A Survey Of *The Tempest* (Part 3) Essay, Research Paper

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Act IV, Scene i

Outside his cell, Prospero tells Ferdinand that if his punishment has seemed

too severe, his compensation will now make amends. Ferdinand will be rewarded

with a gift which represents not only a third of Prospero’s life, but indeed

that which gives him reason to live: his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Prospero explains that the trials were but a test to prove Ferdinand’s love; a

test the youth passed superbly.

Prospero then gives Miranda to Ferdinand, but warns that her virginity must not

be violated before such time as they are able to observe the proper ceremonies

and holy rites of matrimony. If they should act otherwise, he wishes only

hate, disdain and discord for the union. Ferdinand promises nothing will cause

him to act dishonorably and detract from their wedding day. Prospero is

pleased with this response and asks the couple to sit a while and talk.

Meanwhile, Prospero summons Ariel. Praising him for the last service he and

his lesser spirits performed (that of the vanishing banquet), Prospero now

commands Ariel to go and bring the other spirits back quickly, for he has

promised the couple a demonstration of his art, and they expect it from him.

Ariel is eager to serve. Prospero asks the spirit not to return until called.

Ariel agrees, and leaves to do his bidding.

Prospero directs his attention back to Ferdinand and Miranda. Again he

cautions Ferdinand about the heat of passion, and Ferdinand vows restraint.

Thus assured, Prospero calls upon Ariel, asks the lovers to be silent and

observe, and signals for a masque he has devised for the couple to begin.

Soft music plays while Ariel and the other spirits begin their presentation.

Iris, messenger of the gods and spirit of the rainbow, is the first character

in the masque to enter. She summons Ceres the goddess of fertility and the

harvest. Ceres (enacted by Ariel) enters, while Juno, the wife of Jupiter and

goddess of marriage, descends from above. Ceres asks Iris why she has been

summoned to this “short-grassed green.” Iris tells her they are here to bestow

blessings on the contracted marriage of the two lovers. Ceres asks if Venus

and her blind son, Cupid, are also to be present at this celebration. Ceres is

still enraged over the trouble Cupid caused when he made her daughter,

Proserpine, fall in love with the god of the underworld, Dis (an act which

resulted in the separation of Ceres from her daughter six months out of every

year — a time Ceres mourns and the earth is barren). Iris tells Ceres not to

worry: Venus was last seen headed home to Paphos in her dove-drawn chariot

with Cupid by her side. Although the goddess of love and her son have somewhat

influenced this couple with lustful thoughts, they will have no further effect;

the two will remain chaste until the marriage is performed. Cupid “has broke

his arrows, swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, and be a boy

right out.”

Juno now alights, greets her bounteous sister, Ceres, and asks her to join in

blessing the couple that their marriage may be prosperous and honored in its

children. First Juno sings her blessing for a prosperous marriage, then Ceres

sings for ever-fruitful harvests and freedom from want or scarcity.

Ferdinand remarks that “this is a most majestic vision.” He asks if he may

assume the actors are spirits. Prospero admits they are, that he has called

them forth to present this entertainment. Ferdinand wishes to remain on the

island forever; so wondrous a father makes the place Paradise!

Juno and Ceres whisper and send Iris on employment. Prospero warns Ferdinand

and Miranda to be silent; otherwise, the spell will be broken. Iris returns

and calls forth nymphs to help celebrate the contract of true love. She then

calls forth reapers, “sun-burnt from the furrow,” asks them to be merry and

make holiday, to put on their rye-straw hats and join with the nymphs in a

country dance of celebration. The nymphs and reapers, enacted by spirits,

perform for the enjoyment of Ferdinand and Miranda.

