The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare,
believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics
to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote
island, where the sorcerer Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda
to her rightful place using illusion and skilful manipulation. He
conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to lure his usurping brother
Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to the island. There,
his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature,
the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son,
Ferdinand.
There is no obvious single source for the plot of The Tempest, but researchers have seen parallels in Erasmus' Naufragium, Peter Martyr's De orbe novo, and eyewitness reports by William Strachey and Sylvester Jordain of the real-life shipwreck of the Sea Venture on the islands of Bermuda, and the subsequent conflict between Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers. In addition, one of Gonzalo's speeches is derived from Montaigne's essay Of the Canibales, and much of Prospero's renunciative speech is taken word for word from a speech by Medea in Ovid's poem Metamorphoses. The masque in Act 4 may have been a later addition, possibly in honour of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Frederick V in 1613. The play was first published in the First Folio of 1623.
The story draws heavily on the tradition of the romance, and it was influenced by tragicomedy, the courtly masque and perhaps the commedia dell'arte. It differs from Shakespeare's other plays in its observation of a stricter, more organised neoclassical style. Critics see The Tempest
as explicitly concerned with its own nature as a play, frequently
drawing links between Prospero's "art" and theatrical illusion, and
early critics saw Prospero as a representation of Shakespeare, and his
renunciation of magic as signalling Shakespeare's farewell to the stage.
The play portrays Prospero as a rational, and not an occultist, magician by providing a contrast to him in Sycorax:
her magic is frequently described as destructive and terrible, where
Prospero's is said to be wondrous and beautiful. Beginning in about
1950, with the publication of Psychology of Colonization by Octave Mannoni, The Tempest was viewed more and more through the lens of postcolonial theory—exemplified in adaptations like Aimé Césaire's Une Tempête set in Haiti—and there is even a scholarly journal on post-colonial criticism named after Caliban.
The Tempest did not attract a significant amount of attention before the ban on the performance of plays in 1642, and only attained popularity after the Restoration,
and then only in adapted versions. In the mid-19th century, theatre
productions began to reinstate the original Shakespearean text, and in
the 20th century, critics and scholars undertook a significant
re-appraisal of the play's value, to the extent that it is now
considered to be one of Shakespeare's greatest works. It has been
adapted numerous times in a variety of styles and formats: in music, at
least 46 operas by composers; orchestral works by Tchaikovsky; and songs; in literature, Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem With a Guitar, To Jane; in paintings; and on screen, inclujding Julie Taymor's 2010 film version which changed Prospero to Prospera (as played by Helen Mirren), and Des McAnuff's 2010 Stratford Shakespeare Festival production which starred Christopher Plummer.
Synopsis:
The magician, Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, and his daughter, Miranda, have been stranded for twelve years on an island after Prospero's jealous brother Antonio (aided by Alonso, the King of Naples)
deposed him and set him adrift with the 3-year-old Miranda. Gonzalo,
Alonso's counselor, had secretly supplied their boat with some food,
fresh water, "rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries", and
"volumes" (books) that Prospero prizes. Possessing magic powers due to
his great learning, Prospero is reluctantly served by a spirit, Ariel, whom Prospero had rescued from a tree in which he had been trapped by the cruel witch, Sycorax,
after he had refused to obey her. Prospero maintains Ariel's loyalty by
repeatedly promising to release the "airy spirit" from servitude.
Sycorax had been exiled from Algiers to the island for wreaking havoc
with her magic, and had died before Prospero's arrival and without
releasing Ariel. Sycorax' son, Caliban,
a deformed monster and the only non-spiritual inhabitant before the
arrival of Prospero, was initially adopted and raised by him. He taught
Prospero how to survive on the island, while Prospero and Miranda taught
Caliban religion and their own language. In slavery, Caliban has come
to view Prospero as a usurper and has grown to resent him and his
daughter. Prospero and Miranda in turn view Caliban with disappointment,
contempt and disgust. Prospero only performs one act of magic himself
directly on stage: he disarms Ferdinand, causing his nerves to become
"in their infancy again". The rest of his magic is through controlling
spirits (or mentioned as happening previously), which is how magicians
of the time were believed to operate.
