The Tempest Themes

Theme is a pervasive idea, belief, or point of view presented in a literary work. Themes in The Tempest, a masterpiece of William Shakespeare , present the issue of freedom and confinement, including themes of betrayal, compassion, and love. Some of the major themes in The Tempest have been analyzed below.

Themes in The Tempest

The Illusion of Justice

Prospero is expelled from his own dukedom when his elder brother rises against him and usurps his powers. The rest of the play is about Prospero plotting on taking the powers back from Alonso. This shows that justice is done if Prospero gets back his throne. However, he keeps Caliban and Ariel his slaves and does not release Ariel despite promises. Prospero uses exploitation and manipulates the situations in his favor, which is contrary to his idea of justice. He uses Ariel against his enemies, as well. When he becomes a merciful monarch, he releases slaves, forgives his enemies, and even abandons using magic. It shows that justice means the happy ending that Prospero establishes by the end of the play.

Superiority of Human Beings

The play revolves around the happy ending and shows the superiority of human beings in a bleak way. When Prospero and his daughter Miranda are stranded on the island, they live there for almost twelve years. Yet, they know how to exploit other humans and creatures for their ends. Ariel is at the beck and call of Prospero, while Miranda deals with Caliban, who tries to attack her. Though Ariel remains faithful, Prospero does not trust him. He believes that he should keep him until they have the means to escape or leave the island.

Allurement of Rule

Human nature loves the romance of allurement in the shape of barren land for adventure as well as an island for the allurement of infinite power . Prospero finds it very easy to rule the island when he has magical powers. Prospero has infinite possibilities of ruling the island all by himself without having resisting subjects . He successfully educates Miranda, his daughter, and exploits Ariel.  Caliban protests against Prospero, but this allurement of the rule does not happen. Gonzalo also imagines setting up a utopia over the island for his own rule. Caliban’s proposals lights imaginations of Stephano to set up his own government, having full power too. Even his wishful thinking of marrying Miranda brings laughter when he states Trinculo as his future viceroy, along with Caliban.

Power and Exploitation

In the first instance, Antonio exploits power given by Prospero. When Prospero delegates him Milan to him, he uses it to expel the same person from the dukedom. Prospero goes into exile to save his life. When Prospero learns about Ariel, a sprite, he starts exerting his own power on him. This unique magical power gives him opportunities to take revenge from his enemies. This is another show of power and exploitation. With Ariel, Prospero, also becomes the master of Caliban, the son of a witch, having subhuman nature. Prospero continues exploiting both of these spirits with his magical powers until he changes his heart and learns to forgive his enemies.

Prospero uses magic to keep himself and Miranda safe using magic. He also controls sprites like Ariel and half-witch, Caliban. The incident of tempest and ship tossed during the storm shows is also magic. In the end, he leaves magic as he learns to forgive and sets Ariel free.

Revenge and Forgiveness

At first, Prospero is shown ruling an island, keeping Ariel and Caliban as a slave. He learns magic from books to exact revenge on his enemies. He is determined to seek justice by taking the rightful place of the duke from which he was overthrown by his brother. This revenge takes him too far as he exploits sprite, Ariel, and witch’s son, Caliban. Prospero succeeds in exacting revenge, and he finally forgives his brother. Similarly, when Caliban, too, follows the same path for wrongs and maltreatment by swearing allegiance to Stephano as his new master. Although Prospero shows him the way by the end. Almost all the characters either have conscience or remorse.

Power of Language

Most characters in the play use the power of language to seize power, confuse, confound, convince or manipulate. Prospero stands tall among other characters as he uses superior language. He is good at speaking because he reads books. Through his wit and words, he uses Ariel for his ulterior motives. This even becomes prominent in the case of Caliban, who has not only learned the language but also tries to use it against the mentor Prospero. He clearly curses Miranda telling her that he understands; her father as well as the daughter. When Prospero and Caliban battles for power using language, their speech becomes rhythmic. Caliban tells Prospero that all others hate him for his power of language.

Colonization

When Prospero and his daughter Miranda lands on the island after they are exiled, Caliban and Ariel are the real inhabitants. However, Prospero uses his power and knowledge to display his superiority on the original inhabitants. Due to this colonization, Ariel laments losing his freedom, and Caliban curses that he has learned language from Prospero. They consider Prospero and his daughter as settlers who have colonized their land. Prospero does not see Caliban fit to rule his island. Caliban also conspires to throw him out of his land to end his rule.

The Supernatural

The existence, power, and use of supernatural powers and supernatural entities are seen in the play. The first sign of the power of the supernatural emerges when Prospero is exiled to the island, and he finds magic. He uses magic to enslaves a sprite, Ariel, and then the son of a witch, Caliban. Ariel’s presence is entirely supernatural. First, when he brings tempest in the sea, and second is when he causes Ferdinand to fall in love with Miranda at the request of Prospero.

Slavery is shown in two ways in the play. At first, Ariel is shown working as a slave under Prospero. He is promised freedom once Prospero achieves justice. He bears through the discomfort and helps Prospero to cause havoc on his enemies. Caliban is also a slave doing other chores for him and Miranda.

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The Tempest

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From the opening scene of The Tempest during the storm, when the ruling courtiers on the ship must take orders from their subjects, the sailors and the boatswain, The Tempest examines a variety of questions about power: Who has it and when? Who's entitled to it? What does the responsible exercise of power look like? How should power be transferred? The play is full of examples of power taken by force, and in each case these actions lead to political instability and further attempts to gain power through violence. Antonio and Alonso's overthrow of Prospero leads to Antonio and Sebastian's plot to overthrow Alonso, just as Prospero's overthrow and enslavement of Caliban leads Caliban to seek revenge.

Ultimately, it is only when Prospero breaks the cycle of violence by refusing to take revenge on Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, or Caliban that the political tensions in the play are calmed and reconciled. After Prospero's merciful refusal to seek revenge, Alonso and Prospero quickly come to an understanding and unite their once warring cities through the marriage of their children. The Tempest suggests that compromise and compassion are more effective political tools than violence, imprisonment, or even magic.

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Home › Drama Criticism › Analysis of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest

Analysis of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 26, 2020 • ( 1 )

Many commentators agree in the belief that The Tempest is the last creation of Shakespeare. I will readily believe it. There is in The Tempest the solemn tone of a testament. It might be said that, before his death, the poet, in this epopee of the ideal, had designed a codicil for the Future. . . . The Tempest is the supreme denouement, dreamed by Shakespeare, for the bloody drama of Genesis. It is the expiation of the primordial crime. The region whither it transports us is the enchanted land where the sentence of damnation is absolved by clemency, and where reconciliation is ensured by amnesty to the fratricide. And, at the close of the piece, when the poet, touched by emotion, throws Antonio into the arms of Prospero, he has made Cain pardoned by Abel.

