BlogLearnThe Extensive Guide to Analysing Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’: Summary, Context, Characters & Themes

The Extensive Guide to Analysing Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’: Summary, Context, Characters & Themes

Prospero and Miranda - Featured Image of The Tempest Analysis

So you have been assigned ‘The Tempest’ for English and are having difficulty wrapping your head around all the Shakespearean English, characters and the plot. We are going to walk you through a summary, the key characters, the context, themes explores and an analysis of The Tempest — it’ll be jam-packed!

To give you some other useful resources, we’ve got a TEE table and a sample paragraph that you can download for reference.

Let’s dive right in!

The Tempest Summary
Key Characters in The Tempest
Context of The Tempest
Themes Explored in The Tempest
Analysis of The Tempest
Studying this Text for the HSC

Summary of The Tempest

The Tempest opens with a ship sailing through a tempest (a storm) that eventually ends up shipwrecked upon a little island. Upon the ship is the royal party, carrying Alonso, Ferdinand, Sebastian and Antonio who are travelling home from a wedding.

Opening Scene of The Tempest - Summary

In the next scene, we find ourselves on the island where we meet the Duke of Milan and sorcerer Prospero alongside his kind daughter, Miranda. In this scene, Prospero tells Miranda about how his brother, Antonio and the King of Naples, Alonso usurped his position and left them

As the play unfolds, we find out about Prospero being betrayed by Antonio and Alonso 12 years ago, explaining why he is currently on the tiny island. Coincidentally, Antonio and Alonso were on board the stranded ship.

We then find out about Prospero’s plan for revenge and why he used his magic to create the tempest and cause the survivors to be shipwrecked on the island.

Ariel is a spirit captive to Prospero who helped to wreck the ship on the island and separate the travellers. He is promised freedom if he helps Prospero with his tasks.

Additionally, Caliban is another servant who serves Prospero and Miranda. Instead of obeying, he teams up with Stephano and Trinculo to rebel against Prospero.

Caliban, Prospero and Miranda

All the while, Ferdinand and Miranda fall in love. Prospero, worried about how quickly their relationship is developing, accuses Ferdinand of pretending to be the Prince of Naples and puts him to work hauling wood, during which Miranda proposes and Ferdinand accepts.

Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio and Gonzalo are in another part of the island, worried about where Ferdinand is. While travelling through the island with Alonso, the King of Naples, Sebastian and Antonio plan to kill Alonso so that Antonio can become king.

Miranda and Ferdinand’s marriage reunites the estranged brothers and the conflict is resolved. The play ends with Prospero delivering an epilogue to the audience.

Like many other Shakespearean plays, The Tempest contains a series of subplots that can be hard to keep track of. So it is good to keep a little table of the characters’ relationships with each other.

Key Characters in The Tempest

Prospero

The Duke of Milan who had been usurped by his brother Antonio and sent to sea on a boat to die. He is a sorcerer and throughout the play we see him use magic so that he is able to control events happening on the island.

His relationship with his daughter Miranda showcases his love and protectiveness. Prospero’s journey is one of self-discovery and forgiveness as he realises the futility of revenge. He renounces his magic and embraces reconciliation, symbolising his transition from a vengeful sorcerer to a benevolent ruler.

Prospero embodies wisdom, power, compassion, and complexity, driving the play’s themes of forgiveness, illusion, and the transformative power of love.

Miranda

Prospero’s daughter and the only female character that appears on stage in The Tempest. She is portrayed as a kind woman who is innocent and naive.

As the daughter of Prospero, she has lived her entire life on a secluded island. Miranda deeply loves and admires her father, and her devotion to him is unwavering. When a shipwreck brings outsiders to the island, Miranda falls in love with Ferdinand, the son of her father’s enemy. Their relationship represents true affection amidst chaos.

While initially naive about the complexities of the world, Miranda is compassionate and shows concern for others. Her presence softens her father’s vengeful nature and leads to reconciliation. Miranda symbolises purity, love, and the potential for growth in adversity. She adds warmth and depth to the play, highlighting the power of love and compassion in restoring harmony.

Ariel 

A spirit who was imprisoned in a tree before Prospero arrived. Prospero freed him and as such, Ariel is bound to him. Ariel possesses a lot of magical power and Prospero relies on him to stage his revenge. 

This loyal and obedient servant carries out tasks with precision and efficiency, while also displaying a mischievous and playful nature. Despite being otherworldly, Ariel shows empathy and compassion towards those affected by Prospero’s actions.

