero’s Story
On the island, Prospero tells Miranda their history. He was once Duke of Milan, but his brother Antonio usurped his power with the help of King Alonso. Cast adrift, Prospero and Miranda were saved by Gonzalo, who supplied food, water, and Prospero’s books of magic. Prospero commands Ariel, a spirit of air whom he freed from imprisonment by the witch Sycorax. Another islander, Caliban (Sycorax’s son), curses Prospero’s rule but remains his servant. Ariel reports that everyone from the ship is safe and scattered around the island. Ferdinand meets Miranda—and they fall in love at first sight, to Prospero’s secret delight.
Act II – The Conspiracies
Scene 1: Alonso’s Despair and the Treachery of Antonio and Sebastian
Alonso mourns his son Ferdinand, whom he believes drowned. The old counselor Gonzalo tries to console him, dreaming aloud of an ideal commonwealth without sovereignty. As Alonso and Gonzalo fall asleep, Antonio tempts Sebastian to murder his brother and take the crown of Naples. Their daggers are drawn—but Ariel awakens Gonzalo in time to stop them. This subplot mirrors the theme of ambition and usurpation.
Scene 2: Caliban’s New Masters
Caliban, gathering wood, curses Prospero. He encounters Trinculo (a jester) and Stephano (a drunken butler). Mistaking them for divine beings, Caliban swears loyalty to Stephano, calling him “my new master.” The comic trio plans to kill Prospero, take his daughter, and rule the island. This parody of political ambition provides satirical contrast to the main plot.
Scene 3: The Journey Continues
The nobles wander, confused by Ariel’s enchantments. Ariel’s music leads them deeper into the island. The scene transitions toward Prospero’s greater plan of repentance and recognition.
Act III – Temptations and Trials
Scene 1: Ferdinand’s Labour of Love
Prospero sets Ferdinand to carry logs, testing his love for Miranda. Miranda, moved by compassion, helps him and confesses her affection. Their simple yet poetic dialogue—“I am your wife, if you will marry me”—marks the play’s emotional center: love disciplined by virtue.
Scene 2: Caliban’s Rebellion
Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo grow drunk and plot Prospero’s murder. Caliban urges them to seize Prospero’s magic books first—his source of power. Their grotesque alliance echoes the theme of power corrupted by ignorance.
Scene 3: The Harpy’s Banquet
A magical feast appears before Alonso’s group. As they prepare to eat, thunder roars and Ariel appears as a Harpy. He condemns Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian for their past betrayal of Prospero: “You are three men of sin.” The banquet vanishes. Alonso is stricken with guilt and remorse; Antonio and Sebastian draw swords against invisible spirits. The scene dramatizes divine retribution and conscience.
Act IV – The Masque and the Disruption
Scene 1: Blessing and Warning
Prospero, now reconciled to Ferdinand’s worth, blesses his marriage to Miranda. To celebrate, he conjures a Masque of Ceres, Iris, and Juno—a pageant of harmony and fertility. The goddesses promise “honour, riches, marriage-blessing”. Suddenly, Prospero remembers Caliban’s plot and ends the masque abruptly. He reflects on the fleeting nature of life and art:
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
Prospero sends Ariel to punish the conspirators, who are chased by spirits disguised as hunting hounds. The masque scene unites the play’s ideas of illusion, art, and mortality.
Act V – Forgiveness and Freedom
Scene 1: Prospero’s Triumph of Mercy
Prospero releases his captives and vows to renounce his art:
“I’ll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and deeper than did ever plummet sound I’ll drown my book.”
He forgives his enemies—Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian. Alonso, repentant, is overjoyed to find Ferdinand alive, playing chess with Miranda. The lovers’ reunion seals the restoration of both family and state. Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo are pardoned; Caliban repents, saying, “I’ll be wise hereafter.”
Epilogue
Alone on stage, Prospero speaks directly to the audience:
“Now my charms are all o’erthrown, and what strength I have’s mine own…”
He asks the audience’s applause—“release me from my bands”—signifying the end of his art and, symbolically, Shakespeare’s farewell to the theatre. The circle of power, guilt, and grace closes in reconciliation.
Major Themes and Symbols
- Power and Justice: Legitimate authority (Prospero) versus usurpation (Antonio). Justice tempered by mercy.
- Illusion and Reality: The island functions as a stage; Prospero as playwright. Theatre mirrors moral awakening.
- Nature and Civilization: Caliban’s untamed instinct vs. Miranda’s innocence; debates of colonization and nurture.
- Bondage and Freedom: Ariel longs for liberty; Caliban for self-rule; Prospero attains inner freedom through renunciation.
- Forgiveness and Reconciliation: From vengeance to grace—central moral movement of the play.
- Art and Creation: The masque and Prospero’s magic symbolize art as moral imagination.
Key Characters
- Prospero: Exiled Duke of Milan; magician; symbol of reason and forgiveness.
- Miranda: His daughter; embodiment of innocence and empathy.
- Ferdinand: Prince of Naples; devoted lover; symbol of virtue and reconciliation.
- Ariel: Spirit of air and music; executes Prospero’s will; longs for freedom.
- Caliban: Native of the island; represents instinct, rebellion, and colonized identity.
- Alonso: King of Naples; remorseful and reconciled at the end.
- Antonio: Prospero’s traitorous brother; unrepentant.
- Sebastian: Alonso’s brother; easily corruptible.
- Gonzalo: Loyal counselor; idealist; voice of hope and goodness.
Quick Revision Table
| Aspect | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Acts & Scenes | 5 Acts, 10 Scenes + Epilogue |
| Date | c. 1610–1611 |
| Genre | Romance / Tragicomedy |
| Setting | A remote island (1 day’s action) |
| Symbols | Tempest, Books & Staff, Masque, Chess, Harpy |
| Central Themes | Power, Art, Mercy, Colonization, Freedom |
| Famous Lines | “We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” / “This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.” |
| Ending | Forgiveness and reunion; Prospero’s renunciation of magic; Epilogue’s farewell |
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