—Victor Hugo , Oeuvres complètes de Shakespeare

It is inevitable, given the position of The Tempest as William Shakespeare’s final solo dramatic work, to hear in Prospero’s epilogue to the play, Shakespeare’s farewell to his audience:

Now my charms are all o’erthrown, And what strength I have’s mine own, Which is most faint. . . . . . Now I want Spirits to enforce, art to enchant; And my ending is despair Unless I be relieved by prayer, Which pierces so, that it assaults Mercy itself, and frees all faults. As you from crimes would pardoned be, Let your indulgence set me free.

Prospero bows out on a note of forgiveness, the tone that finally rules the play along with an affirmation in the essential goodness of humanity. It has been tempting, therefore, to view Prospero’s sentiment and his play as Shakespeare’s last word, his summation of a career and a philosophy, what critic Gary Taylor has called “the valedictory culmination of Shakespeare’s life work.” First performed at court on November 1, 1611, before the playwright’s exit to Stratford, The Tempest , however, is technically neither Shakespeare’s finale nor requiem. Two years later Shakespeare was back in London, collaborating with John Fletcher on The Two Noble Kinsmen, Henry VIII, and the lost play Cardenio. As intriguing as the biographical reading is, it is only one of The Tempest ’s multiple layers of meaning and significance. Called by critic T. M. Parrot, “perhaps the best loved of all Shakespeare’s plays,” and by William Hazlitt as among the “most original and perfect of Shakespeare’s productions,” The Tempest continues to be one of the most performed and interpreted plays in the canon, generating (and withstanding) autobiographical, allegorical, religious, metaphysical, and more recently postcolonial readings. The play’s central figure has likewise shifted from Prospero, who fascinated the romantics, to Miranda, who has claimed the attention of feminists, to Caliban, who is exhibit A in the reading of the play as “a veritable document of early Anglo-American history,” according to writer Sydney Lee, containing “the whole history of imperialist America,” as stated by critic Leslie Fiedler. The Tempest has served as a poetic treasure trove and springboard for other writers, with allusions detectable in John Milton’s Comus , T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, W. H. Auden’s The Sea and the Mirror, and countless other works. Based on its popularity, persistence, and universality, The Tempest remains one of the richest and most fascinating of Shakespeare’s plays.

The Tempest Guide

The Tempest is a composite work with elements derived from multiple sources. Montaigne’s essay “On Cannibals,” whose romantic primitivism is satirized in Gonzalo’s plan for organizing society on Prospero’s island in the second act, is a possible source. So, too, are a German play, Comedy of the Beautiful Sidea, by Jacob Ayrer, about a magician prince whose only daughter falls in love with the son of his enemy, and several Italian commedia dell’arte pastoral tragicomedies set on remote islands and featuring benevolent magicians. Accounts of the Sea-Venture, the ship sent to Virginia to bolster John Smith’s colony that was wrecked on the coast of Bermuda in 1609, may have furnished Shakespeare with some of the details for the play’s opening storm. However, the most substantial borrowing for the plot of The Tempest comes from Shakespeare’s own previous plays, so much so, that scholar Stephen Greenblatt has described The Tempest as “a kind of echo chamber of Shakespearean motifs.” The complications following a shipwreck revisits Twelfth Night ; the relocation of court society to the wilderness is featured in As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which also employs spirits and the supernatural to teach lessons and settle scores. The backstory of The Tempest —Prospero, the former duke of Milan, usurped by his brother—recalls  Hamlet and King Lear . Miranda’s being raised in ignorance of her past and status as well as the debate between nature and nurture echo Pericles and The Winter’s Tale. Like both, The Tempest mixes light and dark, tragic and comic elements, yet compared to their baroque complexity, the shortest of Shakespeare’s plays after Macbeth obeys the Aristotelian unities of place and time (the only other Shakespearean play to do so is The Comedy of Errors ), with its action confined to Prospero’s island, taking place over a period roughly corresponding to its performance time.

The Tempest begins with one of the most spectacular scenes in all of Shakespeare: the storm at sea that threatens the vessel whose passengers include King Alonso of Naples, his son Ferdinand, and Prospero’s hated brother Antonio, the usurping duke of Milan. Their life-and-death struggle enacted on stage is subjected to a double focus as Prospero reassures his daughter, Miranda, distraught over the fate of the passengers and crew, that he controls the tempest and that their danger is an illusion. The disaster, which he calls a “spectacle,” is artifice, and the play establishes an analogy between Prospero’s magic and the theatrical sleight of hand that initially seemed so realistic and thrilling. Prospero stands in for the artist here: Both magician and playwrights are conjurors, able to manipulate nature and make others believe in a reality without substance. The contrast between illusion and reality will be sounded throughout the play, suggesting that The Tempest is a metadrama: a play about playwriting and the power and limitations of the imagination. Prospero finally tells his daughter how they arrived on the island; how his brother, Antonio, joined in a conspiracy with Alonso to usurp his place as duke of Milan; how 12 years before Prospero and Miranda were set adrift at sea, provisioned only by a compassionate Neapolitan, Gonzalo. Friend and foes, aboard the vessel Prospero has seemed to wreck, are now under his control on the island where Prospero intends to exact his vengeance. Prospero, therefore, will use his long-studied magical arts to stage a reckoning for past offenses. The play proceeds under Prospero’s direction with a cast that either cooperates or complicates his intentions. Serving him are the ethereal Ariel, whom Prospero promises to free after completing his bidding, and the contrasting earthly and brutish Caliban, a witch’s son, whom Prospero says he has “us’d thee / (Filth as thou art) with human care, and lodg’d thee / In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate / The honor of my child.” Prospero, therefore, controls symbols of both sides of human nature: aspects of the imagination and fancy and baser instincts that come in conflict on the island as the play progresses.

As playwright Prospero must juggle three subplots: Miranda’s relationship with Ferdinand, the son of Alonso, who mourns his loss at sea; the plotting of Prospero’s brother, Antonio, and the king’s brother, Sebastian, to murder Alonso and seize his throne; and Caliban’s alliance with the jester Trinculo and butler Stefano to kill Prospero and reign in his stead. The first goes so well—Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love at first sight—that Prospero tests Ferdinand’s fidelity by appearing to punish him by making him his servant. Ferdinand, however, proves his devotion by gladly accepting his humiliation to be near Miranda. Prospero ends Ferdinand’s penance and testing in the first scene of act 4, declaring: “All thy vexations / Were but my trials of thy love, and thou / Hast strangely stood the test.” To seal the nuptial vows a ritual masque is performed by various mythological goddesses and pastoral figures. In the midst of the dance Prospero stops the performance to deliver one of the most celebrated speeches in all of Shakespeare’s plays:

Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air; And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on; and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.

