The Tempest

The Tempest, is widely known as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage. In the play Prospero, the duke of Milan and a powerful magician, is banished from Italy and cast to sea by his usurping brothers, Antonio and Alonso, the king of Naples. Prospero lives on the island with his daughter, Miranda, his servant monster, Caliban, and his helpful spirit Ariel, who is his chief magical agent. A ship carrying Italian royalty, including Antonio, Alonso and several others crashes on Prospero’s island. Miranda and Ferdinand, Alonso’s son, meet and instantly fall in love. After foiled murder plots, a wedding, and the re-uniting of the Italian mariners, the play resolves when Prospero reveals to Alonso the site of Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess. Prospero then invites Alonso and his company to stay the night before everyone returns to Italy the next day, where Prospero will reassume his dukedom. Upon his departure, Prospero vows never to use magic again.--CreatorsWilliam Shakespeare, playwright