Why is Act 3 of The Tempest considered the climax? What might happen in Act 4?
In The Tempest, act 3 is called the climax because it is the point at which Prospero's enemies finally come under his power. Every action that Prospero has instigated up to this point has been for this purpose. In act 3, Prospero finally has his enemies at his mercy, and he intends to press his advantage. The three high points in act 3 are as follows:
1) Act 3, scene 1: In this scene, Ferdinand and Miranda become romantically involved. This romantic attachment is crucial, as it is part of Prospero's plan to secure his daughter's future. We must remember that Prospero not only wants revenge for past offenses, he also wants to make sure that Miranda is taken care of. Furthermore, Ferdinand's love for Miranda can be used as a bargaining chip against Alonso (Ferdinand's father and the king of Naples). Remember that Antonio (Prospero's brother) conspired with...
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Alonso to deprive Prospero of his dukedom. Here, Alonso appears to be an easily influenced character, and it would be no stretch for Prospero to convince Alonso that Ferdinand's marriage to Miranda would be to his (Alonso's) advantage.
2) Act 3, scene 2: This scene cements the newly formed alliance between Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano. This unholy trinity of ne'er-do-wells acts as an opposing force to Prospero's seemingly well-laid plans. Caliban is presented as a worthy nemesis to Prospero. In this scene, Shakespeare makes the point that Prospero must utterly defeat Caliban before he can proclaim victory over his enemies. The pact between the three characters adds tension and excitement to the climactic act 3.
3) Act 3, scene 3: This scene represents the epitome of the climax. Here, Prospero's three enemies (Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian) are finally under his power. Ariel plays his part well while waiting for Prospero to arrive on the scene. You can use the eNotes summary page of this scene to describe the highlights of the interactions between the men and Ariel. In this scene, Sebastian and Antonio's plan to kill Alonso are stymied by the mysterious and supernatural events at the banquet. This scene does not tell us what will happen to all three of Prospero's enemies, but it does lay the foundation for the men's eventual capitulation to Prospero's will.
If your instructor has given you free rein, you can predict any number of events for act 4. Here is a short guide to help you with this portion of your question:
1) Decide what you think will happen to Ferdinand and Miranda in act 4. Will they be married, or will their attachment be broken by forces beyond their control? If you think that Miranda and Ferdinand's marriage prospects are certain, decide how Alonso will react to his son's union with Miranda (based upon his behavior in act 3, scene 3).
2) Decide what you think will happen to Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban. Remember that these three men pledged to kill Prospero in act 3, scene 2. Will Caliban be successful in his quest to kill Prospero? How do you think (based upon his other plays) Shakespeare will address Caliban's fate in act 4? Remember that antagonists usually come to a bad end in Shakespeare's plays. Think about Shylock in Merchant of Venice, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself in Macbeth, Claudius in Hamlet, and Iago in Othello.
3) Decide whether Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian's fates will be determined in act 4. Usually, the fates of Shakespearean antagonists are revealed in act 5. But since you are asked to predict what will happen in act 4, I would just concentrate on how Prospero will deflect his enemies' actions in act 4. You can refer to the eNotes summaries for act 4 as well.
Is Act 3 the climax of The Tempest? Provide examples from the three storylines.
Some readers and critics argue that the end of Act 3 in The Tempest is the climax of the play. At the end of Act 3, Ariel accuses Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio of doing wrong against Prospero. Further, Prospero releases Ferdinand from his burdens of carrying logs and allows him to marry Miranda. If one considers the climax of a text the moment when resolutions begin to be made, then the end of Act 3 serves this purpose.
However, tension still mounts in the play through Act 4 as Prospero continues to seek retribution for having been usurped by his brother. It is not until the beginning of Act 5 that Prospero draws the magic circle and resolution really begins. In Act 5, Ferdinand is reunited with Alonso and the story makes a turn for the better.