Jaques in As You Like It asserted “All the world’s a stage,” and Macbeth described life as “a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage.” Prospero’s speech suggests the transience of both human life and art, with its reference to “the great globe,” the name of Shakespeare’s theater, that, along with towers, palaces, and temples, “shall dissolve . . . like this insubstantial pageant.”

Made aware by Ariel of Caliban’s conspiracy with Trinculo and Stefano, Prospero distracts them from their purpose of murder by rich attire, which Trinculo and Stefano put on before being set upon by spirits. Their comic rebellion is matched by the more serious plot of Antonio and Sebastian to kill Alonso. An assassination attempt is halted by the appearance of spirits providing a banquet for the hungry men. Just as they try to satisfy their hunger the food disappears, replaced by Ariel, “like a harpy,” who accuses Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio of their crimes against Prospero and delivers their sentences:

. . . But remember, For that’s my business to you, that you three From Milan did supplant good Prospero; Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it ,Him, and his innocent child; for which foul deed The powers, delaying not forgetting, have Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures, Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso, They have bereft; and do pronounce by me Ling’ring perdition, worse than any death Can be at once, shall step by step attend You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from— Which here, in this most desolate isle, else fall sUpon your heads—is nothing but heart’s sorrow, And a clear life ensuing.

Prospero, approving of Ariel’s performance, declares, “They now are in my pow’r,” and the play turns on how he will decide to use that power.

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At the start of the fifth act Prospero announces the climax of his plan: “Now does my project gather to a head,” with his victims now imprisoned to confront their guilt and fate. It is Ariel who shifts Prospero from vengeance to forgiveness by saying, “Your charm so strongly works ’em / That if you now beheld them your affections / Would become tender.” Ariel’s suggestion of what should be the reaction to human suffering shames Prospero into compassion:

Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, One of their kind, that relish all as sharply, Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art? Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th’ quick, Yet with my nobler reason ’gainst my fury Do I take part. The rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance. They being penitent, The sole drift of my purpose doth extend Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel; My charms I’ll break, their senses I’ll restore, And they shall be themselves.

Prospero turns away from revenge and the pursuit of power that had formerly ruled the destinies of so many Shakespearean heroes, including Hamlet, Macbeth , and many more. Prospero changes the plot of his play at its climax and then turns away from his art to reenter the human community:

. . . But this rough magic I here abjure. And, when I have required Some heavenly music—which even now I do— To work mine end upon their senses that This airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet sound I’ll drown my book.

The end of Prospero’s plot, his art, and the play conjoin. Ariel returns with the prisoners, and Prospero pardons all, including his brother, before reclaiming his dukedom and reuniting father and son. Miranda, overcome by so many nobles on their formerly deserted island, declares:

O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world! That has such people in’t!

Prospero, more soberly and less optimistically, responds to her words: “’Tis new to thee.” Finally, Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo are brought in. The lowly status and ridiculousness of the latter two are exposed, prompting Caliban to assert:

I’ll be wise hereafter, And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass Was I to take this drunkard for a god, And worship this dull fool!

Having reestablished order and a harmonious future in the marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand, Prospero delivers on his promise to free Ariel before turning to the audience to ask for the same compassion and forgiveness he has shown. As Prospero has released the spirit Ariel, we are asked to do the same for Prospero. We now hold the power and the art to use it as we will:

. . . Now ’tis true I must be here confined by you Or sent to Naples. Let me not ,Since I have my dukedom got, And pardoned the deceiver, dwell In this bare island by your spell; But release me from my bands With the help of your good hands.

If the play is not Shakespeare’s last will and testament, there scarcely can be a better: a play that affirms essential human goodness while acknowledging the presence of human evil, written in the full powers of the imagination, while conscious of its limitations and responsibilities.

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Themes in “The Tempest” Play by W. Shakespeare Essay

Introduction, power dynamics, colonialism, illusion and reality, works cited.

The Tempest written by William Shakespeare in 1610 is one of the most famous works of dramaturgy in known history. The play draws its influences from a variety of genre characteristics as well as potential historic events and cultural motifs. The primary themes of The Tempest discussed in this paper are power dynamics, colonialism, and the concept of illusion and reality.

Power relationships are inherently at the core of The Tempest’s plot and thematic elements. The primary pursuit of power occurs at the hands of Prospero, who attempts to manipulate most other characters, including his daughter. At the same time, he has direct control over Ariel and enslaves Caliban. The power dynamics demonstrate an interesting perspective. Ariel demonstrates obedience and servitude, eventually earning her freedom. Meanwhile, Caliban enacts rebellion and attempts to find a new master in Stefano, which leads to a similarly abusive power dynamic (Jamieson). Prospero wields magic that presents with him an advantage on the island at demonstrating power by punishing or abusing those who have crossed him. This innately presents readers with a dilemma of whether power, even when wielded by a protagonist, leads to moral and fair decisions.

The socio-political hierarchy in the play presents aspects of power dynamics from the first lines of the play as orders are given. Forceful acquirement of power, particularly related to political instability is central to The Tempest . One of the subplots is focused on internecine conflicts between leaders engaged in a power struggle for control over Milan, the island, and their servants, leading both sides to make regrettable decisions. Antonio and Alonso overthrow Prospero as the rightful Duke of Milan, banishing him to his death. On the island, Prospero overtakes Caliban who is the rightful native ruler which creates conflict. Antonio and Sebastian later plot against Alonso. In a way, Shakespeare demonstrates an unbroken cycle of power and violence that causes betrayal, revenge, and suffering. It is only broken at the denouement of the play as Prospero chooses a path of forgiveness rather than the pursuit of revenge and power.

The colonialism theme in The Tempest is one of the most popular literary perspectives. However, at the time that the play was written, colonialism was at its initial stages, and only decades later when it achieved its peak, scholars began to examine the play through this lens. The colonialism emerges partially from the power dynamic aspect of Prospero taking control of the island. The play indicates that he arrives on the island, destroys Sycorax, and enslaves Caliban. As time goes by, he imposes his rules and culture on the island, usurping all influence and identity from the “native” ruler of the island which is Caliban. Meanwhile, Caliban is forced into a life of poverty, violence, and drunkenness. Prospero claims ownership of Caliban directly when he states, “This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine” (Shakespeare lines 330-331).

Various scholarly perspectives exist regarding true ownership of the island. Ariel and her “race” of spirits are also considered as potential natives of the island oppressed by Prospero. However, modern critics agree that Caliban represents all native tribes, regardless of race, as most Europeans saw the same bestiality and lack of intellect in all locals of conquered lands. Natives experienced similar patterns of abuse and disenfranchisement which are represented in the portrayal of Caliban (Ridge 233). Prospero’s disgust with Caliban is part of the colonialism mentality which viewed Europeans themselves on the pedestal of humankind while engaging in condescending attitudes of racism and dehumanization. Shakespeare emphasizes this with the language and tone used to describe characters. While Caliban is described through a lens of evil and repugnant, Prospero and other Europeans are portrayed as civilized and intelligent, which is a direct consequence of a colonialist mindset.

