The Tempest: Act 3
Scene 1:
Prince Ferdinand and Miranda fall even more in love. They marry. Prospero watches.
Lines 1- 36: Ferdinand is carrying firewood. Miranda tries to help, but he won’t let her. They both
want to spare each other the shame of manual labor.
Think: Is this something someone of Ferdinand’s class would do?
Line 37: Check the note in the back about calling Ferdinand a worm.
Lines 47-68: He’s known a lot of women, but she’s better than all of them. She’s self-conscious about
being ignorant of the world, but she’s certain that she wants him.
Lines 69-77: He explains to her that he’s a prince, possibly a king, and shouldn’t be carrying
firewood. However, he’s happy to do it for her.
Lines 78-90: They confess their love. Prospero is happy.
Lines 91-108: Check the note in the back about marriage.
Do: Do homework question 1.
Scene 2:
Caliban complains to Stephano that Trinculo is making fun of him. They refine their plan to take over the
island.
Lines 1-36: Stephano tries to get Caliban even drunker. Trinculo makes fun of Caliban and of
Stephano for playing along.
Lines 37-40: Think: Are they acting according to their class?
Lines 41-85: Ariel interrupts when Caliban lies; however, Stephano and Caliban think Trinculo is the
one calling Caliban a liar.
Lines 87-115: Do: Do the first part of question 2.
Notice: In Shakespeare, verse (poetic form with line breaks/meter) is usually used by nobles
and prose (normal, unmetered writing that goes all the way to the margin) is usually used by
commoners. Look at the right margin in this scene. What does it look like when Stephano and
Trinculo are talking? What about Caliban’s lines so far?
Lines 118-154: Ariel partially reveals himself. They decide to follow the music.
Think: Experts think that Caliban’s speech at lines 137-145 is unexpected, and therefore,
very interesting. Why is it unexpected? What might that say about Caliban’s character?
Do: Answer the second part of question 2.
Scene 3:
King Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian are punished.
Lines 1-11: They are searching for Ferdinand but the king is giving up hope.
Lines 12-22: Sebastian and Antonio won’t give up on assassinating the king.
Lines 23-25: Prospero and Ariel are making an illusion of a great feast using the spirits of island.
Think: Try to picture the most amazing feast you can. Imagine what this must look like to the
King and his party.
Do: Answer the first part of question 3.
Lines 26-54: They recall tall tales told by travelers. They try to decide whether or not to believe what
they’re seeing and whether or not it’s safe to eat.
Lines 55-61: Check the note in the back for an explanation of putter-out. Gonzalo is reassuring the
King that he can trust strange things even though he has never seen them. He points out the travel
insurers have proof of strange things.
Lines 62-66: As soon as they decide to eat the food, it vanishes. Check the note in the back about
harpies.
Lines 66-98: Ariel scares them by telling them their crimes. He says fate is punishing them by
shipwrecking them and taking away the king’s son.
Do: Finish question 3.
Lines 110-111: Gonzalo couldn’t see Ariel’s performance.
Lines 112-122: Alonso is sure Ferdinand is drowned, runs off, and says he will join him at the bottom
of the sea. Sebastian and Antonio rush off wanting to fight the spirits.
Lines 123- 129: Gonzalo and the rest go after them to keep them from doing something stupid.