The Tempest

In Act 5, Scene 1 of The Tempest, Prospero's phrase "This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine" refers to Caliban and his state of servitude. Prospero dehumanizes Caliban by calling him a "thing" and...

The Tempest is classified as a tragicomedy because it blends elements of both tragedy and comedy. The play features serious themes such as betrayal and revenge, but it resolves these conflicts with...

Prospero links the themes of freedom and forgiveness in The Tempest in his progress from enslaving the island's native spirits and manipulating all the other characters to setting Ariel free and...

In The Tempest, "Bermoothes" refers to Bermuda, considered stormy and enchanted in Shakespeare's time. The phrase "still-vex'd" suggests it remains troubled by storms. It might also reference the Sea...

Textual evidence in The Tempest does suggest Caliban attempted to assault Miranda. In Act 1, Scene 2, Prospero accuses Caliban of attempting to violate Miranda's honor, which Caliban does not deny,...

Ariel's gender in The Tempest is ambiguous. Shakespeare does not explicitly define Ariel's gender, allowing for various interpretations in different productions. Ariel is often portrayed by both male...

The chess game in The Tempest signifies several key elements. It reveals to Alonso that his son Ferdinand is alive and in love with Miranda, who reciprocates his feelings. Additionally, the scene...

The Tempest explores themes of colonialism and imperialism through the interactions between Prospero and Caliban. Prospero's domination over the island and its inhabitants reflects the European...

Usurpation in The Tempest is significant as it underpins the play’s central conflicts and themes. Antonio's usurpation of Prospero's dukedom sets the story in motion, highlighting themes of power,...

In The Tempest, conflicts are explored through themes of power, betrayal, and forgiveness. Prospero's struggle to reclaim his dukedom and seek revenge on his usurping brother, Antonio, is central....

The Tempest is considered a play within a play and an example of metatheatre because it features a self-referential structure where characters are aware of their roles in a story. Prospero, the main...

The harpy scene in Act 3, Scene 3 of The Tempest is significant because it reveals the reason for Antonio, Sebastian, and Alonso's misfortune: their mistreatment of Prospero. Ariel, in the guise of a...

Ariel is a spirit and Prospero's servant in The Tempest. Ariel's role involves carrying out Prospero's commands, using magical abilities to manipulate events on the island. Ariel longs for freedom,...

The metaphor "Those are pearls that were his eyes" in The Tempest suggests transformation after death. Ariel's song implies that Ferdinand's father, believed to be drowned, has become part of the...

Prospero's exile in The Tempest was caused by his brother Antonio's betrayal. Antonio usurped Prospero's position as Duke of Milan, forcing Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, to flee. They ended up...

Shakespeare's use of metatheatre in The Tempest serves to highlight the themes of illusion and reality, as well as to comment on the nature of theatrical performance itself. Through characters like...

In "The Tempest," the theme of illusion versus reality is central. Prospero's magical abilities create illusions that manipulate other characters and events on the island. These illusions challenge...

The relationship between Miranda and Caliban is hostile, since Caliban attempted to rape her.

The comedic elements in The Tempest include the humorous interactions between the characters Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban. Their drunken antics, misunderstandings, and plans to overthrow Prospero...

Prospero and Caliban's relationship in act 1, scene 2 of The Tempest depicts the impact of slavery and status on the mentality of Caliban by showing him as bitter over his treatment by Prospero....

In Aristotle’s On the Art of Poetry, he referred to the “three unities” in drama: unity of place, unity of action, and unity of time. He said the plot should occur in a single place, the action...

Prospero forgives everyone at the climax of The Tempest because he pities them and believes it is nobler to forgive than to seek vengeance. He also wants to restore his relationship with Alonso for...

Caliban and Ariel in The Tempest symbolize different aspects of servitude and nature. Caliban represents the earthly, physical side, often associated with brute force and resentment, while Ariel...

In Act 2, Scene 1 of The Tempest, Gonzalo describes an ideal commonwealth where there are no kings, businesses, bureaucracy, education, land ownership, or servitude. He envisions a utopia where...

In The Tempest one could argue that a character who's punished too harshly would be Caliban. He's treated like a slave by Prospero despite the fact that it's his, island. Caliban has misbehaved, but...