The difference between illusion and reality is a pertinent theme in The Tempest as Prospero uses magic to manipulate the world around the characters, thus compelling certain decisions and events. Magic illusions often reveal to characters uncovering their true identities and intentions. This theme can be examined from an existential perspective, as Prospero hints that humankind may be living in an illusional world, “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep” (Shakespeare lines 173-175).

There is a scholarly perspective that suggests Prospero’s magic is a metaphor for theatre, creating a masque over reality and Shakespeare’s role as a playwright. This illusion concept is interconnected to the power theme of the play. Prospero is inherently in a vulnerable position, exiled and outnumbered. However, using magic, he creates an illusion of power and lurks in the shadows, while manipulating reality (similar to that of a playwright). At the end of the play, he practically renounces his powers, releases Ariel, and acknowledges the “baseless fabric of this vision” (Poulard 4). The play is known for its innovative special effects for the time it was written, often surprising audiences, strafing on the thin line between illusion and reality.

The themes of power, colonialism, and illusion in The Tempest are interconnected through their influence on the plot and characterization. They serve an important role in creating depth and thoughtful perspectives on a rather simplistic play. Shakespeare introduced these themes as elements that intrigued audiences and produced commentary for centuries after.

Jamieson, Lee. “Power Relationships in “The Tempest” . ThoughtCo . 2018, Web.

Poulard, Etienne. “‘Shakespeare’s Politics of Invisibility: Power and Ideology in The Tempest.” International Journal of Zizek Studies , vol. 4, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1-21.

Ridge, Kelsey. “‘This Island’s Mine’: Ownership of the Island in The Tempest.” Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism , vol. 16, no. 12, 2016, pp. 231-245.

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest . Shakespeare’s Plays, n.d. Folger Digital Texts, Web.

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The Tempest William Shakespeare

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The Tempest Essays

Similarities between principal characters in shakespeare's the tempest dan reimold, the tempest.

In almost every respect, Gonzalo's ideas on how best to govern an island relate directly in some form to Prospero's existing reign. Gonzalo, an honest, sage, aging councilor first openly asserts his vision of a perfect society while meandering...

A Post-Colonial Interpretation of The Tempest Ed O'Donovan

A post-colonial interpretation of The Tempest is an interpretation which has gained popularity in the latter half of the twentieth century. This particular reading of the play implies that Shakespeare was consciously making a point about...

The Fierce and Mighty Sea; The Dramatic Function of the Powerful and Ever Present Ocean in The Tempest Rebecca Rendell

Images of the fierce and powerful sea are prevalent throughout Shakespeare's The Tempest. The play opens on a terrible storm at sea and all of the ensuing action takes place on an island that, by definition, is surrounded by ocean on all sides....

The Sensitive Beast: Shakespeare's Presentation of Caliban Kate Fox

Caliban is certainly one of the most complex and contradictory characters in Shakespeare's "The Tempest", at different points embodying the poetic, the absurd, the pathetic, and the savagely evil. For this reason, he is also one of the most...

Love and Magic Intertwined Cheryl Nieman

In William Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, the playwright intertwines love and magic, creating one of play's the major themes. Prospero, the protagonist, uses magic to plan the events of this comedy. The first act of magic is the tempest...

Painting With Words: Language as Art in The Tempest Jason Zysk

In Shakespeare's romance, The Tempest, Miranda instructs Caliban, "I endowed thy purposes / With words that made them known" (I.ii.357-8), affirming the power of language to transform the insubstantial into a forceful and purposeful entity. As...

The Tempest and Its Woman - Masked Theme Anonymous

The abandoned damsel, the lonely daughter, the beautiful virgin... In The Tempest, Shakespeare depicts all of these ideal constructions of womanhood in his character Miranda. However, looking closely at the text reveals that Shakespeare had a...

Stuff Jonathan Butterfield

The epilogue of Shakespeare's The Tempest, while separate from the body of work preceding it due to the nature of an epilogue, it is an integral part of the work. It provides resolution to an otherwise unresolved piece, and the piece actually...

Unholy Mothers: Mothers as Negative Characters in Richard III, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest Barret Buchholz

Unholy Mothers: Mothers as Negative Characters in Richard III, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest

by, Barret Buchholz

April 15, 2005

The mothers presented in Shakespeare's plays encompass a broad range of social positions, personalities,...

The Addictive Nature of Prospero's "Art" Miroslav Ovcharik

While the magic of Prospero, the deposed duke of Milan at the center of Shakespeare's The Tempest, is frequently associated with art or creativity, this reading of the text seems incompatible with a substantial amount of textual evidence. Most...

Art and Nature in The Tempest and Prospero's Books Mary Kathryn Cornwell

The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touched

The very virtue of compassion in thee,

I have with such provision in mine art

So safely ordered that there is no soul-

No, not so much perdition as an hair

Betid to any creature in the vessel

Analysis of the Introduction of Ariel and Prospero in Act I, Scene 2 of The Tempest Alex Edmiston

The introduction of Ariel in the second scene of The Tempest raises some of the central issues in William Shakespeare's 17th-century play. Most notably, the themes of power, nature, and magic prove to be integral in shaping the audience's...

Supernatural Forces in Shakespeare Anonymous

In the plays of Shakespeare, readers can find several issues of human nature addressed. In Othello, Shakespeare addresses jealously and racism. In King Lear, he addresses pride and love. In Romeo and Juliet, he examines fate. In The Tempest and...

A Christian Excuse for Cruelty: Violence in Hamlet and The Tempest Anonymous

One of the significant conflicts within Renaissance culture was how to rationalize the many instances of violence which took place in a society with such strong Christian values. While some preached from the New Testament of the importance of love...

The Significance of Stories in Othello and The Tempest Preston Postlethwaite

Characters in Shakespeare’s Othello and The Tempest use stories to explain personal history or change the course of events. These are no simple tales; rather, they are complex and thought-provoking means of enriching each play and carrying action...

Prospero: Public Leader or Magical Recluse? Jamie Matty

In William Shakespeare’s final play, “The Tempest,” the playwright spins a magical web of a story that, although being comedic and light-hearted, subtly addresses the issues of absolutism, power and the monarchy. The main character in “The Tempest...

Eating Men Like Air: Telling the “Truth” on Shakespeare’s Island Ashley S. Tyner

Like a sculpture etched in bas-relief, the intrigue of The Tempest is depicted on raised stone, but the story’s substance depends entirely on a realm of negative space. To grasp the gender discourse present in Shakespeare’s drama, one must...

The Second Scene of "The Tempest": A Scene Study Tim Hamilton

It is often noted that The Tempest is an odd play in Shakespeare’s canon; unlike any of his other works, with the exception of The Comedy of Errors, it observes classical unities of time and setting. Of all of Shakespeare’s opening scenes, the one...

Rendering Prospero the Victim Anonymous

Shakespeare writes many dimensions into the character of Prospero in The Tempest. He is loving and protective of his daughter, hard-hearted towards his enemies, and manipulative of his allies. Given the complexity of his character, rendering him...

The Tempest: In Search of Prospero’s Identity in Caliban and Ariel Anonymous

In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero exerts wrathful influence over the island and his servants Caliban and Ariel cannot help but cower in humble obedience. Ariel is indebted to Prospero for freeing him from the dreadful darkness of the “cloven...

Caliban: The Monster? Anjumon Sahin College

The concept of monstrosity, at an explicit representational level, has followed a set pattern in literature, but it has been politically deployed and modified differently in different contexts. Etymologically, the word “monster” is derived from...

Fantastical Elements within the Tempest Anonymous 12th Grade

The “fantastical” elements of The Tempest by William Shakespeare are made evident by the introduction of Ariel, the spirit, Caliban, the son of a witch, and Prospero, a banished duke who has mastered occult powers. Despite what seems to be an...

Liminal Space in The Tempest Tim Godfrey-Twiss 12th Grade

It appears that all comedies throughout all ages relies on the accuracy of its meta-commentary, all successful comedies inhabit a illusionary world filled with flickering shadows of truth and mirrors filled with elements of human behaviour. In...

Caliban's Enlightenment Daniel M. Lara College

“Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices

That, if I then had waked after long sleep,

Will make me...

the tempest essay themes

The Tempest Essay Topics & Examples

Students’ life is a bumpy ride, and sometimes you can end up with several vital assignments all of which are due the next day. Custom-Writing.org experts have prepared a compilation of The Tempest essay topics.  

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

On this page, you’ll find best questions, prompts, title ideas on the Shakespeare’s play, together with The Tempest essay examples. Feel free to alter and adjust them to your liking and academic requirements!

  • 🏆 Essay Topics
  • 💡 Essay Prompts
  • 📝 Essay Examples

🏆 The Tempest Essay Topics

  • Revenge and forgiveness in The Tempest
  • Colonialism and slavery in The Tempest
  • The role of setting in The Tempest
  • How is Caliban presented in The Tempest?
  • Prospero: character analysis
  • Frankenstein and The Tempest: compare and contrast essay
  • The theme of magic in The Tempest
  • Love and relationships in The Tempest
  • Gender roles in Shakespeare’s plays
  • King Alonso: character traits
  • Non-human beings in The Tempest
  • The symbolism of Prospero’s books

💡 The Tempest Essay Prompts

  • The analysis of Shakespeare’s messages hidden behind the central themes . The first thing you need to find out is what the theme of The Tempest is. There may be more than one, so you should choose those that seem to be the most important. If you have doubts, go back and look through our guide again!
  • Discussion of the historical context of The Tempest with the focus on colonization . It appears that the play was quite relevant at the time. No wonder, because Shakespeare took a chance and used the most discussed topic as the theme. Therefore, your main task would be to find out how the views about colonial imperialism are expressed in The Tempest .
  • What is the role of comic scenes in the play’s plot ? The Tempest is considered to be a comedy since it involves plenty of funny moments. The most memorable ones are performed by the drunken trio. The main idea of this essay is to analyze how those scenes go along with the main plot.
  • How vital are audio impressions and noises in the play? You should start by looking for the moments where various sounds and music are described. Since every element of imagery adds to the overall impression from the play, it is essential to find out what role they play.
  • Colonization in The Tempest : how do characters want to rule the island? It might be a part of the central theme dedicated to colonization, but an additional analysis might be fun to do. After getting on the island, almost all the characters start dreaming about owning it. They all have a different vision of how they would rule it, though.
  • Discuss the impressions from the very first scene of the play. Here is the place for you to analyze everything mentioned in Scene 1 that influenced your perception of the whole play. For example, see how the characters are presented and what their dialogues tell about them. How are the main themes introduced?
  • Contrast and compare The Tempest to one of Shakespeare’s tragedies. Prospero has been planning his revenge for so many years. His desire could have easily turned out as a tragedy for every character if it wasn’t for romance. Therefore, you should look into the differences between this aspect in The Tempest and a tragedy.
  • Draw a parallel between the attempted assassination of Alonso and plotting against Prospero. The two of the king’s staff, along with Caliban, are planning on taking the place of the island’s rulers by killing Prospero. Meanwhile, there is an attempt to murder Alonso. Your task is to compare these two occasions and see how social status might affect them.
  • What roles does Prospero take on, and what is their significance? It seems like Prospero wants to have as much power as he can. He is a father, friend, magician, island’s ruler, and desires to return home to be a duke again. However, it is impossible to have everything. Analyze Prospero’s character and find out which role he is most likely to choose.
  • Analyze and discuss the purpose of Caliban’s character in the play. At first, it seems like Caliban plays a critical role in The Tempest . However, at the end of the play, the audience can see that his part is insignificant. Therefore, your task for this essay would be to find out why Shakespeare involved Caliban after all.
  • The complete literary analysis of Shakespeare’s The Tempest . It is one of the primary and most straightforward topics about the play. However, attention to detail is vital. Try to include the most critical elements in there, such as the central themes and ideas, symbols , literary devices. If you need help with it, just look through our guide!
  • Does Caliban really need to be trained and educated? From Prospero’s point of view, Caliban is a savage who desperately needs help to become more civilized. In this essay, you can let your perspective create the structure. Do you think Prospero should have left Caliban in peace? What is the role of colonization in it?
  • Appearances of feminism in Shakespeare’s The Tempest . Even though there is only one female character in the play, this issue still appears to be relevant. Miranda is always kind to Caliban until the moment he tries to sexually abuse her. Explain what her actions were and how her attitude has changed since then.
  • Discuss the theme of religion and Christianity in the play. If you look closely, you can see some associations between Christianity and Prospero’s character. He is almost seen as God due to his powers and control over the events on the island. In the end, he refuses to use magic any longer and forgives his enemies. Can it be a biblical reference?
  • The correlation between political corruption and greed of the characters. Antonio is the main character in the play, which shows intense greed for power. He is ready to pay any price to get more power, so his personal ethics degrades quickly. However, you should find out about the role of political corruption in Antonio’s actions and plans.
  • What is Miranda’s perception of the island in The Tempest ? She was taken to the island when she was a child. How do you think Miranda perceives her new home as an adult? Does it seem like a prison to her, or does Prospero’s magic makes her believe the island is a utopia?

