Page 106 - English Expedition Class 6

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The Tempest 1

William Shakespeare

Have you read the tale of Robinson Crusoe? He was shipwrecked on a deserted island and survived
for many years by adapting to the harsh environment around him. If you were stranded on a remote
island, how would you cope with the lack of basic necessities and the isolation? Share your ideas with
the class.

‘The Tempest’, however, is a survival story of a very diff erent kind. A man, left to perish at sea with his
infant daughter, uses his knowledge of magic to not only survive but also bring his enemies to heel
many years later. Read on to see how his quest for revenge brings a surprisingly happy change in the
lives of the characters.

here was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which were an old man, whose
name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, a very beautiful young lady. She came to
Tthis island so young, that she had no memory of having seen any other human face than
her father’s. Th ey lived in a cave or cell, made out of a rock. It was divided into several apartments,
one of which Prospero called his study. Th ere he kept his books, which had taught him magic. Th is
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knowledge had helped him release the captive spirits of the island, who were ever aft er obedient
to the will of Prospero. Of these gentle sprits, Ariel, who was invisible to all eyes but Prospero’s,
was the chief.
By means of these powerful spirits, Prospero could command the winds and the waves of the
sea. By his orders they raised a violent storm, in the midst of which he showed Miranda a large
ship struggling with the wild sea-waves. He told her it was full of living beings like themselves,
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hearing which Miranda was greatly distressed. She implored her father to have pity on the poor
souls and not to let them perish, to which Prospero replied, ‘Th ere is no harm done, Miranda.
I have so ordered it, that no person in the ship shall receive any hurt. I have done all this to address
your questions of who you are and where you came from.’
‘Twelve years ago, Miranda,’ continued Prospero, ‘I was duke of Milan, and you were a princess, and
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my only heir. I had a younger brother, whose name was Antonio. I commonly left the management
of my state aff airs to your uncle while I buried myself in my books and dedicated my whole time
to the bettering of my mind. My brother Antonio, being thus in possession of my power, began to
think himself the duke indeed. Th e opportunity awakened in his bad nature a proud ambition to

1 3
tempest: a violent storm with severe winds implored: begged
2 4
captive: (here) imprisoned commonly: (here) often
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