The Tempest: Act V/Epilogue

"Now I want/ Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,/ And my ending is despair,/ Unless I be relieved by prayer,/ Which pierces so that it assaults/ Mercy itself and frees all faults."

Summary

  Scene i

    Prospero enters, stroking his chin as he contemplates the final pieces of his scheme. He calls forth Ariel, and asks him where Alonso and his entourage are. Ariel relays to Prospero that they are exactly where he wants them to be, but in a state of misery, especially Gonzalo, who has tears running down his beard. Since Ariel, a spirit, feels sorry for them, Prospero can all but imagine the pity he will feel for them all. Prospero draws a circle on the ground to ensnare the group, and reflects his actions. He is quite the magician, and has done so many things over the years. An enormous wave of guilt overcomes him, and he swears that after this next spell, he will bury his staff and burn his magical tomes.

    Alonso, Gonzalo, Sebastian, Antonio, Adrian, and Francisco enter the scene frantically, led by Ariel, and all but the latter are trapped and frozen in the circle. Prospero looks upon their dread-filled faces, and addresses them individually even though they cannot hear him. He looks at Gonzalo, and thanks him for his sympathy and kindness; he turned to Alonso, who helped usurp him from his dukedom, and forgives him; he gives a quick glance to Sebastian and he chastises him for being a fool, but he forgives him as well; he then walks to his dear brother, who not only betrayed him and stole his dukedom, but he also conspired to kill the king with Sebastian. Difficult as it was, Prospero forgave him also.
    Ariel dons Prospero with the clothes from his dukedom so that they will recognize him. After Prospero tells Ariel to fetch the Shipmaster and the Boatswain, the King and his entourage awake. Upon seeing Prospero, Alonso doubts whether or not he is even real, since all that has conspired on the island has made him suspicious of all. Gonzalo, on the other hand, instantly knows that Prospero is real, and they embrace each other. Prospero then turns to Antonio and Sebastian, and tells them that they are in his debt; he knows of their intended treachery, and demands Antonio for his dukedom back in return for his silence about his sins. However, Prospero directly forgives Antonio for all that he's done.
    Alonso mourns the loss of his son to Prospero, who tells the king to have patience, as that has helped him through his loss. Prospero then explains that because of the tempest, he has lost his dear daughter. Prospero brings Alonso to his cabin, and reveals that Miranda and Ferdinand, who are playing a game of chess, are alive and in love. Ferdinand sees his father, who he thought had died in the storm, and collapses onto the ground out of joy. Everyone rejoices in the beauty of the couple, and Gonzalo reflects how everyone has found happiness on this little island.
    The Boatswain and the Shipmaster arrive, and proclaim that their ship  is perfectly functional, but can't explain why. Prospero quickly changes the subject, and says that there are still yet people missing. At this moment Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo enter the scene. Caliban rejoices in seeing Prospero alive and well, but the rest are confused as to what is going on: the higher-ups are disgusted at Caliban's experience, and they tell Trinculo and Stephano tell them to abandon Caliban.
    Prospero leads everyone into his cabin to tell them his tale. He also tells Ariel that after he gives everyone good passage back to Naples, he his free.
    In the epilogue, Prospero addresses the audience directly. He says that he is going to give up his magic, and live a life of peace. He begs for forgiveness from the audience, and prays that life will serve him kindly.

Analysis

     The Tempest is a play of ambition and, more importantly, its consequences. Prospero has made an enormous transformation over the course of the play: at the beginning, he was a vengeful wizard bent on furthering his own goals. Thankfully, his innocent daughter and her love with Ferdinand influenced him into forgiving all who have wronged him. Similarly, Alonso was also overcome with guilt, and repents for his sins. Antonio came to have an enormous amount of power because of his actions, and, at first, reigned and lived without consequence. His ambition accompanied him to the island, and almost tricked Sebastian into killing his brother, King Alonso. However, Shakespeare uses Antonio to illustrate that if one does not give up one's ambitions willingly, it will be taken away.
    Furthermore, Prospero can be likened to the Providence that he so endeared, especially when one compares The Tempest to the flood story from the book of Genesis: He is wrathful and destructive in the beginning, but then at the end is more forgiving and more loving than before. Prospero's parallel to God explains his omniscience and his unpredictability; and, if one stretches the God metaphor, one can view Ferdinand as man. Prospero commands Ferdinand to move a ridiculous amount of logs, the only purpose being to win his favor and Miranda's hand in marriage. Much like Ferdinand, mankind must, in Christianity, live a life free of sin and full of repentence; if one accomplishes this task, they gain access to eternal bliss and paradise.

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The Tempest: Act IV

"Bear with my weakness. MyAold brain is troubled./ Be not disturbed with my infirmity./ If you be pleased, retire into my cell/ And there repose. a turn or two I'll walk/ To still my beating mind."