📝 The Tempest Essay Examples

  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and Sandars’ “The Epics of Gigamesh”
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest Directed by Gregory Doran
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the Savage Rose Theater
  • The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Tempest: Being “Civilized” or “Uncivilized”
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” – Viewing and Reflection
  • Ahab from Moby Dick and Prospero from the Tempest
  • The Phaedrus and The Tempest: Compare & Contrast
  • Prospero in The Tempest: Character Analysis
  • The Tempest and the Contemporary Arts
  • “The Tempest” Play by St. Louis Shakespeare Theater
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” by Savage Rose Theatre
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest: Gender Roles
  • Utopia in “The Tempest” by Shakespeare
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Image Exploration

Thank you for reading this article! If you haven’t found the perfect title idea, try our topic-generating tool . Any questions left? Check The Tempest QA section !

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The Tempest Themes

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Writers — The Tempest

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Essays on The Tempest

The tempest essay, the tempest essays types.

  • Character Analysis Essay: In this type of essay, you can analyze the personalities, motivations, and relationships of different characters in the play.
  • Historical Context Essay: In this type of essay, you can explore how the play reflects the historical context of Shakespeare's time, such as the exploration and colonization of the New World.
  • Feminist Essay: This essay examines the portrayal of women in the play and how they challenge or reinforce gender roles.

Character Analysis: The Tempest Essay

  • Choose a character: Start by selecting a character from The Tempest that interests you the most. It could be a major character like Prospero or Miranda, or a minor character like Caliban or Ariel.
  • Conduct research: After selecting a character, gather information about them from the play, as well as from other critical sources such as essays, articles, and books. Look for information on the character's personality, background, motivations, and how they contribute to the story.
  • Create a thesis statement: Your thesis statement should be a clear and concise statement that summarizes your overall analysis of the character you have chosen. It should be based on the evidence you have collected and should guide the direction of your essay.
  • Develop an outline: Once you have your thesis statement, create an outline for your essay. This will help you organize your ideas and arguments, and ensure that you cover all the key points.
  • Use examples: To support your analysis, use specific examples from the play to illustrate the character's behavior, actions, and dialogue.
  • Analyze the character's development: As you write your essay, consider how the character changes throughout the play, and how their actions impact other characters and the overall plot.
  • Conclude with a summary: End your essay with a brief summary of your analysis and your overall opinion of the character.

Historical Context Essay on The Tempest

  • Conduct research: To write a historical context essay, you need to have a good understanding of the historical events and cultural influences that were present during the time period in which the play was written. Conducting thorough research can help you gain the knowledge and insights necessary to write an informed essay.
  • Understand the time period: The Tempest was written in the early 17th century, during a time of great change in England. The Renaissance was in full swing, and England was experiencing a period of great expansion and colonization. Understanding the time period and its key events can help you understand the context in which the play was written.
  • Analyze the play: Once you have a good understanding of the historical context in which The Tempest was written, you can begin to analyze the play itself in light of those factors. Look for themes and motifs in the play that reflect the cultural and political beliefs of the time, and examine how these themes relate to the historical context in which the play was written.
  • Use primary sources: To gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of The Tempest, it can be helpful to read primary sources from the time period. These can include historical documents, political speeches, and literary works from the time period.

Feminist Essay type

  • Read the play with a critical eye towards the portrayal of women. Look for instances where gender roles are reinforced or challenged, and examine how women are represented in the play.
  • Consider the historical context of the play and how it might have influenced Shakespeare's portrayal of women. The Elizabethan era was a time of strict gender roles, and women were generally not allowed to participate in public life.
  • Look for examples of female agency and empowerment in the play, and examine how these are represented. Consider how the female characters challenge traditional gender roles and expectations.
  • Consider how the play's portrayal of gender might have influenced its original audience, and how it might be interpreted by modern audiences.
  • Use feminist theory to inform your analysis. Consider how feminist literary criticism can help you to interpret the play and its themes.

Shakespearean Principles in The Tempest: Information, Integrity, and Compassion

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Analysis of How Caliban is Presented in The Tempest

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November 1, 1611

  • William Shakespeare

Shakespearean Comedy, Tragicomedy

Prospero, Miranda, Ariel, Caliban, Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, Trinculo, Stephano, Juno, Ceres, Iris, Master, Mariners, Boatswain, Nymphs, Reapers

c.1611 by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s tragicomedy is about a major act of betrayal, ill treatment, the development of magic arts and a plot of revenge.

Prospero, Miranda, Ariel, Caliban, Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, Trinculo, Stephano, Juno, Ceres

The play is set on a remote island and Prospero's home is near the shore. The island is inhabited by spirits, lead by Ariel, who have magical powers.

Prospero uses magic to conjure a storm and torment the survivors of a shipwreck, including the King of Naples and Prospero’s treacherous brother, Antonio. The King’s young son Ferdinand, thought to be dead, falls in love with Prospero’s daughter Miranda. Their celebrations are cut short when Prospero confronts his brother and reveals his identity as the usurped Duke of Milan. The families are reunited and all conflict is resolved. Prospero grants Ariel his freedom and prepares to leave the island.

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” “What's past is prologue.”

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the tempest essay themes

100 The Tempest Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on the tempest, 🎓 interesting the tempest essay topics, 📌 easy the tempest essay topics, 💡 simple the tempest essay ideas, ❓ the tempest research questions.

