The Tempest by William Shakespeare - Review

The Tempest 

by William Shakespeare 

Shakespeare again! This one was also a reading for my english literature course and I've got to say that I liked all the books I've read for it so far, I'm also loving theater more and more.

The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's four romances, so in contrast with Hamlet this is not a tragedy but it has a happy ending. It is also considered his last work, a sort of testament and revindication of his ideals. As usual since it's a classic I will try to be brief with the plot since it's generally well known.

Alonso, the king of Naples, is returning from his daughter's wedding in Tunis with his son, Ferdinand, his brother, Sebastian, and Antonio, the Duke of Milan. The ship is wrecked in a storm and the passengers and crew are thrown into the furious sea.

Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, and his daughter Miranda are watching the shipwreck from the island. Twelve years before, he was the Duke of Milan, but his brother, Antonio had usurped him. Now all the enemies, thanks to fate and Prospero's magic, had washed up on the shore of the island and they will have to pay and amend for their crime.

This is the starting point from which the comedy starts to unfold itself, making the characters go through a purgatorial experience to reach at the end a general forgiveness that coincides with the marriage of the young, Miranda and Ferdinand.

I was fascinated by Prospero, that like a stage director controls and move the others characters on the island. His relationship with his two servants is disagreeable, when with Ariel he shows affections and care instead he is cruel to Caliban, the island's native, that born a devil has no escape from his earthy miserable condition. Clearly we see the  remembrance of the English colonialism in the relationship between Prospero and Caliban.

The love story between Ferdinand and Miranda leaves its time, the  shakespearean ista-love that I can't stand but I have to accept for the play to go through.

Overall I liked the play and I'm giving it 4/5 STARS. Reading it is totally no sufficient, if you want to see a good adaptation I recommend seeing the 2010's movie The Tempest directed by Julie Taymor starring in the role of Prospero the amazing Helen Mirren, and as Miranda the newborn Star Wars' star Felicity Jonas. Down below the Trailer: