“TheTempest” WilliamShakespeare PlotSummary,Themes&Characters ACT1 Theplayopenswithatempestuousstormatsea,causingashipcarryingAlonso,theKingof Naples,hissonFerdinand,hisbrotherSebastian,andAntonio,theDukeofMilan,among others,towreckonanisland.Ontheisland,Prospero,therightfulDukeofMilan,andhis daughterMirandawatchtheshipwreckfromtheirhome.ProsperorevealstoMirandathathe causedthestormwithhismagicalpowers.Twelveyearsearlier,Prospero’sbrotherAntonio,withAlonso'shelp,usurpedhim.Prosperoand Mirandaweresetadriftatseaandeventuallylandedonthisisland.Prosperohasusedhismagic tocontroltheislandanditsinhabitants,includingthespiritArielandthemonstrousCaliban.ACT2 Theshipwreckednoblesarescatteredacrosstheisland.Alonsomournsthepresumedlossof Ferdinand,whileAntonioandSebastianplottokillAlonsoandseizehisthrone.Ariel,invisible, putstheconspiratorstosleep,andtheplotisfoiled.Meanwhile,Ferdinand,separatedfromthe others,encountersMiranda.Theyquicklyfallinlove,muchtoProspero’ssatisfaction,ashehad plannedthisencounter.HetestsFerdinand'sworthinessbymakinghimperformmenialtasks.
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ACT3 Caliban,resentfulofProspero’scontrol,conspireswithTrinculoandStephano,twodrunken shipwreckedservants,tokillProspero.CalibanbelievesStephanoisagodbecausehepossesses alcohol,whichCalibanhasnevertastedbefore.TheyplottomurderProsperoandtakecontrol oftheisland.ArieloverhearsandreportstheplottoProspero.ACT4 ProsperoapprovesofFerdinandandMiranda’sunionandpresentsamasque,acelebratory performanceinvolvingspirits,toblesstheirfuture.ThemasqueisinterruptedwhenProspero remembersCaliban’splot.HeandArielsetatrapfortheconspiratorsbyhangingoutgaudy clothestodistractthem.WhenCaliban,Trinculo,andStephanotaketheclothes,theyare drivenawaybyspiritsintheformofhuntingdogs.ACT5 Prosperoforgiveshisenemiesandrelinquisheshismagicalpowers.Herevealshistrueidentity totheshipwreckednobles,forgivesAntonio,andreconcileswithAlonso.Ferdinandand Mirandaarerevealedtobealiveandbetrothed,bringingjoytoAlonso.Arielisfreedfrom Prospero’sservice,andCalibanisforgiven.ProsperopreparestoreturntoMilantoreclaimhis dukedomandaskstheaudiencefortheirapplausetosethimfreefromtheisland.DLCNOTES©2024
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