The tempest
Introduzione: Andrea
The sources: Pippi
The characters: Nicolas
The plot: Nicolas/pippi
The structure and language: Nicolas
The themes: Andrea
Representation and success: Pippi
Metatheatre: Andrea
Hidden meaning: Andrea
Introduzione
The tempest is considered the William Shakespeare's last work and maybe the most personal, is a
five-act play written by William Shakespeare between 1610 and 1611. The work is part of the
romances group, or stories of love, adventures and magic that always have a happy ending
composed by Shakespeare at the end of his career. It was first published on the first folio in 1623
and was first staged in London in 1611.
Setting in time: The storyline takes place
over four hours.
Setting in place: unidentified and mysterious island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is described as an
enchanted place far from civilization so as to represent a surreal and magical setting.
Historical background
The historical background of The Tempest reflects Elizabethan and era. Infact Shakespeare lived
during the era of Elizabeth I James I, it was the golden age of the English literature and theater.
Drama became the national literary manifestation of the time, it celebrated England and was the
mirror of society whit the purpose to represent the break of the order. The new plays were very
different from the miracle and morality plays, it moved away from religious theme and abandoned
their rigid rhyme, language became more flexible and there was more variety in themes.
The sources
There is no single source from which Shakespeare took inspiration, but we don't know for sure
what were the sources that influenced Shakespeare, especially he was
inspired by travel stories in the new world.
•A True Repertory of the Wreck and Redemption of Sir Thomas Gates.
It was written by William Strachey in 1610, which tells the true story of the sinking of an English
ship bound for Virginia, whose crew remained on the island of Bermuda for an entire year, before
arriving at its destination. In general, the tales of maritime exploration during the Elizabethan era
gave Shakespeare ideas for the creation of the setting.
•On Cannibals:
Another work that influenced Shakespeare is On Cannibals, written by the French philosopher
Montaigne and published in 1603. It regards the contrasts between civilized peoples and the
natives of the New World, which is one of the main themes of the play. Some scholars believe that
the ideas and concepts expressed by Montaigne influenced the characters and themes of the
storm.
•Comedy of the Beautiful Sidea:
In the Comedy of the Beautiful Sidea of the German playwright Jakob Ayrer there is a plot and
characters similar to the Tempest. In This play, a prince that possess’ magic is exiled with his
daughter who later marries the son of his enemy. There is also a supernatural servant the only
point in common with Ariel is the supernatural aspect.
•Commedia dell’arte
The commedia dell'arte is a form of entertainment born in Italy in the sixteenth century, which
differs from other theatrical genres of the time for the professionalism of the actors, improvisation
and masks. This theatrical form inspired the Tempest in various characters, especially funny and
funny earthly characters like Trinculo and Stefano.
Also, it is important to say that Shakespeare was known to adapt and rework many already existing
sources adding a personal touch and the Tempest is proof.
The characters:
The Tempest is a rather complex comedy in which reality and magic are mixed. The work is set in
an ideal and supernatural world that dominates the real world. The characters are divided into real
and supernatural: Alonso, Antonio, Sebastiano, Ferdinando and their retinue represent the real
world, while Ariel and the spirits present on the island represent the fantastic and the
supernatural, But Prospero belongs to both these worlds.
• Prospero:
Miranda's father and protagonist of the story, he was Duke of Milan until exiled by his
brother Antonio, is a clever character dedicated to the study of philosophy and magic. He is
intelligent and cultured; He always shows himself abrupt and severe throughout the
narration even if in the end he is willing to forgive and generous. The symbols of Prospero's
power are: his books, which are the source of supernatural knowledge about him; his robe,
which he wears as a wizard and takes off when he is a common man, and his staff.
• Miranda:
Daughter of a prosperous, brought to the island at the age of three following her father's
exile. She falls in love with the prince of Naples and represents feminine perfection through
her beauty and innocence.
• Ariel: Fast spirit of the air present on the island even before the arrival of Prospero, he can
become invisible and change his appearance, he is servant of Prospero after he freed it
from the witch.