Summary

  Scene i

    The scene opens with Prospero apologizing to Ferdinand for treating him poorly. Prospero then releases Ferdinand from his servitude, and lets him marry Miranda. However he warns Ferdinand that if he engages in any sexual activity, he will ensure that he will suffer pain beyond pain. Ferdinand and Miranda move aside, and Prospero calls Ariel to report what he's done. Ariel tells him that he's led Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban through thorns and marsh. Satisfied, Prospero sends Ariel away. 
    Prospero goes up to Ferdinand and Miranda, and commences the wedding ceremony, warning them not to interrupt. The rainbow goddess, Iris, descends from the sky. She proclaims that the harvest goddess must provide a plentiful bounty to the newlyweds. As Juno, the queen of the gods slowly descends from the heavens, Ceres expresses how she is concerned that Venus, the goddess of love, and her son Cupid might be accompanying Juno. Iris consoles her, saying that although Cupid wanted to manipulate Miranda and Ferdinand into breaking their vestal* vows, their ploy failed, so the two lovers are safe. Juno [finally] arrives, and she and Ceres start singing blessings to Miranda and Ferdinand. Ferdinand fantasizes about living on the island forever, but Prospero reveals that the three goddesses are but spirits he summoned to serve his whim. As they spoke, Juno and Ceres sent Iris to summon nymphs and fieldworkers to join in celebrating the union of the two lovers.
    Suddenly, Prospero remembers Caliban's intense desire to murder him. Startled, he sends all the spirits he summoned away. Ferdinand and Miranda notice his distress, but Prospero goes to the newlywed couple and  tries to calm them down. He convinces them to leave, and the second they're gone Prospero calls Ariel to do his bidding. He tells him to turn invisible, and distract the three with fancy clothes.
    Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban arrive covered in mud, and the former two are distracted by the clothes while Caliban becomes infuriated at them for getting distracted from their goal of killing Prospero. While Trinculo and Stephano tell Caliban to calm down, Prospero, Ariel, and hunter and hunting dog spirits appear from the bush, and chase the three away. Prospero curses them to torture as they run, and promises Ariel that he will free him shortly.

Analysis

    During the ceremony, Ceres and Iris discuss of Cupid and Mars, who wish to prevent the marriage by tricking Miranda and Ferdinand into having sexual relations before the marriage. However Shakespeare used this quick allusion to the Roman gods to foreshadow how Stephano's, Trinculo's, and Caliban's plan to take Miranda and spoil the marriage. Furthermore, Shakespeare uses the reference to the goddess Ceres to illustrate the amicability what is to come: all will be peaceful, and all will be bountiful. 

    Also, Stephano and friends have come to represent the outcasts of society. They are constantly disillusioned by something, and are easily manipulated by some sort of higher caste. From the very beginning of the play, they give their best efforts towards a goal, yet because of bickering inside the group or manipulation from outside, they remain at the bottom, hoping for metaphorical scraps.

*Vestal refers to the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome, who took a vow of chastity to maintain their devotion to studying the goddess of the hearth, Vesta.

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                      Nick

The Tempest: Act III

Summary 

  Scene i 

    Prospero has commanded Ferdinand to move an innumerable amount of logs for who knows why. However he moves each log with a spring in his step, for he knows that his lover Miranda is out there, waiting for him. Suddenly Miranda bursts onto the scene, and Ferdinand's soul is filled with glee upon seeing her. They exchange words of love, and promises that they shall never ever be apart ever again; they swear that they shall be married. Prospero is looking on from a distance, and sees his daughter betrothal. He cannot be more elated, for not only is his dearest daughter happy, but he will also be able to exact revenge on those who wronged him.

  Scene ii

    The relationship between Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban begins to strain. As Caliban explains what the island is like and who is on it, Trinculo doubts him. Ariel enters, and as Caliban tells how poorly Prospero treated him, Ariel imitates Trinculo's voice and calls him a liar. Caliban and Stephano are quick to attack Trinculo, telling him to keep a good tongue in his mouth. Trinculo, confused, doesn't know what they're talking about and claims he did not speak. Ariel does this twice more, and the final time Stephano loses it and beats Trinculo. After everyone's anger is appeased, Caliban reveals that there is a beautiful fair maiden on the island, and suggests that Stephano should kill Prospero and take Miranda as his wife. Ariel, still invisible, overhears their plan, and leads the three astray with his music.

  Scene iii

    King Alonso and his party have been searching for Ferdinand for a long time, and everyone has grown weary for walking for so long. Ariel, still invisible, summons several apparitions that bring forth a banquet for the party to dine on. Gonzalo is skeptical of the feast, and he advises everyone to stay away. However Alonso is not suspicious at all, and invites his brother and his fair duke (Sebastian and Antonio) to feast with him. As the three approach the table, Ariel appears as a harpy, and calls the three men traitorous sinners for usurping Prospero's dukedom. Alonso is overcome with guilt, and thinks that his son drowned because of his political actions back in Italy. The royal party follows Alonso away from the scene, who fled in fear and distress.

