“The Tempest”—a Love Story by Shakespeare
Background on “The Tempest” by Shakespeare
“The Tempest” is part tragedy, part love story, and part comedy. Its themes include forgiveness, the Christian philosophical concept of Grace, and how love conquers all and heals all. Prospero is the rightful duke of Milan who lives in exile on an island in the middle of nowhere. Miranda, his 14-year old daughter, lives with him. Also on the island is Caliban, a “savage.” Note how the name “Caliban” sounds like “cannibal.”
Prospero is a wizard of sorts, a kind of “white witch.” The Elizabethans considered anything “otherworldly” as evil, even demonic. Twelve years earlier, Antonio, Prospero’s younger brother, engaged the assistance of Alonso, King of Naples, to overthrow Prospero. As a result, Prospero and his baby girl ended up on this remote island. Now, Antonio and Alonso are returning from a wedding. As they pass near Prospero’s island, Prospero conjures up a storm (or tempest).
[In Act I, Scene II, we learn about a shipwreck. This upsets young Miranda, who fears that people have died.]
[Later in this scene, Prospero explains the circumstances of their arrival on the island. Note the Cain and Abel connection.]
PROSPERO: My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio--
I pray thee, mark me--that a brother should
Be so perfidious!--he whom next thyself
Of all the world I loved and to him put
The manage of my state; as at that time
Through all the signories it was the first
And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed
In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel; those being all my study,
The government I cast upon my brother
And to my state grew stranger, being transported
And rapt in secret studies….
[One of the problems is that Prospero is a leader. His first concern should be his people, not his studies. In a way, Prospero is responsible for what has happened to him. The lesson: Even when things go wrong, and even when things are primarily someone else’s responsibility—as in a relationship or marriage—your actions also played a part and you must learn to recognize and acknowledge them. Otherwise you keep making the same mistakes and, in the case of marriages, choosing the same destructive partner]
PROSPERO:….I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
Not only with what my revenue yielded,
But what my power might else exact, like one
Who having into truth, by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, he did believe
He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution
And executing the outward face of royalty,
With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing-- …
[Same scene but later]
PROSPERO: To have no screen between this part he play'd
And him he play'd it for, he needs will be
Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library Prospero cares more for his studies than doing
Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties his job as a leader. Even his brother starts
He thinks me now incapable; confederates-- thinking that Prospero deserves to lose his job.
So dry he was for sway--wi' the King of Naples After all, Prospero has not been doing his job.
To give him annual tribute, do him homage,
Subject his coronet to his crown and bend He gets the King of Naples to act as an
The dukedom yet unbow'd--alas, poor Milan!-- accomplice.
To most ignoble stooping….
[Same scene but later]
PROSPERO: Now the condition.
The King of Naples, being an enemy
To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;
Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises
Of homage and I know not how much tribute,
Should presently extirpate me and mine
Out of the dukedom and confer fair Milan
With all the honours on my brother: whereon,
A treacherous army levied, one midnight
Fated to the purpose did Antonio open
The gates of Milan, and, i' the dead of darkness,
The ministers for the purpose hurried thence
Me and thy crying self….
[Antonio, Prospero’s evil brother, then sent Prospero and his toddler daughter off in a rickety boat that even the rats had quit. This is not only a love story between boy and girl but between father and daughter. Note how Miranda says what a burden she must have been and note how beautifully he responds. One reason that people are able to love others is because they have been loved as children. Generally, this is the love of a parent or a parent-figure.]
MIRANDA: Alack, what trouble
Was I then to you!
PROSPERO: O, a cherubim
Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile.
Infused with a fortitude from heaven,
When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt,
Under my burthen groan'd; which raised in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up
Against what should ensue.
MIRANDA: How came we ashore?
PROSPERO: By Providence divine.
Some food we had and some fresh water that
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
Out of his charity, being then appointed
Master of this design, did give us, with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness,
Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom. …
[Again, note that Prospero is somewhat culpable.]
….MIRANDA sleeps / Enter ARIEL
[Ariel is Prospero’s servant. Because Prospero rescued him from an evil witch (Sycorax, Caliban’s mother), Ariel owes Prospero. A faery or sprite, he has magical powers. He creates a ship-wreck and all of the nobles are safe. Alonso, Ferdinand’s son, is alone on the island apart from his father. Both father and son think that the other is dead. In spite of their trauma, everyone is okay—more than okay. It’s symbolic of Baptism. Their garments are not just stained; they are brand new.]
[Same scene but later]
PROSPERO: But are they, Ariel, safe?
ARIEL: Not a hair perish'd;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me,
In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle.
The king's son have I landed by himself;
Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
In an odd angle of the isle and sitting,
His arms in this sad knot….
[Ferdinand will be Miranda’s love interest].
[A later scene]
FERDINAND: Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?