• Calibian: The only one born on the island, son of Sycorax and the devil, he taught Prospero
how to survive on the island and the latter taught him to speak. It represents the darkness
in contrast to the purity of Miranda.
• Sycorax: Witch, mother of Caliban, although she is never present in the work she is often
mentioned for this she represents an important figure for the story.
• Antonio: Brother of Prospero, usurper of the title of Duke of Milan to his brother.
• Alfonso: King of Naples.
• Ferdinando: Son of Alfonso, falls in love with Miranda.
• Trinculo and Stefano: The jester and the butler, two drunken and secondary characters.
• Sebastian: brother of Alonso
• Gonzalo
The plot
The tale of the English comedy begins when most of the events have already happened. Prospero
and Miranda are present on an enchanted island, who were exiled thirteen years earlier by
Antonio, since Prospero decided to leave the duchy of Milan to his brother Antonio to devote
himself to literature, so Antonio driven by ambition and power forced the brother and daughter to
get on a boat that will take them to the island inhabited by the monster Caliban.
First act:
At this point the action of the work begins, Prospero manages to foresee the arrival of his brother
Antonio on board a ship returning from Carthage. He knows that his enemies are on board, in
addition to Antonio, there are also Alonso, his brother Sebastiano and his son Ferdinando. With
Ariel's help, Prospero causes a violent storm so that the ship is wrecked on the island. The ship is
destroyed, miraculously all the passengers are safe, but they are dispersed in various groups on the
island, and no one knows the fate of the companions.
Second act:
Alonso is in despair as he mistakenly believes his son has drowned.
Meanwhile Ariel asks Prospero to grant him freedom without it, but Prospero does not grant it to
him. Meanwhile Caliban, also a slave of Prospero, meets two of Alonso's servants, Stefano and
Trinculo, and drinks with them, gets drunk and promises eternal loyalty to Stefano. Ferdinand
wanders the island alone until he meets Miranda and falls in love with her at first sight, Miranda
also falls in love with him and the two promise to marry.
Third act:
Ferdinand confesses to Prospero his love for his daughter and reveals to him that he is king of
Naples since her father died in the shipwreck, to test Ferdinand Prospero test by making him do
menial jobs and casts a spell on him to protect his virtue of Miranda. Meanwhile, Caliban plots
with Stefano and Trinculo to kill Prospero and become the master of the island again but Ariel
listens to them and reports their intentions to Prospero.
Fourth act:
Prospero decides to confront everyone, renounces the magical arts and reveals their identities to
the castaways, gathers all the characters in his cave.
Fifth act:
The story draws to a close Prospero decides to reward his friends and to punish his enemies so that
everyone gets what he deserves, Prospero returns to being the duke of Milan, Ferdinando and
Miranda get married uniting the duchy of Naples and Milan, Sebastiano and Antonio they are
pardoned, and he releases Ariel and Caliban. Finally, he asks Ariel for one last favor, that is, to calm
the waters for his return to Italy. The story ends with a happy ending like every work of the
romances period.
The style and language
The work is part of the romances group, or stories of love, adventures and magic that always have
a happy ending.
One of the main characteristics of The Tempest is its magical atmosphere, which Shakespeare
manages to achieve thanks to the setting in an exotic place, an island full of sounds, unusual noises
and visual effects.
The work can be defined as a tragicomedy in which Shakespeare manages to merge the tragic and
the comic, in which typical elements of the comedy (like the happy ending) intertwine with the
serious and painful events of the tragedy.
Shakespeare's language is characterized by a great variety of linguistic levels, by a great variety of
rhetorical figures: similes and metaphors, obscure and archaic words, mythological allusions, new
words (in fact Shakespeare invented over 2000 words that are still used today), pauses,
assonances, hyperbole, alliteration.
The themes
The Tempest is a rather complex comedy in which reality and magic are mixed. The play is set in an
ideal, supernatural world that is in contrast to and dominates the real world.
