ENGLISH LITERATURE

PROJECT
 THE TEMPEST

Contents-

1. Introduction
2. EXHAUSTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE CONTEXT OF THIS PLAY
3. Characterization
4. Summary of ACT 1, SCENE1
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
7. Acknowledgment
 INTRODUCTION
THIS PROJECT IS ENTIRELY BASED ON A PLAY WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – THE TEMPEST. ALL
THE DISCUSSIONS ARE CONFINED TO THE PLAY AND ITS CHARACTERS, THEME AND CONTEXT.
. The Tempest neither a comedy nor a disintegrating tragedy, but a matured play of [Link], it is the last play
of Shakespeare,it depicts his long career in the field of [Link] WE FOCUS OUR DISCUSSION IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE PLAY. NEXT, WE SEE THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY AND ALSO COME TO
KNOW ABOUT THE CRUCIAL ROLE THEY HAVE PLAYED IN THE TEMPEST. LASTLY WE HAVE SUMMARIZED
THE FIRST SCENE OF THE FIRST ACT OF THE PLAY.
ILLUSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN USED TO SUBSTANTIATE THE WHOLE MATTER.
 EXHAUSTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE CONTEXT OF
THIS PLAY
The Tempest was written around 1610-1611, and is believed to be the last play William Shakespeare
wrote before retiring from the theatre. Its genre is that of a romantic comedy, although it does have
many deeper themes and criticisms of Elizabethan society.
Prospero the leading character of the play was at one time the duke of Milan. Prospero used to
remain busy in his study of magic and philosophy and therefore he was unable to spare any time for the
governance of his state. Being unable to give any time to his state, Prospero asked his brother Antonio
to administer his [Link] could now give much time to his magical studies and he was also
relieved of the fact that his state was governed well by his brother Antonio. It never occurred to him that
Antonio would prove to be a deceiver. Antonio gradually became very powerful and started adding to
his powers and authority, and in the process he replaced the existing officers of Prospero’s court with his
own men on whose personal support he could rely on. Antonio became
Very powerful and started harbouring the ambition of becoming the duke himself. Therefore he decided to take
help from Alonso, the king of Naples,who was a strong standing enemy of Prospero and would help very powerful
and started harbouring the ambition of becoming the duke himself. Therefore he decided to take help from Alonso,
the king of Naples,who was a strong standing enemy of Prospero and would help Antonio to throw out Prospero
from Milan.
Alonso was ready to help Antonio and make him the duke of Milan but on a condition in return for the
support. Antonio was required to pay Alonso an annual tribute of money and also to recognize Alonso’s superior
position and make Milan a subordinate dukedom to Naples. Therefore, it was very clear through this, that Antonio
would just be a puppet duke and will have no real power as such. Antonio with the help of the courtiers appointed
by him was able to throw out Prospero and his five years old daughter Miranda from Milan. With the help of
Alonso Antonio has placed raft on the rough sea in which he placed Prospero and the five years old Miranda. Both,
Antonio and Alonso thought that the raft will break and both father and daughter will die. However, Antonio’s
hope was not fulfilled. Gonzalo, a good counsellor of Alonso’s court had secretly placed food, fresh water, clothes
and some magical and philosophical books on the raft so that the father and daughter would not starve to death and
also Prospero could continue his studies wherever he was. By good fortune, the boat carrying Prospero and
Miranda touched an uninhabited enchanted island and since then it became a home of Prospero and Miranda.
 CHARACTERIZATION
PROSPERO

He is the central character of ‘THE TEMPEST’, but does not overshadow the
other [Link] has his own sphere, though his presence is felt
everywhere like the beneficent and generous providence destiny. Prospero
was the duke of Milan. he was much interested in his studies of philosophy
and magic .Prospero was betrayed by his brother Antonio and sent off with
his baby daughter in what he claims was a mere raft.
The honest lord Gonzalo aided Prospero in his escape. Prospero has
spent his twelve years on the island refining the magic that gives him the
power he needs to punish and forgive his enemies. It was he who controls
every thread in the structure of the play. He was wise and resourceful.
 ANTONIO

He was Prospero’s brother . An evil character, criminal minded,ambitious person, hard hearted,
arrogant. Although Prospero was the rightful heir to the throne, Antonio schemed to usurp his
brother and banish him to this island. On the island, Antonio convinces Sebastian to murder his
brother Alonso the king, showing that his ruthless ambition and lack of brotherly love continues to
this day.

