The Tempest

The Tempest is William Shakespeare's play in which Prospero, the displaced Duke of Milan, brings former enemies within reach through a storm. On the island where he lives with Miranda, his commands shape the experiences of visitors and inhabitants alike. Ariel's service, Caliban's resistance, and the young lovers' attachment give different meanings to dependence and freedom. Performances within the play reveal both the attraction and the limits of controlled illusion. Prospero's movement toward forgiveness and the relinquishing of his art makes the use of power answerable to the possibility of restored human relationships.