The Tempest, William Shakespeare

When the Duke of Milan, Prospero, prefers magic to governing his country, he and his two-year-old daughter, Miranda, are abandoned at sea to die. Instead, they find refuge on a mysterious, magical island. Years later, when Miranda is a young woman, a shipwreck brings to the island the only other human she has ever seen, the handsome young Ferdinand. Eventually the two are engaged to be married and the Duke is restored to his rightful position in Milan in this tale of magic, revenge, romance, and morality.

Related Readings

"Two Control Freaks Take on Shakespeare"—interview by Patrick Pacheco

"The Tempest on the Stage"—theatre history by Sylvan Barnet

from Caliban's Hour—excerpt from the novel by Tad Williams

from A Discovery of the Bermudas, Otherwise Called the Isle of Devils—personal narrative by Silvester Jourdain

from Is Shakespeare Dead?—humor by Mark Twain

"Those Huddled Masses"—magazine article by Tim Clark

Study Guide (PDF)