ALONSO-
He was the King of Naples. He agreed to help Antonio in his plan to overthrow prospero but laid down
a condition that Antonio would just remain a puppet duke and the entire power would reside with
Alonso. He is an affectionate father and loves his son.
Alonso undergoes a change in his character for better for better at the end of the play. Thus he evokes
our sympathy.
 SEBASTIAN-
Alonso’s brother. He’s also a good friend of [Link] originally loyal to his older brother, Sebastian is
convinced by Antonio to murder his brother and take his throne. He also plans a conspiracy against his brother Alonso.
He was a symbol of evil, hatty and fearless, ambitious but timid, frivolous and [Link] is the another villain
of the play.

MIRANDA-
She is an important character, natural and compassionate, a picture of innocence, loving and
[Link] is candid and straight forward in expressing her love for Ferdinand.
As the only female character, she is a rich source for feminist scholarship. Naïve and totally
loyal to her control-obsessed father, Miranda has internalized the patriarchal structure of the
island. She is the rare example of simplicity, beauty and kindness.
 FERDINAND-
Son of King Alonso of Naples and lover of Miranda. He was simple and bold, true lover, tender and affectionate,
religious [Link] Prospero accuses him of spying, Ferdinand shows he is brave drawing his sword to defend
himself.

Ferdinand is a traditionally masculine love interest, engaging in an agreement with a woman’s father to prove his
love through physical labor.

GONZALO-
A loyal Neapolitan courtier and councilor to [Link] was very loyal, helpful and [Link] rendered
help to prospero and little Miranda when they were banished by secretly placing food water and books of
magic and philosophy in the raft that carried them. His loyalty to Prospero in supplying him before his
banishment is wellremembered and rewarded by Prospero at the play’s end.
Trinculo and Stephano -
The court jester and the court butler respectively.

Ariel-
A charming character, active, lovable character, faithful and devoted and lover of [Link] is a
spirit who works in Prospero’s service. Prospero first encountered Ariel soon after landing on the
island. He found Ariel trapped in a cloven pine tree and freed the spirit from his [Link] is an
accomplished singer, backed by a chorus of the lesser spirits that he commands, and portrays Ceres
in the masque. He also plays the tabor and pipe. He is mischievous, but not completely insensible.
CALIBAN-

Though not entirely a human being, holds an important role in the [Link] was the son
of Sycorax, the witch who ruled the island after she banished from the city of Algiers in
Algeria. Caliban is a complicated character. Savage and monstrous on one level, Caliban
attempts to force himself on the chaste Miranda and offers her body to Stephano to
convince him to kill [Link] Prospero arrives on the island, he shows him all its
secrets that he knows, and in return is educated by Miranda and her father. He attempts to
rape the girl, however, and is thereafter enslaved. He is not a happy slave.
SUMMARY OF ACT 1, SCENE 1
The Tempest opens in the midst of a fierce storm. The location is a ship at sea, with a royal party on
[Link] the sailors fight to save the ship, several of the royal passengers enter, and Alonso, the king,
demands to know where the master (captain) is to befound The master of the ship calls for his boatswain
to rouse the mariners to action and prevent the ship from being run aground by the tempest. Chaos
[Link] boatswain, worried that the passengers will interfere, orders them to go below deck. The
king's councilor, Gonzalo, reminds the boatswain that he is speaking to the king, but the boatswain points
out that if the king really has so much power, he should use it to quell the storm. He will do what he has
to in order to save the ship, regardless of who is abroad .The royal party exits, presumably to go below
deck to seek shelter..The lords go [Link] and Antonio curse the Boatswain in his labors,
masking their fear with profanity. With Sebastian and Antonio cursing him, the boatswain continues in
his efforts to save the ship .Some mariners enter wet and crying, and only at this point does the audience
learn the identity of the passengers on-board. Soon, however, the sailors enter with laments that the ship
is lost. Fearing that they will all soon die, Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo elect to join the rest of the
royal party below decks, where they will pray for their [Link] orders the mariners to pray for
the king and the prince. There is a strange noise—perhaps the sound of thunder, splitting wood, or
roaring water—and the cry of mariners. Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo, preparing
to sink to a watery grave, go in search of the king.

Conclusion
At last I have completed with my Literature Project successfully I have learnt
many facts from this Project assignment, I have fully understood and discovered
about the new [Link] the conclusion, our collected idea’s and analysis on The
Tempest have brought us to believe that culture has a major influence on the
conflict between the characters in the play.
The Tempest is full of supernatural elements and it seems clear that the
playwright is not interested in producing lifelike events. The beautiful presentation
of the characters, the moral theme of forgiveness and the issue of freedom
bestowed to Ariel, and the delightful poetry are the charm of this play.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY-

Information collected from:

THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT
AND GUIDANCE OF MANY INDIVIDUALS. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
SPECIAL THANKS OF GRATITUDE TO MY ENGLISH LITERATURE TEACHER
‘MAHUA MISS’ WHOSE CONSTANT SUPPORT MADE THIS PROJECT A BETTER ONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY AND MY CLASSMATES FOR HELPING