  • Gender Roles in The Tempest
  • The Tempest: Prospero’s Character Analysis
  • “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare
  • Utopia in “The Tempest” by Shakespeare
  • Ferdinand and Miranda in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” in Terms of Postcolonial Theory
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Image Exploration
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare: Viewing and Reflection
  • The Tempest Play at Savage Rose Classical Theater The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the performance of Savage Rose classical theater company regarding the use of the staging and the overall performance of the actors.
  • The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Tempest: Being “Civilized” or “Uncivilized” The Epic of Gilgamesh and Shakespeare’s The Tempest demonstrate that the application of labels is relative, implies adverse outcomes, and is used to critique the colonial process.
  • “The Tempest” a Play by William Shakespeare In the Tempest, Shakespeare, portrays Caliban as an uncultured half- man, half beast, who is enslaved in his own land by a foreign intruder.
  • “The Tempest”: Viewing and Reflection The Tempest performed by the Savage Rose Theater Company is a classical period drama performance of the Shakespearean classic. It is a faithful adaptation of the text.
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” by Savage Rose Theatre The present research will review the play named The Tempest, which was performed by the Savage Rose Theatre in 2014.
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the Savage Rose Theater For a comprehensive assessment of a theatrical performance, I have chosen the online play The Tempest created by William Shakespeare and revised by the Savage Rose Theater.
  • The Tempest by Shakespeare: A Play Review The Tempest, written by William Shakespeare, has numerous words that while making the poem sound sophisticated, are intricate to the readers.
  • Shakespeare’s The Tempest Directed by Gregory Doran The Tempest is a remarkable play that united classics with modern technology to transform viewers’ experiences into something new.
  • Prospero’s Rulership in “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s The Tempest is a non-historical drama that focuses mainly on an act of injustice. One analyzes Prospero’s brother’s takeover of the crown.
  • Ahab from Moby Dick and Prospero from the Tempest The paper presents a panel discussion with two main participants, Ahab, a character from Moby Dick, and Prospero, from The Tempest.
  • Performances of W. Shakespeare’s The Tempest Play The play The Tempest by William Shakespeare is one of the author’s most iconic literary works. Due to insufficient information, it is assumed that it was written in 1610-1611.
  • ”The Tempest” Performance in St. Louis Review The performance shows that nowadays, in the age of movies and series, a thoroughly prepared live theatrical performance can be captivating and evoke strong emotions.
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and Sandars’ “The Epics of Gigamesh” In this paper, the author will apply postcolonial theories to evaluate Caliban from “The Tempest” and Enkidu from the “Epic of Gilgamesh”.
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” – Viewing and Reflection Classical interpretation can convey the mood of the era of Shakespeare’s life, and one of such performances is the staging of the play “The Tempest” by Savage Rose Theater Company.
  • The Phaedrus and The Tempest: Compare & Contrast If we try to draw the parallels between these two works, we may say that both Shakespeare and Plato show that we often create illusion for ourselves.
  • The Tempest and the Contemporary Arts The Tempest is one of the most famous plays of the final period of Shakespearean creative work. The problems that the author revealed in this play to be rather topical for the present day.
  • “The Tempest” Play by St. Louis Shakespeare Theater This performance of The Tempest by St. Louis Shakespeare theater covered the text of the Shakespearean play, making it a full-length production.
  • “The Tempest” Play at St. Louis Shakespeare Festival This paper aims to explain the viewing experience of the play “The Tempest” at the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival.
  • Analysis of “The Tempest” Play During the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival The play “The Tempest” written in the very beginning of the seventeenth century influences the canons of dramatic arts and their role in the modern performing culture.
  • “The Tempest” at Shakespeare Festival in St. Louis A version of The Tempest performed at the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is a historical period drama performance of the popular Shakespearean classic.
  • “The Tempest” Performance by Savage Rose Theater The performance The Tempest was running in the Savage Rose Theater. Although it is a modern theatre company, it adheres to classical drama and does not experiment.
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” at Savage Rose Theatre The Tempest staged by the Savage Rose Theatre Company represents a fresh look at the known performance and a proper combination of tragedy with comedic elements.
  • “The Tempest” Performance by St. Louis Shakespeare St. Louis Shakespeare performed a version of The Tempest using a period drama approach to the adaptation of the popular play.
  • Exotic Setting And Its Relevance In Shakespeare’s The Tempest
  • The Ways Shakespeare Presents Ideas of Society in ‘The Tempest’
  • The Tension Between Humanity and Nature in ‘The Tempest’
  • The Battle for Political Power in ‘The Tempest’
  • William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and Relationships Between Master and Slave
  • Feminism and the Treatment of Women in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Demonic and Pure Women in Shakespeares ‘The Tempest’: Miranda Versus Sycorax Essays
  • The Two Different Extremes on the Social Spectrum in ‘The Tempest’
  • How Shakespere Portrayed the Charactor of Caliban in ‘The Tempest’
  • Lost Illusions, Bitter Wisdom and Fragile Hope in ‘The Tempest’
  • William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ as a Consideration of the Important Social Issues of Its Time
  • The Relationship Between Servants and Masters in ‘The Tempest’
  • European Colonialism and Imperialism in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Prospero Constructs ‘The Tempest’ Hierarchy and Returns Affairs to a Natural State
  • The Conflict Between Passion and Intellect in ‘The Tempest’
  • How Does the Relationship Between Prospero and Ariel Change During ‘The Tempest’
  • The Relationship Between Miranda and Prospero in ‘The Tempest’
  • Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”: Colonization and the Brave New World
  • The Feminist Critical Approach to Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • The Duality Between Nature and Society in The Tempest by William Shakespeare
  • How Does Shakespeare Establish the Situation at the Start of ‘The Tempest’
  • The Relation Between Prospero and Ariel in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • The Tempest – Comparison, and Contrast of Ferdinand and Caliban
  • Distorting the Natural Laws of the World in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare
  • Temperature Art vs. Nature in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • The Development and Transformation of Prospero in ‘The Tempest’, a Play by William Shakespeare
  • Colonization and ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare
  • Common Themes and Characters in Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, and ‘The Tempest’
  • Colonialism, Race, and Class in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and Patrick Chamoiseau’s Solibo Magnificent
  • Caliban Inside and Out in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Shakespeare Review: The Tempest, Joseph Story, and Cannibalism
  • Opposition Between Art and Reality in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Shakespeare Uses His Play ‘The Tempest’ to Depict a Microcosm of His Society
  • Romance and Anti Romance in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Apparitions and the Supernatural in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Overview of the Many Roles of Prospero in Shakespeare ‘The Tempest’
  • The Beneficial and Abusive Use of Power in Shakespeare’s Play ‘The Tempest’
  • Human Relationships Between the Central Characters in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
  • Caliban’s Original Love for Prospero and Miranda in the Story ‘The Tempest’
  • The Relationship Between Master and Slave in ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare
  • What Is the Story of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Is the Main Idea of ‘The Tempest’?
  • Why Is Shakespeare’s Play Called ‘The Tempest’?
  • Is ‘The Tempest’ a Comedy or Tragedy?
  • How Does Shakespeare Present Control and Power in Act Two Scene One of ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Happens at the End of ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Are Three Themes in ‘The Tempest’?
  • Why Is ‘The Tempest’ Relevant Today?
  • Why Is ‘The Tempest’ Different From Other Shakespeare Plays?
  • How Does Shakespeare Present the Idea of Forgiveness at the End of the Play ‘The Tempest’?
  • Who Is the Main Character in ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Are the Symbols in ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Is a Good Thesis Statement for ‘The Tempest’?
  • How Is Betrayal Shown in ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Happens to Caliban at the End of ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Is Shakespeare Saying About Power in ‘The Tempest’?
  • Who Does Miranda Fall in Love With in ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Is the Role of Marriage in ‘The Tempest’?
  • How Is Miranda and Ferdinand’s Relationship Important to ‘The Tempest’?
  • Is ‘The Tempest’ About Colonialism?
  • Why Does Shakespeare Start ‘The Tempest’ With a Storm?
  • What Is the Historical Context of ‘The Tempest’?
  • Is ‘The Tempest’ a Historical Play?
  • What Is ‘The Tempest’ a Metaphor For?
  • Is ‘The Tempest’ Shakespeare’s Final Play?
  • What Is the Tone of the Play ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Does the End of ‘The Tempest’ Mean?
  • What Technique Does Shakespeare Use in ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Is the Setting of ‘The Tempest’?
  • What Happens When Ariel Lures Ferdinand to Prospero in ‘The Tempest’?