Prospero, having divined that his brother Antonio is on a nearby
ship, has raised a tempest that causes the passengers to believe they
are shipwrecked and marooned. Also on the ship are Antonio's friend and
fellow conspirator, King Alonso of Naples, Alonso's brother and son
(Sebastian and Ferdinand, respectively) and Alonso's "trusted
counselor", Gonzalo. All these passengers are returning from the wedding
of Alonso's daughter Claribel and the King of Tunis.
Prospero contrives to separate the shipwreck survivors into several
groups by his spells, and so Alonso and Ferdinand are separated, each
believing the other to be dead.
Three plots then alternate through the play. In one, Caliban falls in with Stephano
and Trinculo, two drunkards, believing Stephano to be a "brave god" who
"bears celestial liquor". They attempt to raise a coup against
Prospero, which ultimately fails. In another, Prospero works to
encourage a romantic relationship between Ferdinand and Miranda; the two
fall immediately in love, but Prospero worries that "too light winning
[may] make the prize light", and compels Ferdinand to become his
servant, pretending that he regards him as a spy. In the third subplot,
Antonio and Sebastian conspire to kill Alonso and Gonzalo so that
Sebastian can become King. Ariel thwarts them, at Prospero's command.
Ariel appears to the "three men of sin" (Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian)
as a harpy,
reprimanding them for their betrayal of Prospero. Prospero, who has
witnessed this, leaves to visit Ferdinand and Miranda. The three guilty
nobles run off, distracted and in a frenzy, and Gonzalo and the
attendant lords chase after to prevent them from doing "what this
ecstasy may now provoke them to".
Prospero then explains that he tested Ferdinand, and betroths a
willing Miranda to him. He then asks Ariel to bring some other spirits
and create a masque to entertain the young couple. These spirits present
a blessing by Iris, Ceres, and Juno, followed by dancing. Prospero
suddenly remembers the plot against his life, dismisses the spirits and
Miranda and Ferdinand, and sets a trap for Caliban, Trinculo, and
Stephano. They are chased offstage by goblins in the shape of hounds.
Prospero, all his enemies in his power, discovers that Ariel would
pity them if he were "human", and decides to forgive the people who
tried to kill him. He tells Ariel to fetch the nobles while he breaks
his charms.
In the conclusion, all the main characters are brought together
before Prospero, who forgives Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian. Ariel is
charged to prepare the proper sailing weather to guide the King's ship
back to the Royal fleet and then to Naples, where Ferdinand and Miranda
will be married. After discharging this task, Ariel will finally be
free. Prospero pardons Caliban, who is sent to prepare Prospero's cell,
to which Alonso and his party are invited for a final night before their
departure. (It is however not made clear whether, after their
departure, Caliban will remain on the island or whether he will be taken
to Naples). Prospero indicates that he intends to entertain them with
the story of his life on the island. Prospero has resolved to break and
bury his magic staff, and "drown" his book of magic, and in his
epilogue, shorn of his magic powers, he invites the audience to set him
free from the island with their applause.
Link to the review by The Morning Call here
Extreme Shakespeare: A play rehearsed the way
Shakespeare’s company would have. Actors arrive with their lines
learned, rehearse on their own, wear what they can find, and open in a
matter of days. No director, no designers. Just great actors, a dynamic
play, and pure adrenaline, spontaneity and creativity.
King John, a history play by William Shakespeare, dramatises the reign of John, King of England (ruled 1199–1216), son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and father of Henry III of England. It is believed to have been written in the mid-1590s but was not published until it appeared in the First Folio in 1623.