It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon
Some god o' the island. Sitting on a bank,
Weeping again the king my father's wreck,
This music crept by me upon the waters,
Allaying both their fury and my passion
With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it,
Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone.
No, it begins again.
ARIEL sings: Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes: [symbolic of rebirth, like Baptism—we are
Nothing of him that doth fade renewed into something better than before]
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
Burthen Ding-dong
Hark! now I hear them,--Ding-dong, bell.
FERDINAND: The ditty does remember my drown'd father.
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owes. I hear it now above me….
[Miranda and Ferdinand see each other for the first time. Remember: Miranda’s only encounters with men prior to this have been with her father and with Caliban. She thinks she is seeing an angel.]
MIRANDA: What is't? a spirit? / Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir,
It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit….
[Same scene but later]
MIRANDA: I might call him / A thing divine, for nothing natural / I ever saw so noble.
PROSPERO: [Aside] It goes on, I see,
As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee
Within two days for this.
[For Ferdinand, it is also love at first sight. And he has seen other women. None, however, compare to Miranda. He asks if she is pure and she says “yes.” Prospero approaches Ferdinand and calls him a “traitor.” He is testing the young man to make sure that Ferdinand is worthy of his daughter. Miranda tells her dad to lighten up. She doesn’t want this pretty thing she has found to be in any way damaged. Prospero notices how the two react to each other. Note what he says: “At first sight / They have changed eyes.” ]
PROSPERO: [Aside] The Duke of Milan
And his more braver daughter could control thee,
If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight
They have changed eyes. …
To FERDINAND
A word, good sir;
I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.
MIRANDA: Why speaks my father so ungently? This
Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first
That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father
To be inclined my way!
FERDINAND: O, if a virgin,
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The queen of Naples.
PROSPERO: Soft, sir! one word more.
[ Aside ] They are both in either's powers; but this swift business
I must uneasy make, lest too light winning
Make the prize light.…
[Ponder this. What is it saying about love? Prospero, a loving father, knows that real love lasts because one has to work for it. We appreciate what we work for.]
[Same scene but later]
MIRANDA. There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:
If the ill spirit have so fair a house,
Good things will strive to dwell with't….
[Prospero makes some threats against the young prince. Ferdinand draws his sword, and is charmed from moving]
[Same scene but later]
MIRANDA: O dear father, / Make not too rash a trial of him, for / He's gentle and not fearful….
[Same scene but later]
PROSPERO: Silence! one word more
Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!
An advocate for an imposter! hush!
Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he, Remember, Ferdinand is the son of Prospero’s
Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench! enemy, Alonso, who helped Antonio to over-
To the most of men this is a Caliban throw Prosper.
And they to him are angels.
MIRANDA: My affections
Are then most humble; I have no ambition
To see a goodlier man.
PROSPERO: Come on; obey: / Thy nerves are in their infancy again / And have no vigour in them.
FERDINAND: So they are;
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats,
To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,
Might I but through my prison once a day In other words, I will undergo any kind of suffering--
Behold this maid: all corners else o' the earth as long as I might look upon this beautiful girl. In her
Let liberty make use of; space enough presence, I am free.
Have I in such a prison.
PROSPERO: [Aside] It works….
Act 3, Scene 1 Before PROSPERO'S Cell.
Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log [Here, Prospero is testing Ferdinand. He’s putting him to work. A man has to show he is worthy of his daughter.]
FERDINAND. There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead
And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness
Had never like executor. I forget:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,
Most busy lest, when I do it.
Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen….
[Smitten, Miranda asks if she can bear some of Ferdinand’s load. He says “no.” ]
MIRANDA: If you'll sit down, / I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that; / I'll carry it to the pile.
FERDINAND: No, precious creature;
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
MIRANDA: It would become me
As well as it does you: and I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.
PROSPERO: Poor worm, thou art infected! [Love was seen as a kind of sickness.]
This visitation shows it….
[Ferdinand asks her name and she tells him.]
FERDINAND: Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration! worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have eyed with best regard and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I liked several women; never any
With so fun soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best!
MIRANDA: I do not know
One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
More that I may call men than you, good friend,
And my dear father: how features are abroad,
I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
Any companion in the world but you,
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
Something too wildly and my father's precepts
I therein do forget.
FERDINAND: I am in my condition
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
I would, not so!--and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer
The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and for your sake
Am I this patient log--man.
MIRANDA: Do you love me?
FERDINAND: O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
And crown what I profess with kind event
If I speak true! if hollowly, invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I
Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
Do love, prize, honour you.
MIRANDA: I am a fool / To weep at what I am glad of.
PROSPERO: Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between 'em!
FERDINAND: Wherefore weep you?
MIRANDA: At mine unworthiness that dare not offer
What I desire to give, and much less take
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, it you will marry me; I am so in love with you that I will marry no other;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow in fact, I will love no other and die a virgin.
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.
