The Tempest

On rereading the Tempest, I realize that despite the title there is very little action in the play and it demonstrates Shakespeare's emphasis on character over plot. But the characters are fascinating. Prospero at times seems a type for the author himself, and of course as such he is the wise master and hero. But at the same time or a moment later, his manipulations and his selfishness make it not too hard to empathize with the hatred he inspires in Caliban, despite Caliban's repugnance. Then in the Epilogue, Prospero, not just a character that walks off of the page, actually asks the audience for permission to walk off of the page before doing so. There is not time to discuss all of the characters, but Miranda's sudden transformation show more from wondering innocence to worldly cynicism is both startling and yet somehow believable. I remember the Tempest being described as Shakespeare's perfect play, because it so completely conforms to Aristotle's unities of time, place and action. Yet the play has to be considered experimental in its deliberate artificiality and the distance between the audience and the action because it is a play within a play within a play. It is in essence a play about the making of a play. Definitely worth repeated readings. show less

For the past year, the fates have been telling me I needed to read William Shakespeare's final work The Tempest. Alright fates, I did it! Now you can shove it!!!

Honestly, I was disappointed. There was so much potential in this one, but it was as though Shakespeare, “The Man,” was giving up. Great premise, great setting, great characters with witty dialogue, but why, Prospero? Why do you relent so easily? Ferdinand, what do you see in Miranda? What was the point of it all, Shakespeare? It wasn't clear. These characters just could not convince me of this world.

The ending was classic. C-L-A-S-S-I-C. It seems “The Man” knew he was retiring. Having the magician, Prospero—possibly a reflection of Shakespeare himself—address the show more audience was brilliant. He explains his mission was to entertain, begs pardon for all his wrongs, and asks to be set free. Loved it.

If only the rest of the play could have been so affecting and clever. Nonetheless, I thank The Man for his entertainment, forgive him his wrongs, and set him free. Run, Shakespeare run. show less

Uno dei miei Shakespeare preferiti.

Ho volato. Mi sono librata in cielo, ho spiegato ali che non sapevo di avere, mi sono fatta guidare dai venti e ho volato, proprio come Ariele, lo spirito al servizio di Prospero.
E mi sono sentita Ariele, e Miranda, e Ferdinando e Prospero e sono stata su quella nave affondata nel mare in tempesta, mi sono sentita intrappolata in un sogno profondo, in un sonno dal quale non avevo intenzione di svegliarmi. E me la sono sentita, sentita dentro, la frase “L’inferno è vuoto, e tutti i diavoli sono qui”, urlata prima che mi buttassi da quella nave andata distrutta.

È stata una lettura sublime, celeste.
Una lettura che mi ha trascinata su un’isola lontana, che mi ha portata su una barca che va per show more mare in balia dei venti e delle acque, in balia di Ariele e del Fato, della magia di Prospero e della sua voglia di vendetta.

E ho amato l’amore di Ferdinando e Miranda e il quinto atto magnifico, la conclusione di tutto, la chiusura di un cerchio, la perfetta sintesi dell’essenza della vita, di ciò che veramente importa, di quanto conti l’esistenza umana in tutto il proprio valore e in tutta la propria potenza e bellezza. show less

Perhaps the best of Shakespeare's comedies, The Tempest is a tale of fury, retribution, forgiveness and the laying down of power. Prospero, the legitimate Duke of Milan is stranded on an island with only his daughter and the original inhabitants, Caliban and the spirits. He is here because of the treachery of his brother, Antonio, who with the help of Alonzo, the King of Naples, has deprived him of his kingdom and his title. Who could blame Prospero for stirring up a tempest to entrap and confine his enemies, the King of Naples and Antonio when they come within his grasp?

Prospero has the power to destroy his enemies and take his revenge. It is what he does with that power that makes this play extraordinary and meaningful. A tale that show more begins as a tale of revenge becomes a tale of forgiveness. A tale that begins with a man of unparalleled power, ends with a man willing to lay that power aside, even in the presence of men who have already betrayed him once. Along the way, there is laughter and intrigue and a bit of a romance, which are all dealt with in Shakespeare's inimitably witty and poetic style.

graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth
By my so potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure, and, when I have required
Some heavenly music, which even now I do,
To work mine end upon their senses that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I'll drown my book. [solemn music.]

