The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a play rife with magic, deceit, and romance. It tells the tale of Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, who is shipwrecked with his daughter Miranda on a deserted island. They are both taken in by the island's inhabitants, the magical sprite Ariel and the spirit Caliban. After Prospero discovers his powers of sorcery, he manipulates events to ensure his revenge against his enemies.
The play begins with a powerful storm which brings Prospero and his daughter stranded on the uncharted island. Prospero quickly discovers that he is not alone on the island. His daughter befriends Ariel, a magical sprite that appears in a musical form. Ariel is Prospero's obedient servant and was imprisoned in a cloven pine by an evil sorcerer. Prospero later discovers that the island is also inhabited by Caliban, the spirit of the island, whose father was the evil sorcerer who imprisoned Ariel.
Caliban is resentful toward Prospero, whom he believes to be a usurper. He attempts to rape Miranda and gains Prospero's wrath; as a result, Prospero enslaves Caliban and scorns him for his barbaric nature. Prospero eventually discovers his powers of sorcery and decides to use them to his advantage. He summons a tempest that brings aboard the ship of King Alonso of Naples and his brother, Gonzalo. He also uses his abilities to influence the actions of his enemies to his personal benefit.
Meanwhile, the romantic adventures of Ferdinand, Alonso's son, and Miranda, Prospero's daughter, provide comic relief as they fall in love at first sight. At the same time, Trinculo, a court jester, and Stefano, Alonso's drunken butler, team up with Caliban to plot Prospero's downfall. The trio plans to capture Prospero and Antonio, Alonso's brother, and take over the island.
When the due date of Alonso's royal marriage arrives, Ariel reveals that it is Prospero who has been controlling the island. Upon learning of this revelation, Alonso and Antonio apologize for their misdeeds and agree to restore Prospero to his dukedom in Milan. Prospero, however, chooses to summon a second storm, this one representing the power of his magic and his dominion over nature. In the power of this storm, he releases the island from his tyrannical control, removing all traces of his magic.
Prospero ends the play by reconciling with Antonio and forgiving Caliban for his attempted rape of Miranda. Prospero sends the royal party and his own allies back to Naples, and announces his plan to retire to Milan. The Tempest is described as Shakespeare's last great comedy, and it has continued to be one of his most frequently adapted and performed plays. It is considered one of his classics, and its themes of justice, courage and mercy have been studied and discussed by theatre-goers and scholars alike. The play's magic and otherworldly element paint a romantic and powerful fantasy, while its themes of forgiveness, revenge, and love have stood the test of time.
