I was first introduced to “The Tempest” in the 5th-grade school play where I played a character named Miranda. Miranda’s father, Prospero, ruled as the Duke of Milan until his brother Antonio usurped the position and exiled Prospero and a very young Miranda to a secluded island where they have lived ever since. Prospero was also born with magical abilities which he uses to control everything and everyone around him, including Miranda. Prospero’s spirit, Ariel, through whom Prospero exploits all his magical powers, initially causes a storm on a ship that carries several of his relatives and people from his past. Still, Prospero orders Ariel to revive those on board, including his brother Antonio, Antonio’s friend Sebastian, Alonso, the King of Naples, Alonso's son Prince Ferdinand, and a few other characters so that they will come to the stranded island where Prospero intends to confront them with their crimes and reclaim his rightful position as Duke. In addition, Prospero uses his magic to control his servant, Caliban, a half-human, half-monster, and a resident of the island before Prospero and Miranda arrived. Prospero exercises control over Caliban for not being “fully human.” Also from the shipwreck, Stephano, a fool who is often drunk, and Trinculo, a jester to Alonso, arrive on the island together and meet Caliban along the way.
The characters in this play all have different desires that motivate how they act and why. Prospero desires to shield Miranda from the outside world and fears losing control of her and of his island entirely. He knows that he is the rightful Duke of Milan but is content simply ruling over his island if he knows it will keep Miranda safe from the world’s evils that he has experienced firsthand. Caliban wants to be free from serving Prospero and get his island back. Caliban has some of the most beautiful speeches in "The Tempest"-- ones that mirror the style and beauty of Shakespeare’s sonnets. His beautiful speeches are meant to contrast his ugliness and reveal how just because he is not beautiful on the outside does not mean he is incapable of human emotions. His speeches demonstrate his profound appreciation of the island and its natural beauty. While Caliban values the island as his homeland, Prospero mirrors the European colonizers and imperialists of this time who conquered land without thought and made themselves rulers over those they viewed as inferior. Caliban is sick of Prospero treating him as lesser-than and hopes that one day he’ll be seen as just as legitimate and worthy as Prospero or other kings.
For this reason, Caliban plots with Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero. Meanwhile, Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso, who is unrelated to Antonio, so that Antonio can become king. Antonio has always been power-hungry, initially usurping Prospero too. Alonso’s son Ferdinand, however, loves Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, mirroring a Romeo-and-Juliet-style love story between dueling families. Prospero dislikes the relationship because of how protective he is of Miranda. When Prospero confronts Alonso, who believes that his son Ferdinand has died in the tempest, he reveals to him that Miranda and Ferdinand are engaged, and tells Alonso that he as well lost a child, Miranda, in the shipwreck, to Ferdinand. At the end of the story, Prospero has a meaningful realization and gives up his magic once and for all. Prospero neither forgives nor punishes Caliban for his murder plot but does forgive Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian. Prospero tells the audience that his story relies on their effort to listen to him, which only goes to show how Prospero ultimately governs the story. Exploring themes of social status, revenge, seclusion, and freedom, "The Tempest" is my favorite Shakespeare play I have ever read.
Note: Lucy's Literature will not be posting like usual on March 18th and April 1st due to spring break, but will be back as scheduled after that.
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