The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

English language

Published Nov. 6, 2020 by Standard Ebooks.

(16 reviews)

The Tempest, thought to be one of the last plays that Shakespeare wrote alone, begins with a storm which shipwrecks the king of Naples and his crew. We quickly learn that the tempest was not a natural occurence; it was created by Prospero, the usurped duke of Milan who is stranded on a nearby island, with the help of Ariel, a spirit in his service. The rest of the play explores the relationships between the shipwrecked crew, Prospero, his daughter Miranda, and a native of the island: a half human, half monster called Caliban.

        <p>Though this play is traditionally classified as a comedy, more modern scholarship, out of a desire to highlight the dramatic elements of some of Shakespeare’s comedies, created a genre subgroup called the “late romances.” <i>The Tempest</i> is included in that subgroup.</p>
        <p>This Standard Ebooks production is based on William George Clark and William Aldis Wright’s …

        <p>Though this play is traditionally classified as a comedy, more modern scholarship, out of a desire to highlight the dramatic elements of some of Shakespeare’s comedies, created a genre subgroup called the “late romances.” <i>The Tempest</i> is included in that subgroup.</p>
        <p>This Standard Ebooks production is based on William George Clark and William Aldis Wright’s 1887 Victoria edition, which is taken from the Globe edition.</p>

56 editions

Orlion reviewed The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Review of 'The Tempest' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Many consider this to be Shakespeare last play for...reasons. Reading it, I am inclined to believe, since it seems like Shakespeare is literally phoning it in. Throughout the play, it is clear Shakespeare is just completing his contract with the Globe and wanted to pursue his true passion: collecting rent on his properties.

Exhibit A: There is no conflict. Prospero is in control of everything at all times. He wants to do a couple things, he does them. Someone decides they may want to add some actual tension to the story and they are almost immediately defeated in this by Ariel, an omnipotent spirit that Prospero happens to have found on the island in a tree.

Exhibit B: There is no awkwardness or conflict in the hook-up in this play. None. Miranda meets Ferdinand, they fall in love, Ferdinand proves his undying love by chopping and carrying firewood. They marry. Done.

Exhibit C: The other main story line involves Alonso being sad that his son Ferdinand is probably dead, taking a nap, and being reconciled with everyone.

Exhibit D: The villians are either incredibly incompetent to the point that they would join forces with Russel Brand, or they are defeated by their victims awaking from a nap.

Most people will focus on a couple lines where Prospero talks about breaking a stick and drowning a poor, innocent book. As if such pedestrian actions are worthy of notice!

The true contribution of this play to Western culture is when it was re-written into a better version with a robot and alien technology in Forbidden Planet.