Near the end of the dance, Prospero suddenly starts up. Realizing he has

nearly forgotten the plot against his life instigated by Caliban, he calls for

the spirits to quit their dance, and, in a strange and confused noise, they

vanish. Ferdinand is confounded by Prospero’s indignation. Miranda remarks

that she has never before seen him in such anger. Prospero, noticing

Ferdinand’s distress, pleads with his future son-in-law to be cheerful. Then,

in one of the most famous of all Shakespearean speeches, Prospero muses how –

like the entertainment they have just witnessed — life, man’s accomplishments

and the world as a whole are mere illusions destined to dissolve, leaving

nothing behind:

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-capped 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.

Prospero then breaks off his reverie and pleads with Ferdinand and Miranda not

to be disturbed by his infirmity. He asks them to enter his cell and rest

while he walks to quiet his troubled mind. The lovers obey, leaving Prospero

alone to contemplate how he will punish Caliban and his two companions for

their villainous plot.

With only a thought, Prospero summons Ariel and tells him it is now time to

deal with Caliban. Ariel says he meant to remind Prospero of the plot

against his life while portraying Ceres in the masque, but was afraid it might

excite his anger. Prospero asks to be told again where the scoundrels were

last located. Ariel recounts how they were roaring drunk (although not to the

point of forgetting their murder plot) when he played his tabor and they

followed him like calves; how he guided them through thorny bushes, scratching

their shins; and how he finally led them, up to their chins, into the

foul-smelling waters of the scum-covered pond near Prospero’s cell.

Pleased by Ariel’s actions, Prospero asks his faithful servant to fetch some

flashy clothing from his cell for use as a decoy in trapping these would-be

assassins. Ariel goes to retrieve the garments while Prospero contemplates his

own folly in trying to civilize a devil whose nature is such that it cannot be

nurtured. He resolves to inflict severe pain on the murderous conspirators.

Ariel enters with the clothing, and Prospero instructs him to hang it on a

nearby lime tree. With the trap thus baited, Prospero and Ariel wait,

invisible, for the arrival of Caliban and his cohorts.

The three enter, soaked to the skin. Caliban cautions his two companions to

tread softly because they are nearing Prospero’s cell. Stephano concludes the

“fairy” which Caliban said was harmless has made fools of them all. Trinculo

can smell nothing but “horse-piss” and his nose is greatly offended. Stephano

has the same reaction and warns Caliban to be wary, for he is close to falling

out of favor with his king — a situation which, Trinculo adds, will render him

truly lost.

Caliban begs Stephano to be patient; the prize they seek will make them forget

the indignation they have suffered in obtaining it. He cautions them to speak

and tread softly. Trinculo, for once, agrees with Caliban about forgetting

their experience, with one exception: the loss of their wine bottles in the

pond! Stephano feels it is not only disgraceful but also a waste of good wine.

Trinculo thinks it was worse than the drenching, and he too sarcastically

mentions how Caliban had assured them the source of the music was harmless.

Stephano vows to recover his bottle even if he has to go back into the pond

over his ears. Caliban insists again on quite, for they have reached their

destination. It is time to enter the cell and kill Prospero, thereby assuring

Stephano of his kingdom and Caliban of his new master. Stephano begins to

savor the thought of committing murder.

Suddenly, Trinculo spots the clothing hanging from the lime tree and excitedly

brings Stephano’s attention to the fine wardrobe available for the taking!

Caliban calls Trinculo a fool, telling him the clothes are mere trash and to

leave them be. Trinculo insists he knows cheap clothing when he sees it and

this is not cheap. He takes down one of the garments, and Stephano, who has

his eye on it, orders him to let it go. Trinculo yields to Stephano. Caliban

demands that they leave the clothes alone and get to the business at hand, for

if Prospero awakens he will send spirits to pinch them from head to foot or,

worse yet, turn them into geese or apes. Stephano tells Caliban to keep quiet

and help carry the clothes back to the cove where the wine cask is located;

otherwise, he risks banishment from Stephano’s kingdom.

In the distance a noise of hunters is heard. Prospero has summoned spirits in

the form of hounds to hunt the three down. Ariel and Prospero, still unseen,

call out the dog’s names, urging them on: “Mountain!, Silver!, Fury!, Tyrant!”

Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo, clothes in hand, run for their lives, pursued

by the hounds. Prospero commands Ariel to send other spirits to afflict them

with convulsions and cramps and to pinch them until they are as spotted as

leopards.

With all his enemies now at his mercy, Prospero promises Ariel his labors will

soon be rewarded with freedom. For a short while, however, he must continue to

follow and serve. Prospero and Ariel exit.

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Act V, Scene i

Accompanied by Ariel, Prospero emerges from his cell, attired in his magical

robes. Pleased that his project is nearing completion, he asks how the time is

progressing. Ariel responds that it is precisely six o’clock–the time

Prospero had promised their work would be completed. Prospero admits he had

said so when he first raised the storm, and he inquires as to how Alonzo and

his followers are doing. Ariel reminds Prospero that they all remain just as

he had ordered: imprisoned within a grove of trees which protects Prospero’s

cell from the weather. Alonzo, Sebastian and Antonio are “distracted” and

unable to move, while the others watch over them full of sorrow and dismay,

especially Gonzalo whose tears run down his beard like drops of rain on the

eaves of thatched roofs.

The charm works on them so strongly, Ariel says, that if Prospero could see

them, his feelings toward his enemies would become tender, for Ariel’s would

were he human. “And mine shall,” replies Prospero. If a spirit of nothing

more than air can feel sympathy for these humans, should not he, one of their

own kind, be moved to a greater kindness? Although still “struck to th’ quick”

with the wrongs done to him by these men, higher reason demands that Prospero

forgive them. He orders Ariel to release the royal party and bring them back

to stand before Prospero; then will he break the charm and return the men to

their senses. Ariel leaves to do as instructed.

Alone, Prospero recalls the powers he has commanded through the “elves of

hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves.” How, with their aid, he has dimmed

the sun, summoned the winds, created storms, shaken the earth and even called

forth spirits from the grave. But now the time has come to renounce his art,

and as his final act of enchantment, Prospero calls forth music to charm his

enemies, vowing:

I’ll break my staff,

Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,

And deeper than did ever plummet sound

I’ll drown my book.

As the music plays, Prospero uses his staff to draw a large circle on the

ground. Ariel returns, leading Alonzo and the others of the royal party. They

all enter the circle and stand charmed. Prospero addresses them severally as

they remain “spell-stopped” with their brains “now useless” and unable to hear

his remarks. First, he praises Gonzalo who saved him from Antonio’s evil plan

and whom he knows to be a true and faithful subject. He then rebukes Alonzo

and Sebastian, in addition to his own brother, for the part they played in his

overthrow and attempted murder. He forgives them all; then, realizing the

spell is beginning to fade and that he will not be recognized in his current

garments, Prospero sends Ariel to fetch his hat and rapier from the cell.

Removing his cloak, Propero orders Ariel to help as he quickly attires himself

as the Duke of Milan. Assisting Prospero with his apparel, Ariel sings of his

forthcoming freedom:

Where the bee sucks, there suck I;

In a cowslip’s bell I lie;

There I couch when owls do cry.

On the bat’s back I do fly

After summer merrily.

Merrily, merrily shall I live now

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.

Prospero admits he shall miss Ariel, nevertheless his promise of freedom will

soon be honored. Once attired as Duke, Prospero orders Ariel to return to the

ship and, remaining invisible, bring the shipmaster and boatswain back to join

the others in front of his cell. Ariel obeys, promising to complete his task

“ere your pulse twice beat.”

As the spell fades, the members of the King’s party are gradually released from

their trance. Prospero identifies himself as the rightful Duke of Milan and,

for assurance that he is no illusion, embraces Alonzo and bids them all

welcome.

The King questions whether he can truly believe his eyes, since he has had so

many fantastic experiences of late. The person standing before him could be

Prospero or simply an enchantment meant to trick him. However, Alonzo admits,

the madness which earlier held his mind has now abated, and, if not deceived,

there must be an amazing story to explain these events. Relinquishing his

political control over Prospero’s dukedom, Alonzo begs for pardon from all his

past wrongs, then asks Prospero to explain how it happened that he survived

Antonio’s plot and came to live on the island.

