The Tempest

1
The Tempest
2
Introduction

• The Tempest is a play written by William
  Shakespeare.
• It is thought by many people to be the last play
  he wrote.
• There are three plots in the story as well as two
  prequels (stories that precede/come before the
  main story)

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Characters

• Prospero the ex Duke of Milan
• Miranda Prosperos daughter
• Gonzalo Prosperos friend
• Sycorax a witch
• Caliban a monster / Sycoraxs son
• Ariel a sprite / Prosperos servant

• Antonio Prosperos brother / Duke of Milan
• Alonso King of Naples / Antonios friend
• Ferdinand King of Naples son
• Stefano butler to King Alonso
• Trinculo jester to King Alonso

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Prequel Sycorax

• Sycorax, Caliban and Ariel lived on the island.
• Sycorax commanded Ariel to use its magic for bad
  and Ariel refused.
• Sycorax cast a spell that trapped Ariel within a
  tree.
• When Sycorax died, Ariel stayed trapped in the
  tree until 12 years later when Prospero released
  it.

5
Prequel Milan

• Twelve years ago, Prospero was the Duke of Milan.
• His brother (Antonio) was jealous and plotted
  against Prospero with the King of Naples
  (Alonso).
• One night, Prospero and his young daughter
  Miranda were seized, thrown into a small boat and
  pushed into the ocean.
• Luckily, Prosperos old friend, Gonzalo, had
  crept to the boat earlier and hidden food, water
  and Prosperos books to help his friend survive.
• Prospero and Miranda came ashore at an island
  where they found the monster Caliban and Prospero
  released Ariel from the tree (see Prequel
  Sycorax).

6
The plot (what happens in the story)

• The play opens with a huge storm (a tempest). On
  the sea, a ship is being destroyed by the
  tempest.
• On the ship is
• Alonso, the King of Naples
• Antonio, the Duke of Milan
• Ferdinand, Alonsos son
• Trinculo, Alonsos jester
• Stefano, Alonsos butler
• Sebastian, Alonsos brother

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• The men fall into the water and the storm carries
  them to different parts of the island where they
  get washed ashore.
• Meanwhile, on the island, Prospero has caused
  this storm with the help of his servant Ariel.
  His enemies are on that ship and he wants his
  revenge after twelve years.
• Ariel is getting impatient and wants its freedom
  from Prospero. Ariel is told that it will be set
  free in two days once Prospero has got his
  revenge.
• Prospero and Miranda visit Caliban. Prospero
  cared for the monster until he attacked Miranda
  so now he is treated cruelly by Prospero.

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• Miranda sees Ferdinand who is walking around lost
  on the island. They fall in love and arrange to
  marry but Prospero wants to test Ferdinand and
  makes him carry logs. Ferdinand did this
  willingly and so Prospero gave their engagement
  him blessing.
• The other shipwrecked men start to wake.
  Sebastian and Antonio plot to kill King Alonso
  (and make Sebastian king) but everybody wakes up
  before they can do it.
• Caliban finds Trinculo and Stefano. Caliban has
  never seen another human and thinks they are
  gods. Trinculo and Stefano create a plan to help
  Caliban and kill Prospero.
• Ariel overhears their plan and flies off to tell
  Prospero. They plot to punish the trio.

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• When Caliban, Stefano and Trinculo approach
  Prosperos cave, they are distracted by many fine
  clothes Ariel has laid on the floor. They stop to
  try on the expensive clothes.
• When the trio are half dressed, Prospero released
  a pack of angry ghost dogs to chase them away
  across the other side of the island. Prospero
  then decides it is time to get revenge on his
  brother and enemies.
• King Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian are still
  searching for Ferdinand. Tired and hungry, they
  are amazed when a table of food suddenly appears.
  As soon as they touch the food though, Ariel,
  disguised as a harpy made their food disappear
  and reminded them of their sins against Prospero.

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• The three men were very scared and Ariel cast a
  magic spell which froze them like statues.
• When Prospero appeared, Gonzalo was happy to see
  his old friend but Antonio and King Alonso
  begging forgiveness. Prospero accepted and his
  anger was over.
• Prospero then showed King Alonso where Ferdinand
  and Miranda were playing chess. He was overjoyed
  to see his son alive and blessed their engagement.

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• Caliban, Trinculo and Stefano appeared still
  running from the ghost dogs. Urged on by Ariel,
  Prospero forgave them.
• Everyone agreed to sail back to Naples the next
  morning for the wedding of Miranda and Ferdinand.
  Prospero would then return to Milan as the duke.
  Prospero released Ariel and threw away his magic
  cloak, buried his magic staff and threw his book
  of magic out to sea. He left the island to
  Caliban.