The spirit’s involvement in the events on the island prompts characters to confront their past and seek redemption. Ariel represents themes of illusion, manipulation, and the desire for freedom.

Caliban

A slave who is often referred to as a ‘monster’ and with distaste by other characters. While he is portrayed as a savage, Caliban is a particularly interesting character to study as he insists that Prospero had stolen the island from him.

It mirrors Colonisation during the Age of Exploration, thus while Caliban may be an unlikeable character we still empathise with him and understand. He is a good choice to analyse if you are interested in looking at a critique of enslavement and European colonisation. 

Other Characters in The Tempest

Alonso: King of Naples

Sebastian: Alonso’s brother

Antonio: Prospero’s brother who betrayed him, usurping the Duke of Milan

Ferdinand: Alonso’s son, Prince of Naples

Gonzalo: An honest old councillor

Trinculo: The King’s jester

Stephano: The King’s butler

Context of The Tempest

Shakespeare’s The Tempest was written around 1610-1611 and is thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone.

The Age of Exploration

The 1600s is the Age of Exploration and the start of Colonisation and discovery of the New World, like the Americas and India. Travellers return to Europe with stories and myths about these new countries.

Prospero and Miranda’s island is often referred to as the ‘Green World’ — a place with infinite possibilities where all ideas can be played out.

One of the central elements in “The Tempest” is the remote island where Prospero and Miranda have been exiled. This island can be seen as a metaphorical representation of the “New World” discovered during the Age of Exploration.

Just as European explorers encountered unfamiliar lands and cultures, Prospero and Miranda find themselves in a strange and unknown place. This setting allows Shakespeare to explore themes of colonisation, power dynamics, and the clash of cultures.

Moreover, the character of Caliban, the indigenous inhabitant of the island, can be interpreted as symbolising the native peoples encountered during the Age of Exploration. Caliban’s subjugation and mistreatment by Prospero and the subsequent struggle for power reflect the colonisation and exploitation of indigenous peoples by European colonisers.

The character of Ariel also relates to the context of exploration. Ariel’s supernatural abilities and servitude to Prospero evoke the idea of discovery and mastery over the natural world. Ariel represents the magical and mysterious forces that European explorers encountered during their voyages, as well as the relationship between colonisers and the supernatural or spiritual beliefs of the native peoples.

Colonialism - Context of The Tempest

Colonialism

Caliban has often been analysed as a critique of colonialism due to his enslavement and often being cast as a Black person.

The power relation between Prospero, who enslaves Caliban, and Caliban’s subsequent resentment alludes to the morality of colonialism during this time.

The setting of the play on a remote island can be seen as an allegory for the colonial encounter. Prospero, a European figure, assumes control over the island, displacing its original inhabitant, Caliban, and imposing his own authority. This mirrors the colonialist practice of European powers arriving in foreign lands, claiming ownership, and subjugating indigenous populations.

The character of Caliban embodies the colonised subject. He is depicted as a native inhabitant of the island, whose rights and autonomy are usurped by Prospero.

Caliban’s characterisation as a “savage” and his enslavement by Prospero reflect the racist attitudes and dehumanisation of indigenous peoples by European colonisers. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Caliban is complex, however, as it also suggests the possibility of resistance and the acknowledgement of the colonised people’s humanity.

King James I

The Tempest was performed to celebrate the marriage of King James’ daughter Elizabeth. Thus, Prospero and Miranda are often analysed as allegories of King James and Elizabeth herself. 

Following a period of uncertainty, King James ruled England through fear and power. This is reflected in Prospero who acts in a Machiavellian way at times, in the way he rules the island and treats Caliban.

The Tempest can also be read as a warning for those in power to ensure that they ruled for the people, and not for power itself.

Themes Explored in The Tempest

There are many themes within The Tempest that can be used to help you craft your thesis or topic sentences in your paragraphs. These include:

  • Power
  • Betrayal and revenge
  • Colonialism
  • Family
  • Men vs Nature 

Power

Power is a predominant theme throughout the play and can be studied through the various relationships between characters in The Tempest.

Ariel and Prospero’s relationship is portrayed as one of servant and master. At Ariel’s introduction, we find out that Prospero had freed him meaning that Ariel has a debt causing him to serve Prospero.

However, at several points throughout the play, we find out that Ariel may be more powerful than Prospero and he is crucial to Prospero’s plans for revenge suggesting that Prospero may need him more within the relationship.