First, Prospero wishes to embrace his old friend, Gonzalo, who is also unable

to fully believe what he sees. They are still somewhat under the influence of

the island, Prospero says, which will not let them believe things that are

certain. Again he welcomes them all as friends, but in an aside tells

Sebastian and Antonio, were he so minded, he could expose them for the traitors

they are. For the time being, however, he “will tell no tales.” He forgives

his brother’s transgressions (though to call him “brother” still would infect

his mouth) and demands that his dukedom be restored.

Alonzo asks Prospero–if he truly is Prospero–to relate the particulars of his

survival and how they have all managed to meet on this island where they have

been for the last three hours and where, Alonzo painfully recalls, he has lost

his son. Prospero tells Alonzo he is sympathetic to his loss, for he too has

lost a child: a daughter. Prospero, of course, means he has lost his daughter

to Ferdinand, but he is purposefully misleading, and Alonzo, taking him at his

word, is struck with grief. Alonzo longs for their two children to be alive

once more, ruling as King and Queen in Naples. If, by his death, Alonzo could

bring this about, he would gladly exchange places with his son, who (as he

believes) now lies in that muddy bed at the bottom of the sea. Alonzo inquires

of Prospero when he lost his daughter. Prospero replies it was during this

last tempest.

Seeing his fellow countrymen are still skeptical of his claim, Prospero

explains that he was landed on these shores to be master of the isle; however,

he will tell them no more now, for it is a long story, and one not suitable for

a first meeting. He points to his cell which serves as his court, where he has

a few attendants, and none abroad. He asks Alonzo to look in. Prospero will

give Alonzo something in return for his restored dukedom — something worth at

least as much — a wonder which will content Alonzo the way Prospero has been

contented. Prospero pulls back the curtain at the cell’s entrance and there

reveals Ferdinand and Miranda, playing a game of chess.

Miranda mischievously accuses Ferdinand of cheating. Ferdinand assures her

that he wouldn’t, not even for the world. Miranda thinks he would — and for

only a score of kingdoms–but, no matter, she would still call it fair play.

Alonzo is cautious: if this should prove an illusion, he will suffer the pain

of losing his son twice. Ferdinand becomes aware of those gathered outside the

cell and, noticing that his father is among them, exclaims that he has cursed

the seas without cause! He kneels to the King and is embraced by him. Alonzo

asks Ferdinand to rise and tell how he came here. Astounded by the sight of so

many people, Miranda speaks before Ferdinand can answer, remarking:

O, wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world

That has such people in ‘t!

Prospero responds simply, “‘T is new to thee.”

Alonzo asks Ferdinand about this maiden with whom he was playing chess. He

realizes they cannot have known each other more than three hours and, like

Ferdinand during his first encounter with Miranda, asks if she is a goddess.

Ferdinand assures his father she is mortal, but by immortal Providence she is

his. He chose her, he says, when he could not ask permission from his father,

nor thought he had one. He introduces her as the daughter of Prospero, of whom

he had often heard, and from whom he has now received a second life and, by

marriage, a second father.

Alonzo accepts Miranda as his daughter, but regrets having to ask his son for

forgiveness. Prospero begs Alonzo to forget what’s past; he should no longer

burden himself with thoughts of those wrongs which have been forgiven.

Gonzalo, moved inwardly to tears, asks the gods, since they have ultimately

charted the union of this couple, to look favorably on them. He concludes with

the benediction:

Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue

Should become Kings of Naples? O, rejoice

Beyond a common joy, and set it down

With gold on lasting pillars: in one voyage

Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis;

And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife

Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom

In a poor isle; and all of us ourselves

When no man was his own.

Alonzo then bestows his blessing on the couple.

