THE TEMPEST---SUMMARY

The Tempest opens in the midst of a storm, as a ship
containing the king of Naples and his party struggles
to stay afloat. On land, Prospero and his daughter,
Miranda, watch the storm envelop the ship. Prospero
has created the storm with magic, and he explains
that his enemies are on board the ship.
The story Prospero relates is that he is the rightful
Duke of Milan and that his younger brother, Antonio,
betrayed him, seizing his title and property. Twelve
years earlier, Prospero and Miranda were put out to
sea in little more than a raft. Miraculously, they both
survived and arrived safely on this island, where
Prospero learned to control the magic that he now
uses to manipulate everyone on the island. Upon his
arrival, Prospero rescued a sprite, Ariel, who had
been imprisoned by the witch Sycorax. Ariel wishes
to be free and his freedom has been promised within
two days. The last inhabitant of the island is the child
of Sycorax and the devil: Caliban, whom Prospero
has enslaved. Caliban is a natural man, uncivilized
and wishing only to have his island returned to him
to that he can live alone in peace.
Soon the royal party from the ship is cast ashore and
separated into three groups. The king's son,
Ferdinand, is brought to Prospero, where he sees
Miranda, and the two fall instantly in love.
Meanwhile, Alonso, the king of Naples, and the rest
of his party have come ashore on another part of the
island. Alonso fears that Ferdinand is dead and
grieves for the loss of his son. Antonio, Prospero's
younger brother, has also been washed ashore with
the king's younger brother, Sebastian. Antonio easily
convinces Sebastian that Sebastian should murder
his brother and seize the throne for himself. This plot
to murder Alonso is similar to Antonio's plot against
his own brother, Prospero, 12 years earlier.
Another part of the royal party — the court jester
and the butler — has also come ashore. Trinculo and
Stefano each stumble upon Caliban, and each
immediately sees a way to make money by exhibiting
Caliban as a monster recovered from this
uninhabited island. Stefano has come ashore in a
wine cask, and soon Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano
are drunk. While drinking, Caliban hatches a plot to
murder Prospero and enrolls his two new
acquaintances as accomplices. Ariel is listening,
however, and reports the plot to Prospero.
Meanwhile, Prospero has kept Ferdinand busy and
has forbidden Miranda to speak to him, but the two
still find time to meet and declare their love, which is
actually what Prospero has planned. Next, Prospero
stages a masque to celebrate the young couple's
betrothal, with goddesses and nymphs entertaining
the couple with singing and dancing.
While Ferdinand and Miranda have been celebrating
their love, Alonso and the rest of the royal party have
been searching for the king's son. Exhausted from
the search and with the king despairing of ever
seeing his son alive, Prospero has ghosts and an
imaginary banquet brought before the king's party. A
god-like voice accuses Antonio, Alonso, and
Sebastian of their sins, and the banquet vanishes.
The men are all frightened, and Alonso, Antonio, and
Sebastian run away.

Prospero punishes Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano
with a run through a briar patch and swim in a
scummy pond. Having accomplished what he set out
to do, Prospero has the king's party brought in.
Prospero is clothed as the rightful Duke of Milan, and
when the spell has been removed, Alonso rejects all
claims to Prospero's dukedom and apologizes for his
mistakes. Within moments, Prospero reunites the
king with his son, Ferdinand. Alonso is especially
pleased to learn of Miranda's existence and that
Ferdinand will marry her.
Prospero then turns to his brother, Antonio, who
offers no regrets or apology for his perfidy.
Nevertheless, Prospero promises not to punish
Antonio as a traitor. When Caliban is brought in,
Caliban tells Prospero that he has learned his lesson.
His two co-conspirators, Trinculo and Stefano, will be
punished by the king. Soon, the entire party retires to
Prospero's cell to celebrate and await their departure
home. Only Prospero is left on stage.
In a final speech, Prospero tells the audience that
only with their applause will he be able to leave the
island with the rest of the party. Prospero leaves the
stage to the audience's applause.

By COMRADE OLAMILEKAN