The Tempest
A play of magic, betrayal, forgiveness, and a farewell to art.
It is listed in the First Folio as the first of Shakespeare's comedies, though it deals with both tragic and comic themes, and modern criticism has created the category of late romance for this and other later plays by Shakespeare.
- author
- William Shakespeare
- genre
- Play (late romance/comedy)
- first_folio_listing
- First of Shakespeare's comedies
- setting
- A ship at sea and a remote island
- central_character
- Prospero, a magician
Lore & Background
The Tempest is set on a remote island where Prospero, a magician, lives with his daughter Miranda and his two servants: Caliban, a savage monster figure, and Ariel, an airy spirit. Twelve years before the action, Prospero, formerly Duke of Milan, was usurped by his brother Antonio with the aid of Alonso, King of Naples. Escaping by boat with Miranda, Prospero flees to the island, where he frees the spirit Ariel from imprisonment and later compels Caliban into servitude after Caliban's assault on Miranda. When a ship carrying Antonio passes, Prospero conjures a storm with Ariel's help, shipwrecking Antonio, Alonso, Ferdinand, Sebastian, Gonzalo, and others. Prospero enacts a plan to take revenge and regain his dukedom, separating the survivors into groups: Ferdinand is manipulated into a romance with Miranda; Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano stage a comic rebellion; and Antonio and Sebastian conspire to kill Alonso. Prospero and Ariel thwart the conspiracies. In Act IV, a wedding masque featuring goddesses Juno, Ceres, and Iris celebrates the betrothal of Ferdinand and Miranda. In Act V, Prospero forgives all, his title is restored, and Ariel is set free. An epilogue has Prospero request the audience set him free with their applause.
Reader's Guide
The Tempest has been widely interpreted in later centuries. Its central character, Prospero, has been identified with Shakespeare, with Prospero's renunciation of magic signaling Shakespeare's farewell to the stage. The play has also been seen as an allegory of Europeans colonising foreign lands. It has had a varied afterlife, inspiring artists in many nations and cultures through stage and screen adaptations, literature, music (especially opera), and the visual arts. The play explores themes including magic, betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, and family. It contains music and songs that evoke the spirit of enchantment on the island. The play's sources include William Strachey's account of the Sea Venture shipwreck, Montaigne's essay 'Of the Canibales', and Ovid's Metamorphoses. It may take its overall structure from traditional Italian commedia dell'arte.
Did You Know?
- The Tempest is widely accepted as the last play Shakespeare wrote entirely alone, though it is post-dated by collaborations with John Fletcher.
- Gonzalo's description of his ideal society in the play verbally echoes Montaigne's essay 'Of the Canibales'.
- Prospero's farewell to magic in Act V is sourced from an invocation by the sorceress Medea in Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote The Tempest and what genre does it fall under?
William Shakespeare wrote it, and while it appears as the first comedy in the First Folio, modern scholars typically classify it as a "late romance" because it blends elements of comedy, tragedy, and magical fantasy.
Who is the central character in The Tempest?
Prospero, a deposed Duke of Milan and a powerful magician, drives the entire plot from his exile on a remote island where he commands spirits and shapes the fates of those who wash ashore.
Where does The Tempest take place?
The action unfolds in two locations: a storm-tossed ship on the open sea and the isolated island where Prospero has been living in exile with his daughter Miranda.
What is The Tempest actually about?
At its core, the play follows a wronged magician who uses his art to stage a tempest, confront his enemies, and ultimately choose forgiveness over revenge before relinquishing his powers forever.
Why is The Tempest considered important in Shakespeare's canon?
It is often read as Shakespeare's swan song, a deeply personal meditation on art, authority, and letting go, which is why critics frequently treat it as a farewell to the theatrical craft he spent his career mastering.
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