Background and Themes By: Haley Gregoire The Tempest Background and Themes By: Haley Gregoire

Shakespeare Born: Stratford-upon-Avon; April 23, 1564 Died: Stratford-upon-Avon; April 23, 1616 Considered the greatest writer in the English language Wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets Most popular plays include: Twelfth Night, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello Most common theme in his sonnets is love.

The Tempest Shakespeare’s last play First performed in 1611 1623- First play in the Folio of Shakespeare Explores the anxieties that accompanied England's belated foray into a New World already occupied by Spanish plantations to the South and French missionaries to the north. Romance/ Fantasy/ Comedy Setting- unnamed island in the Mediterranean

Major Conflict Prospero was banished from Italy and cast to sea by his brother Antonio, and Alonso. Antonio and Alonso come under Prospero’s magic power as they sail past his island.

Rising Action Prospero creates the tempest, causing his enemies ship to wreck and its passengers to be dispersed about the island.

Climax Alonso and his people stop to rest and Prospero calls a banquet to be set out before them. Just as they are about to eat, Ariel appears in the shape of a harpy and accuses them of their treachery against Prospero. Alonso is overwhelmed with remorse.

Falling Action Prospero forgives Alonso and the others. He invites them to stay the night before everyone returns to Italy the next day, where Prospero will reassume his dukedom.

Themes Power Revenge and Forgiveness Loss and Restoration Magic and Illusions

Power Main theme: Characters seeking power in order to have control. Antonio takes power from Prospero by taking his dukedom and banishing him from Milan. Prospero becomes powerful with the use of magic and illusions to trick his enemies. Prospero’s power over Caliban Example: (From the introduction of Caliban) “Tho poisonous slave, got by the devel himself/Upon they wicked darn, come fourth!”

Revenge and Forgiveness Prospero creates the tempest to make Antonio, Alonso, and the others get in a ship wreck. (Act 1 Scene 1) Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo plot to murder Prospero. (Act 3 Scene 2) Prospero forgives Alonso and the others. (Act 5 Scene 1)

Magic and Illusions Prospero uses magic when he creates the tempest. Prospero uses illusions to manipulate his enemies and take control. Ferdinand and Miranda mistake each other for super-natural beings. Stephano mistakes Caliban and Trinculo for a two-headed creature. Caliban mistakes Stephano as god. Prospero suggest that life is an illusion that ends with death. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep” (Act 4 Scene 1)

Loss and Restoration Prospero loses his dukedom but plans to take it back. Ariel loses freedom from Sycorax and becomes Prospero’s server. Prospero creates the tempest causing Alonso and his courtiers to lose their position and power. Caliban, who considers himself ruler of the island, is taken control over and enslaved by Prospero. Alonso gives up his claim to Milan, returning Prospero to power and restoring order between Milan and Naples.