Analysis

    Act III contrasts with Act II in that Act II has a theme of betraying others whereas Act III has a theme of acting loyal to one's own self. However the consequences of self-loyalty depend on the actions taken. Alonso, for example, almost had his son killed by a storm because of his actions against Prospero. On the other hand, loyalty to one's self can also be rewarding: although Ferdinand has been condemned to slavery, he is enslaved to his love Miranda, the two of which being completely enamored with each other.
    Another thing to notice is the increasing importance of Ariel, Prospero's spirit. In the beginning of the play Ariel expressed that he hated serving Prospero, however he is showing a confusing level of enthusiasm in his actions; perhaps Ariel is attempting to secretly undermine Prospero's efforts in an attempt to further his own ambitions. If so, a theme of ambition can easily be seen.
    Ambition is what drove all these men to this island in one way or another, and now they must all face the consequences, whatever they may be.

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                       Nick

The Tempest: Act II

"As thou got'st Milan, / I'll come by Naples...One stroke / Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest, / And I the King shall love thee."

Summary

  Scene i

    We are now introduced to King Alonso and his entourage: Gonzalo, Francisco, and Adrian, the kind ones; and Sebastian and Antonio, the brothers of royalty and the jokers of the crowd. Alonso is convinced that his son, Ferdinand, was killed by the storm. Francisco, Adrian, and Gonzalo attempt to cheer up Alonso, but Sebastian and Antonio are there at every turn to mock their attempts. Suddenly Ariel appears, and puts everyone but Sebastian and and Antonio (note: before Alonso falls asleep, Sebastian tells him that he will protect him). Antonio then suggest to Sebastian that he should kill his brother Alonso while he sleeps. Since his sister is now married to the King of Tunis, Sebastian is the next in line to the throne. The two draw their swords, but since Prospero has other plans, Ariel wakes up Gonzalo, who wakes up the rest of the crew. Quick on their feet, Antonio and Sebastian say that they have their swords drawn because they heard a beast out in the woods. Everyone else then draws their swords, and vacates the area.

  Scene ii

    Caliban is carrying a large load of wood as a storm comes in. He laments over the mistreatment and hatred he receives from Prospero, when he hears something coming. Thinking it to be one of Prospero's spirits, Caliban hides under his own cloak. Trinculo, an Englishman that was aboard Alonso's ship. Trinculo sees Caliban as a pile of something, either fish or a dead body, but needing shelter from the storm, he crawls under Caliban's cloak [which is pretty ridiculous to be honest]. Then Trinculo's drunkard friend, Stephano, stumbles onto the scene. He sees Trinculo and Caliban under the same cloak, and thinks them to be a four-legged monster. Caliban continues to lament about the misery which Prospero constantly inflicts upon him (since he thinks Stephano is another one of Prospero's spirits), but Trinculo tries to convey his identity to Stephano, which further confuses him and makes him think he's encountered a two-headed four-legged beast. After some repetition, Stephano realizes that he's encountered his friend Trinculo and a stranger named Caliban. Caliban sees an opportunity to escape from his slavery to Prospero, and begs to work for Trinculo and Stephano instead. Stephano accepts, and Caliban drinks from Stephano's wine bottle to seal his fealty to him. All parties leave the scene in glee.

Analysis

     Prospero described Antonio as a traitorous tyrant, yet when we see him for ourselves, we see why the people loved him: he's charismatic and well-learned. So we again begin to question the validity of Prospero's proclamations;was he a dove or a hawk? Was he loved, or was he feared like he is on the island? Was he betrayed, or overthrown? More importantly, what traits of him from the past will come forth and present themselves in the present? At the beginning of the play, Prospero painted himself to be an innocent man who has been wronged. However we quickly saw that he is not what he wants others to see him as. His mysterious and antagonistic character reveals why Caliban despises his master and why he wishes to betray him.
    The motives for betrayal are what set aside the innocent and the greedy. Caliban ditched his master because he was being treated as if he were more worthless than dirt, but Sebastian tried to one-up his master for his own personal game. However, it wasn't even of his own initiative; Antonio was the one who convinced him, because, as Sebastian said, he would stop making him pay tribute to Naples for helping him ascend to Dukehood in Milan. So perhaps Antonio and Prospero are both greedy individuals of different degrees: Prospero works on a smaller, more personal scale, whereas Antonio works on a more political scale. This would would explain their behaviors pre-Tempest.

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                     Nick

The Tempest: Act I

"I boarded the King's ship/...I flamed amazement. Sometimes I'd divide/ and burn in many places/...

