The setting, characters and analysis of The Tempest by William Shakespeare

The Tempest by William Shakespeare takes place during the Renaissance period on an island off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.

The characters in the play are; Prospero is the protagonist who has been on an island for twelve years with his daughter Miranda and the servants he acquired while the island. Miranda learns the whole story of why they are on island during the play; she gets married during the play to Ferdinand. Ariel and Caliban are Prospero’s servants who help deceive all the people aboard the shipwreck and do various other tasks for Prospero. Alonso is one of the antagonists who is the king of Naples and the father of Ferdinand. His brother is Sebastian who is a lot like him. Sebastian is persuaded into a plot to kill his brother while he sleeps. Ferdinand is the son of Alonso and the heir to Naples, he gets married to Miranda. Antonio is the other antagonist. He is Prospero’s brother, and also the one who shipwrecked him on the island twelve years ago. Gonzalo is a lord whose good nature helped Prospero and his daughter after his brother took his title.

The major conflict that occurs in the play is Prospero’s banishment from Italy by his brother and Alonso. He later uses his magic powers to shipwreck them on the waters just outside of the island he has been living on.

“When an unexpected situation occurs you can never know the outcome, you just have to hope for the best.”

“William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was many things, an actor, a poet, and a dramatist. People often refer to him as England’s national poet, and the world’s best dramatist. He died on his birthday in 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.”(“Biography”)“Shakespeare wrote the play in 1610 which was towards the end of his career. Around this time there were discoveries of English colonies in the new world. This sparked the interest of Shakespeare to question how others lived in different places in the world. This made him wonder if people around the worlds were all the same and how their environment affected their behavior. This most likely had the effect on him to write The Tempest.”(“Magill’s”)

“Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan who has been living on an island in the Mediterranean Sea for the past twelve years with his daughter and servants. His brother Antonio had set them adrift at sea with the help of Alonso the King of Naples. Antonio set him adrift to take the title of Duke of Milan. Gonzalo is a very good natured courtier who helped save Prospero and his daughter Miranda by supplying them with food and Prospero’s books. Upon arriving on the island Prospero finds Ariel and Caliban. Ariel is a spirit who was imprisoned by Sycorax and left up in a tree. Caliban is the monstrous son of Sycorax. Sycorax had died before Prospero got to the island so he freed Ariel from the tree and they both become servants to Prospero. Miranda is the daughter of who has been raised since an infant on the island. Her father is the only man she has ever seen. Upon seeing Ferdinand she falls in love. The ship that has a wreck by the island was boarded by Alonso, Antonio, Ferdinand, and Sebastian. Alonso is the King of Naples, and the father to Ferdinand. He helped set adrift Prospero, and when he arrives on the island is extremely worried about the whereabouts of his son. In the end Prospero forgive him. Ferdinand is the Prince of Naples and future husband of Miranda. When he comes on the island he is captured by Prospero who forces him to do tasks. While on the island he falls in love with Miranda. Antonio is the brother of Prospero whose evil plot was to set him adrift at sea to take the dukedom from him. He is also forgiven by Prospero. Sebastian is the brother of Alonso who while on the island plots with Antonio to take the throne of Naples, but proper disrupts the plot.”(“Cyclopedia”)

Some examples of symbolism in the play are the tempest, the game of chess, along with some character and what they represent. When the Tempest puts the voyagers on the ship in danger after the shipwreck it gives Prospero the power to inflict the same danger that was present on him and his daughter when the antagonists on the ship set them adrift at sea. The game of chess has a simple goal of putting the king in check-mate. This symbolizes Prospero catching the king. He has gone on with supporting a marriage that Alonso was in the dark on, but will agree with because his is now the heir to the Duke of Milan.

“Characters such as Prospero, Alonso, Antonio and Miranda represent certain things to some critics of the work. Miranda can represent innocence, because she was young when it happened so she did not grow up in royalty and she has never seen a man. Prospero, his brother and Alonso can represent brutality for what they did to each other. Alonso and Antonio showed the greed man has to be powerful and on top of the food chain. While Prospero showed that revenge is a dish best served cold.”(“Masterplots”)

“Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices that, if I then had waked after long sleep will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming the clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that when I wakedI cried to dream again.” (“Shakespeare,III.ii.”) This comes from Caliban talking to Stephano and Trinculo and the strange noises that occur on the island. The noises come from Ariel playing music will being invisible or its natural island noise; there is something magical about the island. The sudden sleep you fall into may be scary but is not harmful just like the music. It also shows that the island is truly Caliban’s home.

“I weep 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, if you will marry me. If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow you may deny me, but I’ll be your servant whether you will or no.” (“Shakespeare, III.i.”) This is Miranda talking to Ferdinand confessing her love for him. That the love she feels is unbearable that if he says no that she will still what to be around him and cater to his needs. It’s very unpredictable because normally men propose marriage and the roles are reversed here.

“Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, Thy father was the Duke of Milan and a prince of power.”(“Shakespeare, I.i.”) Prospero is talking to Miranda about to tell her the story of his evil brother’s plot against him. How was he to know that his brother had this plan? He didn’t realize he gave his brother too much power, and that he would end up with this unexpected fate.

“I say, by sorcery he got this isle; from me he got it. If thy greatness will revenge it on him, for I know thou darest, but this thing dare not.”(“Shakespeare, III.ii.”) Caliban is saying this to Stephano and Trinculo, talking about Prospero taking over the island. For Caliban someone coming on to his mother’s island was unpredictable. Also, becoming a servant was too. Prospero would most likely not see a revenge plot against him since it had been twelve years that Caliban had been his servant.

The point of view in the play is third person. You go between different characters and are let in at certain points, but for the most part you as the reader are viewing it from the third person.

The resolution of the conflict is when Prospero forgives Alonso and Antonio for their actions against him. Order is restored and his daughter is planning for marriage to Ferdinand. The all make plans to sail back to Italy over calm seas.

All in all, life is very unpredictable. It has many obstacles that are thrown at you. You need to react and make the best out of every situation. You sometimes need to have a forgive and forget mentality just like Prospero had in the end when he forgave his brother. Also you need be strong and make a statement that you are not to be overpowered without a form of retaliation as Prospero showed early on.

Works Cited

Ingham, Muriel B. “The Tempest.” Masterplots, Fourth Edition (2010): 1-3. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2012.

“Tempest by William Shakespeare.” The Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays & Summaries. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/tempest/1/>.

“The Tempest.” Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, Revised Third Edition (1998): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2012.

Welsh, James M., and Jill Stapleton-Bergeron. “The Tempest.” Magill’s Survey Of World Literature, Revised Edition (2009): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2012.

“William Shakespeare Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story – Biography.com.” Famous Biographies & TV Shows – Biography.com. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare-9480323>.