The Tempest

By William Shakespeare

This bewitching play, Shakespeare's final work, articulates a wealth of the playwright's mature reflections on life and contains some of his most familiar and oft-quoted lines. The story concerns Miranda, a lovely young maiden, and Prospero, her philosophical old magician father, who dwell on an enchanted island, alone except for their servants -- Ariel, an invisible sprite, and Caliban, a monstrous witch's son.
Into their idyllic but isolated lives comes a shipwrecked party that includes the enemies who usurped Prospero's dukedom years before, and set him and his daughter adrift on the ocean. Also among the castaways is a handsome prince, the first young man Miranda has ever seen. Comedy, romance, and reconciliation ensue, in a masterly drama that begins with a storm at sea and concludes in joyous harmony.
Students, poetry lovers, and drama enthusiasts will treasure this convenient, modestly priced edition of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays and one of literature's finest comedies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Apr 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9780486113845

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England’s Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children—an older daughter Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died in childhood. The bulk of Shakespeare’s working life was spent in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright and poet, but also as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Although some think that sometime between 1610 and 1613 Shakespeare retired from the theater and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616, others believe that he may have continued to work in London until close to his death.

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DOVER THRIFT EDITIONS

GENERAL EDITOR: PAUL NECRI

EDITOR OF THIS VOLUME: RONALD HERDER

Theatrical Rights

This Dover Thrift Edition may be used in its entirety, in adaptation, or in any other way for theatrical productions, professional and amateur, in the United States, without fee, permission, or acknowledgment. (This may not apply outside of the United States, as copyright conditions may vary.)

Bibliographical Note

This Dover edition, first published in 1999, contains the unabridged text of The Tempest as published in Volume VIII of The Caxton Edition of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Caxton Publishing Company, London, n.d. The Note was prepared specially for this edition.

Copyright Copyright © 1999 by Dover Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Libray of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.

The tempest / William Shakespeare.

p. cm.—(Dover thrift editions)

9780486113845

1. Survival after shipwrecks, etc—Drama. 2. Fathers and daughters—Drama.

3. Castaways—Drama. 4. Magicians—Drama. I. Title. II. Series.

[PR2833.A1 1999]

822.3’3—dc21 99—11771

CIP

Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation

40658X09

www.doverpublications.com

Note

The Tempest is Shakespeare’s last play and as such occupies a special place in the canon of his works. While some have suggested that the first performance was in February of 1613 in celebration of the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Frederick V, the first performance was more likely at court in 1611. A story of adventure and misadventure on an enchanted island, the play is populated by some of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters: Prospero, philosopher and magician; his innocent, unworldly daughter Miranda; his treacherous brother Alonso; the handsome Prince Ferdinand; the magical sprite Ariel; and the beastly Caliban.

Scholars and critics have seen the play as an allegory on man’s relationship to nature, an exploration of life’s blending of reality and illusion, Shakespeare’s final meditations on art and philosophy, and have offered myriad other thematic analyses. The play’s richness and complexity support these and other interpretations. What is beyond debate is the play’s profundity of thought and extraordinary beauty of language, qualities that have made it a favorite with scholars and audiences alike. Henry James said of The Tempest, It affects us, taking its complexity and perfection together, as the rarest of all examples of literary art.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Note

Dramatis Personæ1

ACT I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

EPILOGUE

DOVER · THRIFT · EDITIONS

Dramatis Personæ¹

ALONSO, King of Naples.

SEBASTIAN, his brother.

PROSPERO, the right Duke of Milan.

ANTONIO, his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan.

FERDINAND, son to the King of Naples.

GONZALO, an honest old Counsellor.

CALIBAN, a savage and deformed Slave.

TRINCULO, a Jester.

STEPHANO, a drunken Butler.

Master of a Ship.

Boatswain.

Mariners.

MIRANDA, daughter to Prospero.

ARIEL, an airy Spirit.

Other Spirits attending on Prospero.

SCENE—A ship at sea: an uninhabited island.

¹The Tempest was first published in the First Folio of 1623, and is the opening play of that volume. It is there divided into Acts and Scenes, and the stage directions are exceptionally full. At the close of the piece The Scene is described as an uninhabited island, and a list of the dramatis personæ is given under the heading Names of the Actors.

ACT I.

SCENE I. On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard.

Enter A SHIP-MASTER and A BOATSWAIN.

MAST. Boatswain!

BOATS. Here, master: what cheer?

MAST. Good, speak to the mariners: fall to ’t, yarely,¹ or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir.

[Exit.

Enter MARINERS.

BOATS. Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the master’s whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind, if room enough!²

Enter ALONSO, SEABASTIAN, ANTONIO, FERDINAND, GONZALO, and others.

ALON. Good boatswain, have care. Where’s the master? Play the men.

BOATS. I pray now, keep below.