FERDINAND: My mistress, dearest; / And I thus humble ever.
MIRANDA: My husband, then?
FERDINAND: Ay, with a heart as willing / As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
MIRANDA: And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell / Till half an hour hence….
Act 4, Scene 1
Before PROSPERO'S cell. Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA
PROSPERO: If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love and thou
Hast strangely stood the test here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast her off,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise
And make it halt behind her.
FERDINAND: I do believe it / Against an oracle.
PROSPERO: Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased take my daughter: but
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before If you sleep with my daughter before your marriage,
All sanctimonious ceremonies may you will be cursed and miserable.
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow: but barren hate,
Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.
FERDINAND: As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion. I get it. I would rather wait and have that
Our worser genius can, shall never melt special and properly sanctioned wedding night.
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that day's celebration
When I shall think: or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd,
Or Night kept chain'd below….
PROSPERO: Look thou be true; do not give dalliance You might think that you are strong, but beware;
Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw control your thoughts. The more you think about
To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, her, especially at your age, the more likely you
Or else, good night your vow! are to break these vows to me.
FERDINAND: I warrant you sir;
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver….
Act 5, Scene 1
Before PROSPERO'S cell. Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes, and ARIEL
PROSPERO: Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time
Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day?
ARIEL: On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord, / You said our work should cease….
[Ariel even admits that he feels sorry for these bad men. He thinks Prospero needs to lighten up too. In the passage below, Prospero admits to feeling good about the punishment he has delivered to his enemies. This is antithetical to the Christian concept of “turning the other cheek” and forgiveness in general. Prospero addresses his “Divine Nature”—intellect—and how he must use that to subdue his feelings. Soon Prospero will also acknowledge that he must give up his “white magic.”]
PROSPERO: And mine shall.
Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,
One of their kind, that relish all as sharply,
Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,
Yet with my nobler reason 'gaitist my fury Reason subdues his fury; “the rarer action
Do I take part: the rarer action is is in virtue than in vengeance.” In other words,
In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, since they are penitent, I need to show strength
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend by forgiving them—unconditionally.
Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel:
My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore,
And they shall be themselves….
ARIEL: I'll fetch them, sir.
Exit
PROSPERO: ….But this rough magic He is also giving up his white 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. And go back to being a worthy leader.
Re-enter ARIEL before: then ALONSO, ANTONIO, and al the other “bad guys.” They all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO observing, speaks:
PROSPERO: A solemn air and the best comforter
To an unsettled fancy cure thy brains,
Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand,
For you are spell-stopp'd.
Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine,
Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace,
And as the morning steals upon the night,
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
Their clearer reason. O good Gonzalo,
My true preserver, and a loyal sir
To him you follow'st! I will pay thy graces
Home both in word and deed. Most cruelly
Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:
Thy brother was a furtherer in the act.
Thou art pinch'd for now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood,
You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition,
Expell'd remorse and nature; who, with Sebastian,
Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,
Would here have kill'd your king; I do forgive thee, Ultimately, this play is all about forgiveness.
Unnatural though thou art. Their understanding
Begins to swell, and the approaching tide
Will shortly fill the reasonable shore
That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them
That yet looks on me, or would know me Ariel,
Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell:
I will discase me, and myself present
As I was sometime Milan: quickly, spirit;
Thou shalt ere long be free….
PROSPERO: No.
For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require
My dukedom of thee, which perforce, I know,
Thou must restore.
[Alonso will soon be reunited with his son, Ferdinand. Before he learns the truth, however, he bemoans that he has lost his daughter. Note Prospero’s response.]
ALONSO. A daughter?
O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,
The king and queen there! that they were, I wish
Myself were mudded in that oozy bed
Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?
PROSPERO: In this last tempest. I perceive these lords
At this encounter do so much admire
That they devour their reason and scarce think
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
Are natural breath: but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain
That I am Prospero and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan, who most strangely
Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed,
To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast nor
Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell's my court: here have I few attendants
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye
As much as me my dukedom.
Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess
MIRANDA: Sweet lord, you play me false.
FERDINAND: No, my dear'st love,
I would not for the world.
MIRANDA: Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
And I would call it, fair play.
ALONSO: If this prove
A vision of the Island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose.
SEBASTIAN: A most high miracle!
FERDINAND: Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;
I have cursed them without cause.
[Kneels]
ALONSO: Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about!
Arise, and say how thou camest here.
MIRANDA: O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!
PROSPERO: 'Tis new to thee.
ALONSO: What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?
Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:
Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,
And brought us thus together?
FERDINAND: Sir, she is mortal;
But by immortal Providence she's mine:
I chose her when I could not ask my father
For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have
Received a second life; and second father
This lady makes him to me.
ALONSO: I am hers:
But, O, how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!
PROSPERO: There, sir, stop:
Let us not burthen our remembrance with
A heaviness that's gone.
[And they all (presumably) live happily after]
