Set on a remote island, The Tempest is a tale of magic, in which a displaced father seeks to restore his daughter to her rightful position.
A shipwreck
Alonso, King of Naples, his son Ferdinand and brother, Sebastian, are sailing back from his daughter Claribel’s wedding to the King of Tunis, along with the usurper Duke of Milan, Antonio, Gonzalo the previous duke’s faithful retainer and a number of servants. Their ship is hit by a sudden storm and, worried that it will break up, they abandon ship.
On a nearby island, lives Prospero and his daughter, Miranda. Horrified at the sight of the shipwreck, she begs her father to assist. He calms her fears, explaining that his magic created the storm and that everyone is safe. He then tells her how they had arrived on the island many years earlier.
Prospero’s tale
Prospero was Duke of Milan until his brother Antonio, conspiring with Alonso, King of Naples, usurped his place, setting Prospero and the infant Miranda adrift on the open sea in an unseaworthy raft. They survived and reached the island, only because the loyal Gonzalo supplied food and Prospero’s books, the source of his magic.
Prospero created the storm to bring his enemies within reach. His magical spirit, Ariel, made sure that everyone on the ship survived and was distributed around the island in small groups, each believing the others drowned.
The island’s inhabitants
When Prospero and Miranda first arrived on the island, it was inhabited only by Caliban, the deformed son of the dead witch Sycorax, and the spirit Ariel. Sycorax was dead, but before she died had imprisoned Ariel in a tree.
Prospero freed Ariel, who agreed to serve him until he was no longer needed.
Originally, Prospero and Miranda treated Caliban well and educated him but, as Miranda grew up, Caliban attempted to assault her. He is now reduced to the position of a slave.
A declaration of love
An invisible Ariel leads Ferdinand to Prospero and Miranda, to the sound of beautiful music.
Ferdinand and Miranda immediately fall in love, which fits Prospero’s plans. But to prevent their love from developing too quickly, he accuses Ferdinand of deceiving them by claiming to be the Prince of Naples. He imprisons him and treats him like a servant.
Whilst Ferdinand is obediently moving logs, Miranda approaches, admits her love and proposes to Ferdinand, who accepts. A hidden Prospero sees this and is secretly delighted. He calls forth a magical masque to celebrate their forthcoming marriage.
Magic and plotting
Elsewhere on the island, Ferdinand’s father, Alonso, his court and servants mourn the death of Ferdinand. Gonzalo attempts to comfort them claiming that Ferdinand may still live. An invisible Ariel charms all but Sebastian and Antonio to sleep.
Sebastian suggests that Antonio should usurp Alonso, as he did Prospero. With Ferdinand presumed dead, Sebastian plans to inherit his brother’s throne by stabbing the sleeping men. Ariel prevents this murder by waking Gonzalo in the nick of time.
Meanwhile, another survivor, the jester Trinculo, discovers Caliban, who believes Trinculo is a devil sent by Prospero to torment him. They are discovered by Stephano, a drunken butler.
Under the influence of alcohol, Caliban vows to leave Prospero and serve Stephano. He persuades his new masters to murder Prospero and take over the island. The plot is thwarted by their drunkenness and Prospero and Ariel’s magic.
Prospero produces a magical banquet for the castaways, which vanishes before they can eat it. Ariel then appears as a harpy, accusing the men of exiling Prospero, and saying that losing Ferdinand is their punishment.
Prospero then asks Ariel to bring all the survivors before him.
Spoiler – stop here if you don’t want to know how it ends
As all the nobles arrive at Prospero’s cell, he reveals himself to them. He greets Gonzalo as his faithful friend, forgives Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian, and shows them that Ferdinand is safe with Miranda.
Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano admit their plotting and are also forgiven.
Alonso restores the dukedom to Prospero, and Ariel brings in the boat’s crew and confirms that the ship is safe and fully restored. They all plan to return to Italy, leaving the island to Caliban.
Prospero gives up his magic and sets Ariel free. Finally, he begs the audience to forgive him his plotting and set him free with their applause.