•Magic
Magic is one of the central themes of The Tempest, this theme can be found both in the setting
and in characters such as Prospero, Ariel and Sycorax. The story itself begins thanks to a storm
caused by the magician Prospero and has a continuation thanks to his magic. Magic was a very
popular theme during the Renaissance. Through the world of magic with his characters,
Shakespeare opens the doors of the supernatural to us, merging them with human actions,
showing us the infinite potential of the new magical art, no longer evil with witchcraft and
superstition like the medieval one, but of wisdom and justice.
•Revenge and Forgiveness
The theme of vengeance and forgiveness is extensively explored in The Tempest in various
characters. Prospero learns magic from books to exact revenge on his enemies. The whole plot is
based on Prospero's desire for revenge towards his brother, exercising it by unleashing the storm
and using his powers by manipulating the characters present on the island. This feeling of revenge
however turns into forgiveness, it represents the transformation of him and his ability to find
peace by letting go of the desire for revenge.
• freedom and captivity
These two elements are fundamental to the plot of the comedy, both physical and emotional.
Prospero and Miranda are forced to live in exile on a distant island. On the island, However, in the
island, Prospero imprisons Caliban and Ariel, treated as servants deprived of physical and social
freedom. These themes are also addressed in the character of Miranda; however it is an emotional
captivity because she grew up only with her father away from civilization.
•Colonization
This theme is very present in the work, especially in the characters of Prospero, Caliban and Ariel.
When Prospero and his daughter Miranda lands on the island after they are exiled, Prospero uses
his power and knowledge to impose his superiority on the original habitants (Caliban and Ariel).
For this reason, Prospero and Miranda represent the colonists who have colonized the island of
Caliban and Ariel. In the Tempest Shakespeare refers to the colonization of the Americas and to the
strongly rooted idea in Europeans of imposing their traditions, language and culture on indigenous
peoples considered to be devoid of culture and values.
Performation and success
The Tempest was first performed on 1 November 1611 in Whitehall in the presence of King James
I. We do not have any evidence of how the play was rated by the audience, but the plot was
interesting at the time (James I was interested in colonization). When Shakespeare’s works were
collected and published in 1623, The Tempest appeared first, it may suggest its popularity at the
time. It has remained popular, and it is still relevant today. The themes of power, revenge, justice,
isolation and forgiveness fascinate today as when they were first presented. The use of magic and
the supernatural are also important because they help the storytelling and the audience attention.
Metatheatre
William Shakespeare's The Tempest is considered one of his most innovative works.
The metatheatrical technique is used a lot by Shakespeare in The Tempest, the play itself serving as
a sort of theater within the theatre. Metatheater in The Tempest underscores the importance of
theater and theatrical performance as a tool to explore deeper themes, to reflect on the nature of
art, and to create a meditation on the nature, theater and life.
There are many ways Shakespeare represents metatheatre such as:
Shakespeare uses this technique through the character of Prospero, who is the director and
protagonist of his own story. Prospero controls the events of the island and of the characters that
populate it as a director controls the actors on a stage. Additionally, Prospero uses magic to create
dramatic effects such as the appearance of Ariel and the storm itself.
The meta-theater is also used through the character of Caliban, who can be interpreted as a
representation of the savages who were often exhibited in the stage shows of the time
Also in the finale of the play it contains an important meta-theater scene, in which Prospero
addresses the audience inviting them to free it from literal fiction through applause.
Hidden meaning
We can consider this work as Shakespeare's spiritual testament, his mind into which he invites us
to come out renewed and transformed.
Shakespeare's Tempest is often interpreted as a metaphor for humanity. The storm represents the
destructive force of nature, but also the human ability to overcome difficulties and to renew
oneself. the story suggests that human creativity and resilience can weather even the worst
storms, and that the power of art can help heal and renew that which has been destroyed. In
general, Shakespeare's Tempest is full of metaphors and symbolisms that invite us to reflect on the
human condition and the complexity of our emotions and relationships.
Shakespeare with The Tempest and the setting on an island represents England and its glory, which
it was experiencing in that historical period after having begun to colonize and travel by sea.
With this play and its current themes Shakespeare makes us understand his profound
understending of human behavior and nature of humans still proving to be a modern thinker.