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StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 100 The Tempest Essay Topics. Retrieved from https://studycorgi.com/ideas/the-tempest-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "100 The Tempest Essay Topics." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/the-tempest-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "100 The Tempest Essay Topics." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/the-tempest-essay-topics/.

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These essay examples and topics on The Tempest were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 9, 2024 .

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  1. The Tempest: Themes

    The Tempest: Themes | SparkNotes The Tempest Study Guide Questions & Answers What tasks does Ariel perform for Prospero? What is the significance of the masque in Act 4? What happens to Ariel at the end of the play? Important Quotes Explained By Theme Wonder/admiration Monstrosity By Section Act I: Scene i Act I: Scene ii (Part 1)

  2. The Tempest Themes

    From the opening scene of The Tempest during the storm, when the ruling courtiers on the ship must take orders from their subjects, the sailors and the boatswain, The Tempest examines a variety of questions about power: Who has it and when? Who's entitled to it? What does the responsible exercise of power look like? How should power be transferred?

  3. Themes in The Tempest with Examples and Analysis

    Themes in The Tempest, a masterpiece of William Shakespeare, present the issue of freedom and confinement, including themes of betrayal, compassion, and love. Some of the major themes in The Tempest have been analyzed below. Themes in The Tempest Theme #1 The Illusion of Justice

  4. The Tempest Themes

    by William Shakespeare Buy Study Guide The Tempest Themes Creation and Creativity Critics have long focused on Prospero as a figure of creative control in The Tempest. Indeed, the entire play is bookended by Prospero's magical acts, with more illusions appearing over the course of the narrative.

  5. The Tempest: Suggested Essay Topics

    Suggested Essay Topics. Previous Next. 1. Discuss one or more of the play's comic scenes involving Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban. How do these scenes parallel and parody the main action of the play? Pay particular attention to Trinculo's speech about Caliban in Act II, scene ii, lines 18-38. This is one of the longest speeches in the play.

  6. The Tempest Themes

    The main themes in The Tempest include illusion versus reality, human nature, and forgiveness and reconciliation. Illusion versus reality: In The Tempest, Prospero's use of magic and the...

  7. The Tempest Study Guide

    The Tempest: Theme Wheel. An interactive data visualization of The Tempest's plot and themes. Brief Biography of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's father was a glove-maker, and Shakespeare received no more than a grammar school education. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582, but left his family behind around 1590 and moved to London, where he ...

  8. The Tempest Critical Essays

    1. The song promises a world based on love. 2. The song promises a world of pastoral abundance and fruition. 3. Together, Ferdinand and Miranda will kiss "the wild waves whist" or still the ...

  9. The Tempest Themes: Power, Magic, Colonization, & More

    5 min Updated: September 14th, 2022 Print The Tempest Themes (1 votes) Shakespeare tends to focus on very specific issues in each of his masterpieces. In The Tempest, the themes of power and magic are the dominant ones. However, a little bit of attention is also drawn to the topic of colonization.

  10. Power Theme in The Tempest

    From the opening scene of The Tempest during the storm, when the ruling courtiers on the ship must take orders from their subjects, the sailors and the boatswain, The Tempest examines a variety of questions about power: Who has it and when? Who's entitled to it? What does the responsible exercise of power look like? How should power be transferred?

  11. Analysis of William Shakespeare's The Tempest

    By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 26, 2020 • ( 1 ) Many commentators agree in the belief that The Tempest is the last creation of Shakespeare. I will readily believe it. There is in The Tempest the solemn tone of a testament. It might be said that, before his death, the poet, in this epopee of the ideal, had designed a codicil for the Future. . . .

  12. Themes in "The Tempest" Play by W. Shakespeare Essay

    The primary themes of The Tempest discussed in this paper are power dynamics, colonialism, and the concept of illusion and reality. We will write a custom essay on your topic 807 writers online Learn More Power Dynamics Power relationships are inherently at the core of The Tempest's plot and thematic elements.

  13. The Tempest: A+ Student Essay

    He is a brute—idiotic, foul-tempered, and abhorrent. Yet Shakespeare implicitly asks if Caliban is as different from his human neighbors as he seems. The character Antonio is not only human but also a powerful duke—and yet he shares many of Caliban's nastiest tendencies.

  14. The Tempest Essays

    Love and Magic Intertwined Cheryl Nieman. In William Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, the playwright intertwines love and magic, creating one of play's the major themes. Prospero, the protagonist, uses magic to plan the events of this comedy. The first act of magic is the tempest...

  15. The Tempest Essay Topics: Writing Guide And Key Tips

    Step 1: Put a Question List of The Tempest Essay Topics with Clarifications Prospero, Caliban, Antonio - who would be the best lord of the island? Almost every character in the play at different times shows a desire to become the island's lord. Choose a few of them and compare their motives. How does each of them imagine their rule?

  16. The Tempest Essay Topics & Examples

    King Alonso: character traits Non-human beings in The Tempest The symbolism of Prospero's books 💡 The Tempest Essay Prompts The analysis of Shakespeare's messages hidden behind the central themes. The first thing you need to find out is what the theme of The Tempest is.

  17. The Theme of Power in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

    Power manifests itself in "The Tempest" in many different ways, including the exploration of the power of love, the universal desire for power amongst men, the power of a master over his slave, and the power of magic and illusion.

  18. Essays on The Tempest

    Essays on The Tempest Essay examples Essay topics General Overview 41 essay samples found 1 Shakespearean Principles in The Tempest: Information, Integrity, and Compassion 4 pages / 1979 words Do the ends justify the means? People have been asking this question since the beginning of time, but often cannot find an answer.

  19. Essay on Themes in the Tempest

    Themes in the Tempest The Tempest is generally considered to be Shakespeare's last sole-authored play. The play draws a number of oppositions, some of which it dramatises, and some of which it only implies.

  20. The Tempest: Full Book Analysis

    These themes of separation and reunion will define the action of the play, as characters are torn apart from each other before being happily reunited at the end.

  21. The Tempest: Interpretations

    The Tempest: Julie Taymor (2010) Julie Taymor, accredited stage director, adapts The Tempest by changing the gender of the protagonist, Prospero, to a female called Prospera, played by Helen Mirren. This adaptation highlights the significance of the remote island setting and Prospera's astrological, ancient powers.

  22. 100 The Tempest Essay Topics & Research Titles at StudyCorgi

    The Tempest: Prospero's Character Analysis. "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare. Utopia in "The Tempest" by Shakespeare. Ferdinand and Miranda in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in Terms of Postcolonial Theory. Shakespeare's The Tempest and Image Exploration. The Tempest Play at Savage Rose Classical Theater. We will write a ...

  23. Common Themes And Characters in Shakespeare's Comedy Of ...

    Analogs in The Tempest. Many of Shakespeare's works share common themes and characters. The similarities between his many plays allow readers to draw parallels which can provide deeper understanding to the individual plays as well as Shakespeare's works as a whole.