Characters List
Prospero- was the duke of Milan until his brother Antonio and Alonso seized him on an island with his daughter, Miranda. Now Prospero has been on this island for twelve years and he uses his magic to punish and forgive his enemies.
Miranda- the daughter of Prospero, who has never seen any men other than Prospero and Caliban. She is very innocent.
Ariel-o ne of Prospero's servants, he was rescued by Prospero for the witch Sycorax. Ariel serves Prospero until Prospero releases him, which he carries out virtually every task that Prospero needs to accomplish.
Caliban- another servant of Prospero. He is the son of the witch Sycorax. When Prospero arrives he believes that the island is his and that Prospero has stolen it.
Ferdinand- son and heir of Alonso. He falls in love with Miranda at first sight and submits servitude in order o win Prospero's approval.
Alonso- king of Naples and father of Ferdinand. He blames himself for the supposed death of his son. After the magical banquet, he regrets seizing Prospero.
Antonio- Prospero's brother. He persuades Sebastian to kill Alonso while he is asleep.
Sebastian- Alonso's brother who is easily persuaded to kill his brother.
Gonzalo- helped Prospero and Miranda to escape after Antonio seized Prospero's title.
Trinculo & Stephano- Trinculo is a jester and Stephano a druken butler are two minor members of the shipwrecked party.
Boatswain- appears only in the first and last scenes. He appears when the ship is wrecking and when he awakens from a long sleep at the end of the play.
Prospero- was the duke of Milan until his brother Antonio and Alonso seized him on an island with his daughter, Miranda. Now Prospero has been on this island for twelve years and he uses his magic to punish and forgive his enemies.
Miranda- the daughter of Prospero, who has never seen any men other than Prospero and Caliban. She is very innocent.
Ariel-o ne of Prospero's servants, he was rescued by Prospero for the witch Sycorax. Ariel serves Prospero until Prospero releases him, which he carries out virtually every task that Prospero needs to accomplish.
Caliban- another servant of Prospero. He is the son of the witch Sycorax. When Prospero arrives he believes that the island is his and that Prospero has stolen it.
Ferdinand- son and heir of Alonso. He falls in love with Miranda at first sight and submits servitude in order o win Prospero's approval.
Alonso- king of Naples and father of Ferdinand. He blames himself for the supposed death of his son. After the magical banquet, he regrets seizing Prospero.
Antonio- Prospero's brother. He persuades Sebastian to kill Alonso while he is asleep.
Sebastian- Alonso's brother who is easily persuaded to kill his brother.
Gonzalo- helped Prospero and Miranda to escape after Antonio seized Prospero's title.
Trinculo & Stephano- Trinculo is a jester and Stephano a druken butler are two minor members of the shipwrecked party.
Boatswain- appears only in the first and last scenes. He appears when the ship is wrecking and when he awakens from a long sleep at the end of the play.
Summary
Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, dwells on an island with his daughter, Miranda. Twelve years earlier, the duke's brother, Antonio, and Alonso, the King of Naples, conspired to usurp his throne. They set Prospero and Miranda adrift in a boat, and they eventually found themselves stranded on the island. Prospero is served on his island by Ariel, a spirit who he freed from a tree with magic, and Caliban, son of the witch Sycorax. When magic reveals that a ship bearing his old enemies is sailing near the island, Prospero summons a storm to wreck their ship. The survivors make it to shore in scattered groups. Among these is Ferdinand, the son of Alonso. He is lulled to Prospero's abode by the singing of Ariel; there he meets Miranda, who is she falls in love with the young prince.
Meanwhile, Antonio, Alonso, Sebastian, and Gonzalo wander the island in search of Ferdinand. Antonio now plots with Sebastian to murder Alonso, but this plot is thwarted by Ariel. Elsewhere on the island, Stephano and Trinculo encounter Caliban. After sharing a few drinks, Caliban tries to persuade the two in to kill Prospero and rule the island himself. He even promises Miranda to Stephano. Ariel, however, reports all these goings-on to Prospero. In the meantime, Miranda and Ferdinand pledge their love to each other.
Prospero isn't finished with his sport of Antonio and Alonso, either. He creates a magical banquet for the two men that vanishes whenever they try to eat. He also sends Ariel in the guise of a harpy to hound them for their crimes against Prospero. Later, at a masque to celebrate the upcoming marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand, Prospero remembers Caliban's plot and abruptly calls the revels to a halt. He sends Ariel to punish them as well; the spirit does so by first luring them with some fancy clothes, then setting other island spirits upon them in the shape of hunting dogs that chase them around the island.
Finally, Prospero confronts his brother and Alonso, revealing his true identity as the rightful Duke of Milan. He demands that Antonio restore his throne; he also rebukes Sebastian for plotting against his own brother. To Alonso, he reveals Ferdinand alive and well, playing chess with Miranda. As a final act, Prospero abandons his magic and releases Ariel from his servitude. From Ariel, Prospero asks for one last task: calm seas and favorable winds for their trip back to Naples.
Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, dwells on an island with his daughter, Miranda. Twelve years earlier, the duke's brother, Antonio, and Alonso, the King of Naples, conspired to usurp his throne. They set Prospero and Miranda adrift in a boat, and they eventually found themselves stranded on the island. Prospero is served on his island by Ariel, a spirit who he freed from a tree with magic, and Caliban, son of the witch Sycorax. When magic reveals that a ship bearing his old enemies is sailing near the island, Prospero summons a storm to wreck their ship. The survivors make it to shore in scattered groups. Among these is Ferdinand, the son of Alonso. He is lulled to Prospero's abode by the singing of Ariel; there he meets Miranda, who is she falls in love with the young prince.
Meanwhile, Antonio, Alonso, Sebastian, and Gonzalo wander the island in search of Ferdinand. Antonio now plots with Sebastian to murder Alonso, but this plot is thwarted by Ariel. Elsewhere on the island, Stephano and Trinculo encounter Caliban. After sharing a few drinks, Caliban tries to persuade the two in to kill Prospero and rule the island himself. He even promises Miranda to Stephano. Ariel, however, reports all these goings-on to Prospero. In the meantime, Miranda and Ferdinand pledge their love to each other.
Prospero isn't finished with his sport of Antonio and Alonso, either. He creates a magical banquet for the two men that vanishes whenever they try to eat. He also sends Ariel in the guise of a harpy to hound them for their crimes against Prospero. Later, at a masque to celebrate the upcoming marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand, Prospero remembers Caliban's plot and abruptly calls the revels to a halt. He sends Ariel to punish them as well; the spirit does so by first luring them with some fancy clothes, then setting other island spirits upon them in the shape of hunting dogs that chase them around the island.
Finally, Prospero confronts his brother and Alonso, revealing his true identity as the rightful Duke of Milan. He demands that Antonio restore his throne; he also rebukes Sebastian for plotting against his own brother. To Alonso, he reveals Ferdinand alive and well, playing chess with Miranda. As a final act, Prospero abandons his magic and releases Ariel from his servitude. From Ariel, Prospero asks for one last task: calm seas and favorable winds for their trip back to Naples.
|
|