Solemn music indeed to accompany this poetic dirge. How few men of power have we ever seen lay it aside? At the end, Ariel is set free for services well rendered, and Prospero seems the wisest of men who has used his power to build rather than to destroy.

So many others have already done a much finer job of reviewing this play, so I will make no further attempt to dissect or praise it. I can only say that there is a reason all the great writers of every century since his time have read Shakespeare, quoted him, lauded him and attempted to channel him; and that reason is infinitely clear when you read this play. show less

One of Shakespeare's tautest, most focused plays allows for a great reading experience. In fact, The Tempest is so straightforward that it would serve as a great introduction to Shakespeare, even though it was one of his final plays. It is very evocative, both as we endure the tempest of the title and as we roam about this barren, storm-swept island, following various characters for a few hours. (Its central framing device – shipwrecked on a strange, fantastical island, brooding for vengeance – has also become a staple storytelling conceit, from H. G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau to Stannis Baratheon in Game of Thrones, brooding on Dragonstone for his return to the mainland.)

Miranda's romance with Ferdinand was a bit too show more economical for me (though it would be hard for it to be believable considering the entire play's timeframe is just a few hours) and the ending is a bit anti-climactic – at least until you understand its context (it is Shakespeare saying farewell to the stage before his retirement). Regardless, it has all the elementary material that makes Shakespeare so rewarding; a great mix of drama, comedy and eloquence. show less

Throughout my life, I keep swinging back to The Tempest. The story interests me more than Hamlet ever could. Hear Caliban's lesson on language. And if you can bear it, break your staff and bury your book, free yourself from the trap of power, and live among people, give your child a future. I could never watch Midsummer again and be happy, but I will listen to the Tempest through the curtain, whenever I can.

Even though I gave The Tempest five stars, it's still not quite up there with how much I loved Macbeth and Othello.

I would consider The Tempest the most romantic of Shakespeare's plays I have read so far. At least this one doesn't have people settling for those that they decide to make do with (Twelfth Night) or not realizing someone is not really dead so you kill yourself (Romeo and Juliet) or you use psychological warfare on another person to turn them into someone they are not (The Taming of the Shrew). There is also a really cool fantasy element in it that I liked.

The opening act of The Tempest shows a party (Alonso, Ferdinand, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Stephano, and Trinculo) on a ship fearing for their lives during a storm show more that is about to blow their ship apart. That opening scene was so well written that I felt like I was on the ship about to be pitched into the sea. I would love to see this play in a theater sometime.

From there we go to Prospero and his daughter Miranda who live on an island and who have witnessed the shipwreck. Miranda wants to help those who were are injured, but then finds out that her father who is actually able to control the weather has caused the shipwreck to happen. We find out about Prospero's past and boy is it a doozy.

I have to say that I loved the character of Prospero. Prospero is always able to command a familiar named Ariel which seems to be a fatherly type relationship between the two of them as well. He was definitely a contradiction. He loves Miranda, but wants to avenge himself on the people that have betrayed him, though he still wants Miranda to be happy and does what is necessary in order for her to find happiness.

Miranda I felt for a little because part of me does wonder how much does she feel when she has insta-love with Ferdinand? He's the first eligible man she has seen ever, of course she falls in love with him.

Everything else that follows is Prospero doing what is necessary to ensure that Miranda actually gets married to Ferdinand.

People have commented that this is one of Shakespeare's most lyric plays and they are right. I could almost hear singing in my head as I was reading this play. The flow of the play were really good too. None of the acts felt too long or short. I was able to follow along with what was going on. Though having a Folger's version of this play always helps.

The ending was more interactive than Shakespeare's other plays, though I did wonder about Prospero doing an epilogue asking the audience to forgive him for what he did by clapping. It made me think of the stage plays of Peter Pan where Peter asked the audience to clap in order to save Tinkerbell. And I have to say, I am still puzzled at what wrong did Prospero do. His brother set him and his daughter off to die on a boat. I am all about forgiveness, but heck with that. show less