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Characters
Prospero- He is the father of Miranda and is the ex-duke of Milan. Twelve years prior to the occurance of this play, he was
overthrowen by his brother Antionio who was helped by the Alonso, the king of naples.. He was forced to take his daughter
to the Island where this play takes place. During his stay on this island, he studies and uses magic to punish his brother
and all others who helped in usurping him from his Dukedom.
Miranda- She is the Daughter of Prospero who came to this island when she was a child. She has not seen any other men
in her life other then her father and Caliban who is one of her fathers slaves. When she sees Ferdinand for the first time,
she instantly falls in love with him.
Ariel- Prospero's spirtual servant who helps Prospero punish those who usurped him tweleve years ago. Upon doing a great
job in helping with the punishment, Prospero sets Ariel free forever.
Caliban- the evil offspring of the evil witich Sycorax, who Prospero saves from eternal enprisionment on the Island. Miranda
teachs Caliban to speak and understand language of which he is not very appriciative of. Caliban believes that the island
is his and Prospero and Miranda stole it from him.
Ferdinand- the hier to the King Alonso of Naples. When Ferdinand see Miranda for the first time they instantly fall in
love. Near the end of the play Prospero gives Ferdinand his acceptance to marry his daughter.
Alonso- The king of naples and the father of Ferdinand. He helped Alonso overthrow Prospero for the Dukedom of Milan.
Alonso reconizes that he did wrong to Prospero and winds up appolgizing to him.
Antonio- prospero's brother who overthrew him to become the current Duke of Milan twelev years prior to the occurance
of the play. During the play, Antonio wants Sebastian to help kill Alonso so that he can become the King and Naples while
thinking that Ferdinand died in the shipwreck that Prospero caused with his magic.
Sebastian- Alonso's brother who agreed with Antonio to kill Alonso while he was sleeping.
Gonzalo- Helped Prospero and Miranda flee from Milan twelev years prior to the occurance of the play. He helps Alonso
deal with the susposed loss of his son Ferdinand and tries to keep a positive outlook on their currant status of being stranded
on the Island.
Trinculo and Stefano- Trinculo is a jester and Stefano is an alcholic who come to find Caliban who ends up worshiping
them during the play. these two provide the comedy during the play and are not a mjor part of the main story. They are only
a fun little side act.
Boatswain- He is the captian of the ship that Prospero "wrecked" at the beginning of the play. Boatswain comes
to find that his ship is ok and untouched at the end of the play.
Plot Overview
Prior to the beginning of the play, The main character, Prospero, was usurped from his dukedom in Milan and was forced into
exile, with his daughter Miranda, to the island where this play take place by his brother Antonio, and the king of Naples,
Alonso. The play opens up with Alonso, Ferdinand, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Stefano, and Trinculo on a ship on their way
to Italy. While they are on their way to their destination they encounter a storm which wrecks their ship. It turns out that
the storm was summoned up by Prospero using his enslaved spirit Ariel for help. All of the men arrive on to the island, surprised
to find that they are alive, but yet they are separated into three groups. Ferdinand is off all by himself; Alonso, Sebastian,
Antonio, and Gonzalo; and lastly Trinculo and Stefano. Ferdinand is quickly encountered by Miranda who falls in love with
each other at first sight, but Prospero gets in the way of the two and claims Ferdinand as his slave. Meanwhile, Alonso, Sebastian,
Antonio, and Gonzalo are grateful to have their lives, but are worried for the sake of Ferdinand. While attempting to adapt
to their new environment, Alonso falls asleep and Antonio gets power hungry and wants to kill Alonso so that he can become
the King of Naples. He persuades Sebastian to help him with this task, but Ariel was watching near by and makes Alonso wake
up to see that Antonio and Sebastian have their swords out. They quickly put them away and continue on looking for Ferdinand.
Then with Trinculo and Stefano, they encounter Prospero's other slave Caliban who hates Prospero so much that he starts to
worship Stefano and basically becomes his slave. Caliban then persuades Trinculo and Stefano to kill Prospero, Ariel hears
about this and goes to tell Prospero of his plan. Back with Ferdinand, Prospero has him cutting up and making stack of firewood.
Miranda goes to see him and she then proposes to him, and he accepts. Prospero is hidden when this happens and is very pleased
at this development and accepts it. He welcomes Ferdinand into his family and has Ariel perform a play for Miranda and Ferdinand.
Back to Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo, they are still trying to find Ferdinand when they grow tired and decide to
stop and rest. Prospero has Ariel act as a harpy and make Alonso feel guilty for what he has done to Prospero. When this had
been done, Prospero puts a charm on Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo along with Stefano and Trinculo and bring them
to his home. When they all arrive, they slowly come out of the charm and come to their normal senses to see that Prospero
stood before them. Prospero tells Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio that he forgives them for what they had done to him, and
thanks Gonzalo for helping him escape to the island with his daughter safely. Prospero also shows that Miranda and Ferdinand
are engaged and Alonso agrees with the marriage. Ariel then goes to get the captain of the wrecked ship who is then told that
is ship was never wrecked at all, and that the storm was only an illusion. Prospero sets Ariel free for all of his help and
leaves the audience with a closing statement asking for the audience to forgive him for his wrongdoing, and if they wish to
set him free they should applaud.
Themes and Symbols
Themes
Revenge- Prior to the beginning of the play, Prospero is usurped from his dukedom in Milan by Antonio and Alonso and is
forced into exile to the island where this play takes play. Prospero see that those who had forsaken him in the past are coming
by his island and he uses the opportunity to get revenge on them. He summons a storm and brings them to the island where he
now lives where he mainly puts Alonso and Antonio through agony and gets Alonso to feel bad for what he has done in the past.
The audience feels sympathy for what Prospero had been put though in the past, and wants Prospero to get his revenge and his
dukedom back.
Power Struggle- There is an argument about who is the right owner of the island where this play is set. Prospero is the
one who found the island as a place of exile. But on that island he found Caliban whose mother used the island as a place
of exile and to practice her magic. However neither of the two had any political power when they found the island, so neither
could colonize it. At the same time, Gonzalo has a fantasy in Act 2 Scene 1 saying that there would be no economy in his government
basically showing that he wants to rule the island while not seeming that there is any ruling to be done. Basically he would
be a king in disguise.
Symbols
The Tempest- The tempest at the beginning of the play shows Prospero letting out all of his frustration that has ensued
him since he was usurped from his dukedom. Prospero wants those who had sinned against him to know what he has gone though
since he left Milan. This also shows how powerful Prospero's magic is.
The Chess Game- In the final scene of the play, Prospero reveals Ferdinand and Miranda playing a game of chess. The point
behind this is to show Alonso that they are in love. However in symbolic meaning it is Prospero mocking Alonso because in
the game of Chess, the objective is to capture the king. Prospero is merely saying checkmate to Alonso because he captured
him.
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