On their sustaining garments not a blemish,/

But fresher than before."

 Summary 

  Scene i

    The play opens up with a ship and its crew in a tempest the likes of which no one has ever seen. On board is the crew, consisting of a shipmaster and a boatswain. King Alonso of Naples, his son Ferdinand, and his entourage, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo. Upon realizing that the ship is going to crash, the crew panics and most of them jump ship. However our main characters remain, since they have faith in their obedient, if rude, crew. The scene ends with Gonzalo crying aloud that he would give everything he could to "die a dry death."

  Scene ii

    The wizard Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been living on an uninhabited island for twelve years; and until now, Prospero has refused to tell Miranda why. But now, after having destroyed that ship, Prospero decides to tell his daughter the tale of their origin.
    Prospero was once the Duke of Milan, but due to his immense and obsessive interests in the humanities (i.e. math, science, history, and basically anything other than theology), he let his brother Antonio rule in substitution, meaning that he would act as the Duke without actually being the Duke. As time passed on, Antonio convinced himself that he was actually the Duke of Milan. So, to secure his dukehood, Antonio secured his position with the people by doing all the things a political zealot needs to do to ascend. Furthermore, Antonio paid Alonso, King of Naples, innumerable favors to help him overthrow Prospero and seal Antonio's dukedom once and for all. One sudden night, the traitorous troops of Milan burst in, took Prospero and baby Miranda, stuck them on a raft with but a few worldly possessions and some food and water (provided by Gonzalo, a nobleman of Naples) , and shoved them off to sea. And now all those who betrayed Prospero and a few more are on the island because he crashed their ship. After telling Miranda all this, he puts her to sleep so he can talk to his enslaved spirit, Ariel.
    Prospero interrogates Ariel about the ship he destroyed for his master. Ariel describes it with much joy, saying the ship went up in flames as the wind and the ocean flung it about. Everyone aboard was cast in various places around the island, save King Alonso, whose ship was safely harbored in a cave, and the crew, who Ariel shipped back to Italy. Delighted to hear of the perfect execution of his plans, Prospero declares that there is more work to be done, but Ariel reminds him that he promised him his freedom. Prospero is infuriated by this back-talk, and sternly reminds Ariel that he freed him from the tree that the evil witch Sycorax trapped him in for twelve years and threatens to trap him for twelve more. Ariel concedes with his tail between his legs, and listens for Prospero's instructions. He tells him to turn into an invisible water nymph, and he leaves. After Ariel leaves, Prospero awakens Miranda, who claims that his tale made him faint. Prospero and Miranda then visit their slave, Caliban, who is the son of Sycorax. After exchanging several slurs, we learn that Caliban became Prospero's slave because Prospero nurtured and taught Caliban when they met him on the island, so Caliban serves Prospero and Miranda out of fear of Prospero's magic. Caliban exits to fetch some fuel, and Ferdinand, Prince of Naples, enters. Miranda instantly falls instantly and madly in love with the handsome man while Ariel, invisible, plays a song around him, convincing him that his father has died. Ferdinand's eyes finds Miranda, who instantly loves her in return. However Prospero intercedes and accuses Ferdinand of being a spy and a traitor, and that he'll torture him for daring to come to the island. Ferdinand draws his sword, but Prospero uses his magic to freeze him there. Miranda, desperate to save her new-found lover, beseeches her father to let him live. At her demands Prospero has mercy on the boy, only on the condition that he be disabled enough to keep him from revolting against him but able enough to move. Prospero forbids Miranda from speaking to Ferdinand, and everyone exits.

Analysis

    Something that I noticed that kept arising in the text was the usage of the four elements: air, earth, water, and fire. The usage of the four elements as well as the excessive references to witches and magic might possibly foreshadow the strangeness of the story that will ensue; all societal norms will break down and anything can happen.
     Furthermore, the characterization of Prospero is...mysterious. He builds himself up to be a great man and a victim to his daughter, but after he puts her to sleep he is revealed to have not one, but two slaves. So, perhaps Prospero and Antonio are truly brothers in that they disillusion the people to serve their own ambitions: Antonio painted himself as a great man to the people of Milan so he could ascend to Dukehood, but Prospero painted himself as a great man to his daughter to maintain his relationship with her. Furthermore, he wants to use the love between Miranda and Ferdinand to get back at Antonio and Milan. Their relationship obviously centers around each other because, with the exception of Caliban, they are the only two on the island. So, if their relationship is lost, they could risk their sanity.
    Caliban provides an interesting look into how humans treat foreign humans. At first, Prospero tried to teach Caliban the finer things, but when Caliban actively expressed his lack of desire to learn those things, Prospero enslaved him because he thought he'd be put to better use. One could conclude from this action that humans are initially good, yet have the capacity to be evil.

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Thanks for reading,
                      Nick