Plot Synopsis
THE TEMPEST
“O brave new world, that has such creatures in it!”
A ship carrying Alonso, King of Naples, his son, Ferdinand, Antonio, the Duke of Milan, Alonso’s brother Sebastian, and the wise counselor Gonzalo is caught in a storm and shipwrecked on an uncharted island. Through magical means, they are separated and Alonso begins a desperate search for his son. What they don’t know is that Antonio’s brother Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, lives on this island with his daughter Miranda and it is he who has caused the tempest that brought them here. During his twelve years on the island, Prospero has developed his magical powers and he intends to use them in order to obtain revenge for his usurpation and exile. Sharing the island with Prospero and Miranda are Ariel and his magical spirits and Caliban, “a monster”, who was taught to speak by Prospero. Prospero has bound them with his magic and they serve him and do his bidding. Caliban desires Miranda but this desire has only brought him grief and the wish for revenge on Prospero.
Miranda is a true innocent. She has lived on the island since she was three and has little memory of other humans. She meets Ferdinand and is utterly bewitched. For Ferdinand, the feeling is mutual. Prospero recognizes the depth of feeling between the two but sets Ferdinand tasks in order to test his strength of spirit. Watching the two and seeing what love can create becomes problematic for Prospero and his plans for vengeance.
Meanwhile, Antonio and Sebastian, thinking that Ferdinand was lost in the shipwreck, decide to murder Alonso so Sebastian can become the king. Their plot is overheard by Ariel, who advises Gonzalo who then thwarts the plan.
On another part of the island, Trinculo and Stephano, two members of Alonso’s household who were also shipwrecked on the island, find Caliban and share drink with him. They make drunken plans to kill Prospero so that Caliban can rule the island. Ariel discovers this plot as well and informs Prospero.
In the end, Prospero sees the benefits of love and opens his heart enough to forgive those who wronged him, thus freeing himself from the trappings of revenge. He and Alonso give their blessing to the union of Miranda and Ferdinand, Prospero gives up his magic and regains his dukedom, and they all return to Naples with the aid of Ariel. Prospero frees Ariel and Caliban regains the island. Shakespeare reminds us that true magic lies in love, redemption and the power of forgiveness.
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