Ariel enters with the shipmaster and boatswain following. Gonzalo sees the two

mariners approaching and calls out, “Here is more of us!” Recognizing the

boatswain, Gonzalo reminds the others how he had prophesied that this man could

not drown, but was destined to hang. The boatswain is unusually silent, not

the blasphemous blowhard he had been at sea. Gonzalo asks if he has no mouth

on land, has he no news? The boatswain says the best news is that they have

found their King and his company safe; next that their ship is tight and yare,

suitably rigged and as ready for sailing now as when they first put out to sea.

Alonzo recognizes that these are not natural events; they grow stranger and

stranger. He asks the mariners how they happened to find their way here. The

boatswain relates how they were all dead asleep, below deck, with the hatches

locked — though how that came to be, he cannot say — when, suddenly, they

were awakened by several strange noises: roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling

chains and other sounds, all horrible. They found themselves freed and, as in

a dream, separated from the other sailors and brought here. Ariel asks

Prospero, “Was ‘t well done?” He responds, “Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt

be free.”

Disturbed by the boatswain’s story, Alonzo fears that some unnatural force is

at work. Prospero tells Alonzo not to be concerned; soon all will be

explained. Until then, he should be cheerful and think well of all that

occurs. Prospero secretly orders Ariel to release Caliban and his companions

from the spell which now holds them. Ariel rushes off. Turning his attention

back to Alonzo, Prospero reminds the King that he has forgotten some members of

his company.

Ariel returns, driving Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo before him. Still

dressed in their stolen apparel, Stephano and Trinculo rejoice at the sight of

the other castaways. After their ordeal, Caliban too is pleased to see his

master; although he fears he will be chastised. Sebastian laughs at the three

and asks if they might be bought. It is very likely, Antonio says, since “one

of them is a plain fish, and no doubt marketable.”

Prospero explains Caliban’s origins to the others. He accuses the three of

robbing him and plotting to take his life. Two of them, he knows, must belong

to Alonzo; but as for Caliban, he confesses, “this thing of darkness I

acknowledge mine.” Caliban worries that he “shall be pinched to death.”

Alonzo recognizes Stephano and Trinculo, but wonders where they were able to

find the liquor necessary to become so inebriated. Trinculo admits he is

pickled to the point of having no worry about attracting flies. Stephano

pleads not to be touched, for he is but one large cramp. Asked by Prospero if

he had not aspired to be king of the isle, the drunken butler replies, “I

should have been a sore one, then.”

Pointing to Caliban, Alonzo remarks that this is as strange a creature as he

has ever seen. Prospero adds that his manners are as ugly as his appearance.

He then commands the three, if they would have his pardon, to enter his cell

and put it in order. Caliban, now repentant, vows:

Ay, that I will; and 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!

Prospero orders Caliban to get started. Alonzo demands that Stephano and

Trinculo do likewise, and to return the clothing where they found it — “or

stole it, rather,” Sebastian says.

For tonight, Prospero will entertain his guests with the story of his life, at

least that part since his departure from Milan. In the morning, they will set

sail for Naples and the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda. From there,

Prospero says, he will retire to Milan, “where every third thought shall be my

grave.” For their voyage home, he will ensure calm seas and auspicious gales;

such favorable conditions, in fact, that they will catch up with the remainder

of the royal fleet before reaching Italy. In an aside, Prospero tells Ariel

that is his final charge, then he is free to return to the elements, and he

bids his faithful servant a reluctant, fond farewell. The seamen return to the

ship to make ready for their departure; the others retire to Prospero’s cell.

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Epilogue

Prospero turns to the audience and asks them to draw near. Since he no longer

commands spirits to enforce nor has the means to enchant, he begs for applause

and “gentle breath” to fill his sails and release him from the island. Using a

variation of the “golden rule,” he implores:

As you from crimes would pardoned be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

Prospero then enters his cell to acquaint his guests with tales of the

enchanted island. Those conflicts which set the day’s events into motion have

been resolved:the rightful Duke of Milan is restored; old enemies are

reconciled; Ariel is free to return to the elements; and Caliban is, once

again, master of his island.

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Donald L. Stoneman

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