ANT. Where is the master, boatswain?

BOATS. Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.

GON. Nay, good,³ be patient.

BOATS. When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.

CON. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.

BOATS. None that I more love than myself. You are a counsellor; if you can command these elements to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more; use your authority: if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good hearts! Out of our way, I say.

[Exit.

GON. I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his hanging: make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage. If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable.

[Exeunt.

Re-enter BOATSWAIN.

BOATS. Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower! Bring her to try with main-course.⁴ [A cry within.] A plague upon this howling! they are louder than the weather or our office.

Re-enter SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, and CONZALO.

Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o’er, and drown? Have you a mind to sink?

SEB. A pox o’ your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!

BOATS. Work you, then.

ANT. Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noise-maker. We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.

CON. I ’ll warrant him for drowning;⁵ though the ship were no stronger than a nutshell, and as leaky as an unstanched wench.

BOATS. Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses;⁶ off

Reviews for The Tempest

[phoenixterran · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Since I was in Ann Arbor when the Royal Shakespeare Company came through in 2006, with Patrick Stewart in tow, how could I give up and opportunity to attend at least one of the performances? It required camping out the night before the student tickets went on sale, and getting very wet and cold, but I became a happy owner of a ticket to see The Tempest. The RSC interpretation was a little unorthodox (it took place on an arctic island, among other things) I absolutely loved it and decided that I should probably actually read it at some point.The Tempest is the last finished play to be attributed completely to Shakespeare and is the favorite of many of The Bard's aficionados. While I have a preference to see his plays performed, reading them is very enjoyable as well. The Tempest occurs in one location over the course of one day; the plot, while inspired, is entirely Shakespeare's own. Prospero, the usurped Duke of Milan and a great sorcerer, has lived in exile with his daughter Miranda on a nearly deserted island for twelve years. When a ship sails close by carrying those who put him in such an unfortunate state, he quickly devises a plan to achieve his revenge and even more quickly puts it into motion.I read the Signet Classics edition which provides a general introduction to Shakespeare, an introduction to the play, excerpts from the sources it was derived from, and various commentaries in addition to the play itself, all of which were very nice to have.Experiments in Reading

[velmeran · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's Shakespeare. Really, what else can I say?

[katieloucks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

love it!!!!

[neverstopreading-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

 Dramatized audio recordings of are difficult for to listen to because there are so many minor characters. This one was a bit more manageable.

[trilliams · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wizards, man, who knows.

[regularguy5mb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Being Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest is a masterful piece in which he uses Prospero as a stand-in for himself within a play full of the magic of stagecraft and his position as playwright.Using all the mystical techniques at his disposal (theatre), Prospero the magician (playwright) writes his tale of revenge as a ship containing his treasonous brother sails near enough to the island for him to set the stage at long last.The Tempest also stands as a magnificent tale even without the allegory. The rightful Duke of Milan (Prospero) is set adrift along with his daughter by his treacherous brother, but manages to survive on an island for twelve years with the help of his magic and the spirits of the island he has impressed into his service. Now, the King of Naples sails home along with Prospero's brother and he can finally seek his revenge, making sure to set his daughter into a happy role as well before things are done.I just love the way this play uses the stage to show Prospero's magic and Ariel's abilities. It truly is a great work by one of the masters.This particular volume I picked up from a local library sale and intend to add it to my Little Free Library for someone else to discover.

[glenline · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Shakespeare at his best.

[deckla_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great play. Never forget Sir Patrick Stewart in the title role. This version includes: Forward, Intro, essay on The Tempest in performance (through 1984), description of the Globe, essay on Shakespeare's sources (with excerpts), annotated bibliography, memorable lines.