Thus, when looking at the theme of power, it is worth questioning who has actual power within a relationship and who only has the illusion of power! 

Colonialism

The relationship between Miranda and Prospero with Caliban is interesting to study and analyse as a critique of European Colonisation during the Age of Exploration.

The island is commonly referred to as the ‘Green World’, a place where any possibility can be played out — like how British explorers would often view the countries they had discovered.

Caliban is portrayed as savage where Miranda describes him as “a thing most brutish”, mirroring European attitudes towards other cultures who they viewed as less civilised. 

Crafting Your Analysis of The Tempest: How to Analyse the Text in 3 Steps

Typically, when students try to write their essay, they’ll try to work on their thesis first when responding to an essay question. However, we recommend starting with your analysis!

This will allow you to expand your knowledge of the text before extensively answering anything about it. Once you’ve analysed your text, then you can draw ideas from it and properly build your thesis.

We’re going to walk you through writing up an analysis for The Tempest in three simple steps!

Step 1: Choose your example

When picking an example ensure that you are able to identify a technique in the text. You want to find a technique that has greater meaning within the text.

Here, we’ve chosen to look at Prospero’s vengeance after successfully causing the ship to wreck upon their island:

“bountiful Fortune, Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies”

For some extra help with choosing an example, you can access our list of quotes from The Tempest!

Step 2: Identify your technique(s)

Ensure that the literary technique you choose for your quote supports your analysis or can help you to build your argument.

To enhance your response, you want to discuss techniques that help to explain your thesis or idea — you should keep an eye out for any metaphors, similes, figurative language, symbolism, and recurring motifs!

For the above quote, there is the personification of Fortune and Fortune is also used as an allegory for Miranda.

Step 3: Write the analysis

When writing the analysis, focus on the effect of the technique and how it supports your argument.

The personification of Fortune alludes to Prospero’s Machiavellian tendencies — not only does he view Caliban and Ariel as servants for his use, he also views fortune in the same way which is further enforced by the possessive pronoun “my”.

Additionally, Miranda is used as a tool for revenge as her marriage to Ferdinand enables Prospero to guarantee his power and take back his rightful place as the Duke of Milan. Combining all of this together, an analysis will look something like this:

Through the shipwreck, Prospero has the opportunity to gain revenge on his usurpers through “bountiful Fortune, Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies” where the personification of “Fortune” reveals that Prospero views Miranda as a means of gaining revenge whilst also indicating how much he loves and treasures his daughter.

For a deeper analysis of The Tempest, check out our sample paragraph and analysed textual examples below:

Studying this text for HSC Advanced English Module A: Textual Conversations

If you are studying this text for HSC English Module A: Textual Conversations, we’ll show you how you can connect a few of the syllabus dot points to your analysis.

Link #1: Disparate Issues

Prospero is betrayed by his brother Antonio prior to the start of the play and he tries to assert his revenge by restoring himself to power. However, there are various power relations within the play so while Prospero may portray himself as a victim, we can also see how he is a perpetrator in his relationship with Caliban and Ariel.

Notably, Prospero does restore order by the end of the play by forgiving his enemies, releasing Ariel and Caliban, and relinquishes his magical power. By the end of the play he is a simple old man, who is a father and able to return home. 

Link #2: Re-Imagining of Text

The Wedding Masque serves as a play within a play. The metadrama contributes to the allegories found within the play. It symbolises the climax where Prospero seeks revenge against his usurpers and regain his rightful position as Duke of Milan.

By marrying Miranda to Ferdinand the Prince of Naples, Prospero secures his power and legacy through a political marriage. Although Miranda may be seen as a pawn in Prospero’s time, it may also be possible to view Miranda as being equally cunning.

Miranda and Ferdinand Playing Chess

While Prospero utilises Miranda to gain power, Miranda utilises her marriage to Ferdinand to gain freedom. Depending on what you want to argue, it can be possible to characterise Miranda as a passive daughter or a cunning young woman seeking to secure her freedom. 

Need some help with your essay analysis of other texts aside from The Tempest?

Check out other texts we’ve created guides for below:

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Tiffany Fong is currently completing a double degree in Media and Communications with Law at Macquarie University. She currently contributes to the university zine, Grapeshot where she enjoys writing feature articles, commentary on current affairs or whatever weird interest that has taken over her mind during that month. During her spare time, Tiffany enjoys reading, writing, taking care of her plants or cuddling with her two dogs. 

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