It is unclear whether Caliban has gained freedom at the end of The Tempest. Caliban either sails with Prospero to Milan as his servant or gains his freedom and remains on the island in his rightful...

Ariel and Caliban's attitudes towards Prospero differ significantly, reflecting in Prospero's treatment of them. Ariel, obedient and eager to gain freedom, receives kindness and promises of liberty....

In The Tempest, Prospero's strengths include his powerful magic and deep love for his daughter, Miranda. His weaknesses are his hubris and drive for power and revenge, which lead him to treat others...

The Tempest was influenced by the European exploration and colonization of the New World during Shakespeare's time. The play reflects contemporary issues such as the tension between civilization and...

Prospero tells Miranda about his past because Miranda witnesses the shipwreck, from act 1, scene 1, in the storm and realizes it was Prospero's magic that caused it. She begs him to stop. If by...

Prospero gives up his magic and speaks of mercy in the final act of The Tempest due to Ariel's influence. Ariel's compassion for Prospero's enemies makes Prospero realize that if a spirit can feel...

In The Tempest, Shakespeare creates tension through dramatic conflicts, suspenseful dialogue, and the use of supernatural elements. He portrays the malcontent, particularly in the character of...

Shakespeare explores betrayal in The Tempest through various characters and plot events. Prospero is betrayed by his brother Antonio, leading him to seek revenge and reclaim his dukedom. Caliban...

At the beginning of act 2, scene 1, of Shakespeare's The Tempest, Alonso (the King of Naples), Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo have washed ashore on Prospero's island and they're assessing their...

In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Prospero, robbed of his title as Duke of Milan, knows the way of the world. Antonio and Alonso treacherously set Prospero and his young daughter (Miranda) adrift on a...

This is a somewhat problematic topic. Normally the contrast between "classical" and "romantic" elements in English literature refers specifically to debates between the neo-classical poets of the...

Rousseau's conception of a noble savage is a highly idealised and romanticised version of the indigenous person who is innately good and morally pure, untainted by the evil and corruption of...

In "The Tempest", Caliban devises a plan to murder Prospero during his afternoon nap. He suggests to Stephano, who he promises will become king of the island, three potential methods: battering...

In The Tempest, the island symbolizes both a place of magic and illusion and the site of colonial control over supposedly inferior peoples.

The dramatic significance of storm in William Shakespeare's The Tempest is based on the hierarchy of being and the laws of sympathy as they were formulated in Shakespeare's period. The events in...

In The Tempest, music is often associated with the character of Ariel due to his frequent use of instruments and songs to communicate. The Europeans often don't understand the source or meaning of...

Prospero shows mercy to his enemies in The Tempest to achieve his goals of restoring his dukedom and uniting Milan with Naples through his daughter Miranda's marriage to Ferdinand. Although initially...

Trinculo is one of many comic characters in Shakespeare, a jester who, along with the drunken servant Stephano, provides a foil to the pairings of Prospero and Alonso and Antonio and Sebastian....

At the beginning of the play, the audience's reactions to Prospero are rather ambivalent, to say the least. He is verbally abusive towards Ariel when his authority is challenged, and threatens him...

Your question correctly identifies the somewhat ambiguous position that Prospero fulfils in this excellent play. It is Prospero of course who plays the most significant role in the play -...

Ariel in The Tempest defies precise physical description due to his magical nature and ability to shape-shift. He performs tasks invisibly and can transform into various forms, such as flames or a...

Prospero speaks these lines in act 5, scene 1 of The Tempest. This is the last scene of the play. Prospero tells Ariel he is ready to forgive and release the prisoners if they are penitent. He...

Sycorax was a powerful witch from Algiers in North Africa, banished to the island for an unknown crime. All we know of her misdeed is that although it deserved death, "for one thing she did / They...

Prospero's task for Ferdinand can be interpreted in several ways. 1. Prospero gives Ferdinand the task to test his love for Miranda. Ferdinand is the first "real" man Miranda has ever met; Prospero...

The theme of providence is developed throughout The Tempest through cycles of destruction and creation.  As stated above, the order of both nature and government is upset by the storm and by...