[rvonbengfort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have only read about two Shakespeare plays. One of them I have enjoyed and the other I didn’t so much. “The Tempest” is a fantastic story about the lives of a few men and an island. Whether this Island is mystical or not we do not know. However there are fantastical things that occur in the story much like almost all of the other Shakespeare plays. There are angels that can control humans or possess them and there is a monster named Caliban. If you enjoyed Robinson Crusoe then you should definitely give “The Tempest” a read. Although be careful it “is” written by Shakespeare.When I first read “The Tempest” I read it in its original text. Meaning I read it in Old English or whatever the official name for it is. The play was hard to understand although I did enjoy the adventure of the read. I understood most of the characters and even liked some of them. By far my favorite character would have to be the most flawed one: Caliban. To me he was the most intriguing. He is a slave and son of a witch. It just makes my imagination go nuts. What would a witch’s son look like in Shakespeare? It was exhilarating! The book I rented from the library consisted of a huge analysis that I did not read however I looked at the pictures of the characters and drawings. There was this drawing of Caliban and he looked absolutely hideous. It was a gruesome picture that peeked my imagination and drew me further into the reading.Eventually I finished and sat wondering what the heck did I just read? I honestly did not even know they were on an island until the day of class when we discussed it. I was astonished that I missed a huge detail like that. So to be honest I went to spark notes I read the translated version. Awesome.It’s interesting that I read the Tempest now because just three months ago I had rented the movie “Forbidden Planet”, which is a modern translation of “The Tempest” but in space. So not only did I not know what the “The Tempest” was I saw it in space. It is just interesting how things work out like that. Ever since I’ve read the translated version of the play I have been thinking on and on about this island that they are on and what it represents. It is clearly a metaphor for the Americas. However I have been thinking Islands lately and what comes to my mind when I think of that? The mystical and magical island of “Lost” the television series. The show is basically another modernization of “The Tempest”. If your not a fan of the show I’m sorry but I just thought that was cool. I could probably list some parallels between the show and the play but I shall not. So now I’m on an uber-quest to find more of these modernized versions. “The Tempest” is just that awesome I guess.Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” has caught the imagination of generations. Something mystical about it appeals to the people. It appealed to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a feeling the story of Prospero, Caliban, Miranda, and the storm that shipwrecked a navel ship will not fail to outlast even my grandchildren’s grandchildren. It will live on forever and ever. It may cause a religion or not. It may cause a revolution. Who knows? This is just me speculating at the awesomeness of the story. I’m sorry I couldn’t give more examples of why this story is great. It just is and you should definitely read it before you die.

[rogerramjet_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

On rereading the Tempest, I realize that despite the title there is very little action in the play and it demonstrates Shakespeare's emphasis on character over plot. But the characters are fascinating. Prospero at times seems a type for the author himself, and of course as such he is the wise master and hero. But at the same time or a moment later, his manipulations and his selfishness make it not too hard to empathize with the hatred he inspires in Caliban, despite Caliban's repugnance. Then in the Epilogue, Prospero, not just a character that walks off of the page, actually asks the audience for permission to walk off of the page before doing so. There is not time to discuss all of the characters, but Miranda's sudden transformation from wondering innocence to worldly cynicism is both startling and yet somehow believable. I remember the Tempest being described as Shakespeare's perfect play, because it so completely conforms to Aristotle's unities of time, place and action. Yet the play has to be considered experimental in its deliberate artificiality and the distance between the audience and the action because it is a play within a play within a play. It is in essence a play about the making of a play. Definitely worth repeated readings.

[dancingant · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is so-said Shakespeare's last play. Very clear plots attracted me as my first peek at English literature.

[jenniferthomp75 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thunder, lightning, magical creatures and islands. A lovely fantasy.

[fernandosfjr-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

O que dizer?

"O, wonder!

How many godly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

That has such people in 't!".

[alcracka · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Tempest is almost a wisp of a thing. There's little plot and almost no character development. It's like a magic trick: you blow into your hand, and a cloud of flame pops up, and a dove flies out of it, everyone claps.

So the play is the spectacle, and the magic is the language. Prospero's speech, "We are such stuff as dreams are made on," is second maybe only to "All the world's a stage" in crystallizing Shakespeare's philosophy (and better, poetically); and there's Miranda's line, "O brave new world, that has such people in't!" - these and others are among the best lines Shakespeare wrote; and the feel of the play, the atmosphere - that magical island, populated by beasts and wizards, the evocation of a world we were still exploring - it sticks with you, even though, as I said, dramatically speaking, almost nothing happens.

And Caliban! Arguably the only memorable character - Prospero is cool, and Ariel differs from Puck, but is no Puck, and the others are just placeholders, a virtuous maid here, a villainous uncle there - but Caliban, that sniveling, backstabbing, savage would-be rapist, searching for a God whose boots need licking - he's a tremendous find. (And what made me love Tennyson.) Caliban's right up there with Iago.

In some ways, this play is all flash. But what a flash!

[jennaelf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the first Shakespeare play I ever read - from an old white-covered paperback I had when I was 9 years old. I probably didn't understand it very well back then. I REALLY liked the title, though.

Now, it's still good stuff.

For me, supplementing my reading with a viewing of Helen Mirren as Prospera... magnified my enjoyment of this book tremendously.

[scott_hercher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not one of the Bard's best.

[pjulian-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazingg.. It has the ability to enchant every reader through its imagination. The part that I liked less is how (most probably unwittingly I suppose) did Shakespeare show how did Colonisation worked and the attitude of the colonised towards the coloniser. Overall, it gave me a feel of an old tale finishing up. All the negative characters were simply puppets in the hands of Prospers and it was in the understanding of the endurance that we were able to enjoy the present conquests of Prospero. Overall, a wonderful read.