Synopsis:
King John receives an ambassador from France, who demands, on pain of
war, that he renounce his throne in favour of his nephew, Arthur, whom
the French King, Philip, believes to be the rightful heir to the throne.
John adjudicates an inheritance dispute between Robert Faulconbridge
and his older brother Philip the Bastard, during which it becomes
apparent that Philip is the illegitimate son of King Richard I. Queen
Eleanor, mother to both Richard and John, recognises the family
resemblance and suggests that he renounce his claim to the Falconbridge
land in exchange for a knighthood. John knights the Bastard under the
name Richard.
In France, King Philip and his forces besiege the English-ruled town
of Angiers, threatening attack unless its citizens support Arthur.
Philip is supported by Austria, who is believed to have killed King
Richard. The English contingent arrives; Eleanor trades insults with
Constance, Arthur's mother. Kings Philip and John stake their claims in
front of Angiers' citizens, but to no avail: their representative says
that they will support the rightful king, whoever that turns out to be.
The French and English armies clash, but no clear victor emerges.
Each army dispatches a herald claiming victory, but Angiers' citizens
continue to refuse to recognize either claimant because neither army has
proven victorious.
The Bastard proposes that England and France unite to punish the
rebellious citizens of Angiers, at which point they propose an
alternative: Philip's son, Louis the Dauphin, should marry John's niece
Blanche, a scheme that gives John a stronger claim to the throne, while
Louis gains territory for France. Though a furious Constance accuses
Philip of abandoning Arthur, Louis and Blanche are married.
Cardinal Pandolf arrives from Rome bearing a formal accusation that
John has disobeyed the pope and appointed an archbishop contrary to his
desires. John refuses to recant, whereupon he is excommunicated. Pandolf
pledges his support for Louis, though Philip is hesitant, having just
established family ties with John. Pandolf brings him round by pointing
out that his links to the church are older and firmer.
War breaks out; Austria is beheaded by the Bastard in revenge for his
father's death; and both Angiers and Arthur are captured by the
English. Eleanor is left in charge of English possessions in France,
while the Bastard is sent to collect funds from English monasteries.
John orders Hubert to kill Arthur. Pandolf suggests to Louis that he now
has as strong a claim to the English throne as Arthur (and indeed
John), and Louis agrees to invade England.
Hubert finds himself unable to kill Arthur. John's nobles urge
Arthur's release. John agrees, but is wrong-footed by Hubert's
announcement that Arthur is dead. The nobles, believing he was murdered,
defect to Louis' side. The Bastard reports that the monasteries are
unhappy about John's attempt to seize their gold. Hubert has a furious
argument with John, during which he reveals that Arthur is still alive.
John, delighted, sends him to report the news to the nobles.
Arthur dies jumping from a castle wall. (It is open to interpretation
whether he deliberately kills himself or just makes a risky escape
attempt.) The nobles believe he was murdered by John, and refuse to
believe Hubert's entreaties. John attempts to make a deal with Pandolf,
swearing allegiance to the Pope in exchange for Pandolf's negotiating
with the French on his behalf. John orders the Bastard, one of his few
remaining loyal subjects, to lead the English army against France.
While John's former noblemen swear allegiance to Louis, Pandolf
explains John's scheme, but Louis refuses to be taken in by it. The
Bastard arrives with the English army and threatens Louis, but to no
avail. War breaks out with substantial losses on each side, including
Louis' reinforcements, who are drowned during the sea crossing. Many
English nobles return to John's side after a dying French nobleman,
Melun, warns them that Louis plans to kill them after his victory.
John is poisoned by a disgruntled monk. His nobles gather around him
as he dies. The Bastard plans the final assault on Louis' forces, until
he is told that Pandolf has arrived with a peace treaty. The English
nobles swear allegiance to John's son Prince Henry, and the Bastard
reflects that this episode has taught that internal bickering could be
as perilous to England's fortunes as foreign invasion.
Link to the review by The Morning Call here
