Prospero, the Duke of Milan, was a learned man who spent his time studying magic deeply. His brother, Antonio, ran his dukedom but was very jealous of him. Wishing to usurp his brother’s place, Antonio plotted with Prospero’s enemy, the King of Naples, Alonso, to take everything that belonged to his brother.
They didn’t kill Prospero. Instead, they set him adrift with his infant daughter named Miranda in a small boat that had no sail or oars. Prospero and his child would certainly have died, if an old courtier named Gonzalo hadn’t discovered the plot and quietly placed water, food and clothes for them in the boat. He even put some of Prospero’s treasured books into the boat.
The boat drifted to the shore of an enchanted island that had been under the spell of a wicked witch named Sycorax. The witch had died earlier, but she had imprisoned all the good spirits in the trunks of trees! Only her son, an ugly monster-like creature named Caliban lived on the island. Prospero made Caliban his servant. He set the spirits, including their leader, Ariel, free on condition that they would obey him!
After many years, Antonio set off to sea with Alonso, his son Ferdinand and his brother Sebastian. Prospero, learning of their voyage, created a magical tempest at sea. In the storm they were separated and everyone thought that Ferdinand had been drowned! Prospero forced their ship safely into a harbour on the island.
Ariel did his master’s bidding and the people were washed up on different parts of the island. Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, was saddened to see the ship struck by the storm. But Prospero assured her that he would save everyone. He told her all about his life in Milan and the wickedness of Antonio and Alonso. Then, he made her fall asleep!
Prospero called Ariel, who grumbled about not being free. Reminding him of Sycorax and the tree-prison, Prospero said, “Serve me faithfully, Ariel, and you shall all be free after two days!” Promising to obey him, Ariel flew off to wake up Ferdinand lying on the beach. Ariel drew him along with his fairy music, telling him that his father had been drowned too.
Ferdinand followed him sadly, enchanted by the music, and reached the clearing outside Prospero’s cell. Miranda had never seen anyone except her father, the fairies and Caliban. Seeing Ferdinand, she fell in love with him and exclaimed, “I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw was so noble!”
Ferdinand, equally enchanted by Miranda’s beauty, wonderingly said, “She must be, most sure the goddess on whom these airs attend!” He spoke to Miranda. Soon he asked her to marry him. Prospero watched this and felt happy that his plan was working perfectly. But he pretended to be very angry with Ferdinand!
Prospero emerged and threatened to imprison Ferdinand, who drew his sword to defend himself. But Prospero’s magic froze him into a statue. Miranda pleaded for mercy, but Prospero made Ferdinand a prisoner in his cell. He gave him logs to chop and set him to work. Miranda would have helped him, but Ferdinand wouldn’t let her. Their love, however, grew stronger and Miranda promised to marry him too! Finally, Prospero gave his consent to their marriage and set Ferdinand free.
Meanwhile, Ariel was carrying out Prospero’s orders in another part of the island. He heard Antonio and Sebastian plotting to kill Alonso, as Ferdinand was dead now in their eyes. Then, Sebastian would be the King of Naples. But Ariel woke Alonso up and saved him! Ariel began to play tricks on them, luring them with his magic and his songs, to where Prospero was.
Ariel laid out a lavish banquet for them. But when they wished to eat, he turned into a devilish shape and frightened them off as thunder and lightning erupted around them. The banquet disappeared and they heard Ariel accusing them of all the wicked things they had done to Prospero and his infant daughter!
Prospero’s magic was powerful and with Ariel drawing them on, the frightened group reached the clearing near Prospero’s cell, ashamed of their evil actions. Prospero had decided to use his magic in a final grand show before throwing away his books and breaking his wand.
He transformed his appearance. He now looked as he did when he was the Duke of Milan and appeared before the frightened people! Antonio and the others heard magical music in the air. They thought Prospero was a ghost who had returned to punish them!
Prospero told them how he and his daughter had survived their plans to kill them. Soon, Prospero forgave them. Alonso wept for his son who had got drowned at sea. Prospero, feeling that the man had suffered enough, drew a curtain to show Alonso his son, safe and alive in Prospero’s cell!
Ferdinand was happily playing chess with Miranda in the cell. Alonso was delighted and even more so when he heard that the beautiful maiden was Prospero’s daughter whom Ferdinand had decided to marry. He blessed the young couple and Prospero told them their ship was safe in harbour!
The tempest was over. Prospero sailed home with Miranda, Ferdinand, and the others to Naples where Miranda and Ferdinand would be married. Prospero would return to his dukedom. Ariel, now free, made the sea calm and sang happily: “Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough!”