[aramissciant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A quick reread ahead of seeing Julie Taymor's big-screen adaptation. The first/last time I read this play was aeons ago in school, and since it's not one of my favorite ones --the ones I read/see again and again-- I found I needed some help from time to time. I enjoyed the re-encounter with the play as I only remembered vaguely that there was a sorcerer and his daughter, and the most popular quotations: strange bedfellows, brave new world and such stuff as dreams are made of.. Now, I'm ready but it's still not one of my favorite plays.

[bullfinch-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Saw a magnificent production of this at Nottingham Playhouse. The shipwreck took place before the beginning proper. While we the audience were prevented from entering, the duke of milan and his fellows got swept from the foyer into the auditorium which was roaring orange light. Everything went quiet. Then we were allowed in to see Prospero on stage in a totally serene blue stage.

[jpsnow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This wasn't quite a comedy and isn't a tragedy. Prospero is an interesting character -- a scholar, a duke, a stranded man, a plotter, and a dad.

[frozenplums · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I will start this review by saying I liked this play a lot more after I had time to sit and digest it. I knew from the start that I was going to hate Prospero, which does not leave much hope for a favorable opinion because he's behind everything that happens in the play. Prospero plays a good victim, but he's an amazing manipulator. If you can get past that, you will love this story. Characteristic if Shakespeare, The Tempest's pages are full of tragedy, humor, Romance, murder plots, revenge, and a smattering of mysticism. Short, dense, and enjoyable.4 stars.

[kennethwdavis_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For me, the most wondrous of the plays.

[datrappert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of Shakespeare's more unusual an fanciful plays. Not as silly as most of the comedies (and I don't mean silly in a good way). Full of great characters and some of Shakespeare's best quotes. And, of course, the inspiration for Forbidden Planet.

[harrod_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What's not to like about Will

[antao-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Published 1998.


On this re-reading I noticed that the word "brave" was used a few times in the movies that I watched (Taymor, 2010 & Jarman 1979).

I like this word. It generates a very good feeling in my heart. This word often makes me think of someone who has a quality to face something difficult with the strength of heart / mind / body... Does not take me much to feel a respect and admiration for this person...

I also come to know that the word "brave" describes something wonderful, admirable in appearance...

And I just got curious to see how often the word "brave" was used in "The Tempest". And I started reading the play to look for the word "brave" and "bravely", and every time I found one of these words, I put a post-it note to the page to keep track of it... No, I did not use any fancy software to sort out the words or count the words... The work was done manually... Though I tried to be as faithful and accurate as possible, there might be a few occasions that I missed finding these words...

It looks like there are 11 occasions that the words "Brave" or "Bravely" were mentioned...

The rest of this review can be found elsewhere.

[aethercowboy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I picked up the Tempest, I admit, mostly due to Prospero's role in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I was not disappointed.The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, the supplanted Duke of Milan, who takes control of small island. He's freed a spirit from a tree, who now faithfully follows him; and he's enslaved the twisted (physically and mentally) denizen of the island.Prospero discovers that his supplanting brother is nearby on a ship, so he calls a mighty tempest to beach them upon his island. He then tries to work the situation to his advantage, as well as marry off his daughter to the prince, who has likewise washed ashore.The Tempest is a comedy, which may give you some indication of how it ends, but it is not the destination with this play; rather, it is the route traveled.If you have ever read anything by Shakespeare, you're bound to enjoy The Tempest, even if you hated what you read, since you were most likely in high school, dissecting the lifeless dry corpse of literature. Like an airy spirit, breathe new life into your comprehension of literature, and get yourself a copy of the Tempest, and start reading!

[elmyra_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was prompted to read this by my re-reading of the entire Sandman series by Neil Gaiman - and now I can go back and read the last chapter. I only read the play, and very little of the additional material in this edition - I probably will go back and read the rest and re-read the play. I kept expecting something horrible to happen at the end. I did like it rather more than Midsummer Night's Dream.

[chrisblocker · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For the past year, the fates have been telling me I needed to read William Shakespeare's final work The Tempest. Alright fates, I did it! Now you can shove it!!!

Honestly, I was disappointed. There was so much potential in this one, but it was as though Shakespeare, “The Man,” was giving up. Great premise, great setting, great characters with witty dialogue, but why, Prospero? Why do you relent so easily? Ferdinand, what do you see in Miranda? What was the point of it all, Shakespeare? It wasn't clear. These characters just could not convince me of this world.

The ending was classic. C-L-A-S-S-I-C. It seems “The Man” knew he was retiring. Having the magician, Prospero—possibly a reflection of Shakespeare himself—address the audience was brilliant. He explains his mission was to entertain, begs pardon for all his wrongs, and asks to be set free. Loved it.

If only the rest of the play could have been so affecting and clever. Nonetheless, I thank The Man for his entertainment, forgive him his wrongs, and set him free. Run, Shakespeare run.

[crowyhead · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, in terms of the richness of the story and the language.

[fleurdiabolique · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. His vision and poetic skill have come to full maturity in this fantasy of loss and redemption.