The Tempest
1492
Columbus “discovers” the
New World
1607
1611
Shakespeare writes
The Tempest, seen by
many as a New World
text.
First permanent English
settlement: Jamestown
Plymouth is established…
The Mayflower and Bradford
1620
1630
1649
1660
Puritan reign ends.
Charles II takes over
and ends Conservatism.
James I is beheaded for
treason. Cromwell and the
Puritans in power.
Massachusetts Bay Colony
is settled. John Winthrop
and a fleet of 30 ships come
to the New World to
establish a “City of God”.
1692
Salem Witch Trials are held.
 A Tempest is another name for a storm.
 Shakespeare probably heard an account of a
shipwreck off the coast of what is now
Bermuda before writing the play.
 Most view Shakespeare’s The Tempest as a
‘New World’ Text, bringing into questions
colonization, the construct of race, and the
idea of ‘Eden’ or ‘utopia’
Literary/Drama Terms
 Monologue: a speech delivered by one
speaker/character
 Soliloquy: a speech delivered by a character
alone on stage
 Aside: comment that is not intended for all
characters on stage
 Pun: A play on words
 Comic Relief: humorous moments that
lighten the mood
Literary Terms/Continued
 Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows
something that the character does not
 Theme: the underlying message in a literary
work
 Motif: recurring images within a text
Dramatis Personae
 Prospero: Former Duke of Milan – now a magician
on the Island
 Miranda: Prospero’s beautiful but naïve daughter
(she has never seen another human man besides
her father)
 Caliban: a Native Inhabitant of the Island and son
of a witch named Sycorax. (Caliban was originally
favored by Prospero; but is now Prospero’s slave)
 Ariel: a spirit, Prospero’s servant
Dramatis Personae
 Ferdinand: young Prince of Naples, Alonso’s son
 Alonso: Kind of Naples
 Antonio: Duke of Milan, Prospero’s brother
 Sebastian: Alonso’s brother
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Gonzalo: councilor to Alonso – Friend of Prospero
Adrian & Franciso: courtiers in attendance on Alonso
Trinculo: servant to Alonso
Stephano: Alonso’s butler
Themes:
 Appearance versus Reality
 Things are not always what they seem
 Truths can be misperceived and
misinterpreted
 This theme also underscores issues of racial
construction: What makes a ‘human’
human? (as opposed to beast, savage, etc)
Themes, continued
 Right to Rule ~ Colonization
 Stories of Coup de tats (revolts)
 Is there really such a thing as the Right to
rule over others?
 Does power corrupt absolutely?
Motifs:
Magic
Journeys
Games & Mazes (chess –
characters as ‘pawns’)