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2.65k reviews for:

The Tempest

William Shakespeare

3.64 AVERAGE

funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I started with The Tempest which I had not read before as I only have read Romeo and Juliet, I loved how it compassed fantasy, tragedy and comedy and how it uses magic to take back the power and life you once lead and also to make you family happy and it way of using power to alter a person’s life years before only to end up were you lead them to end up but now since living of this magical island they now have powers to use against you ends up making it into be a very amusing play.

“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.”

I knew I loved this play before I even read it, as some major quotes and themes have influenced some of my favourite stories. I also wanted to read this before Madeline Miller published her retelling of this story. Set on a remote island, the story follows Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, who uses his magical powers to create a tempest that shipwrecks his usurping brother, Antonio, and other nobles on the island. Prospero seeks justice and orchestrates a series of events to confront those who wronged him. The play explores themes of monstrosity, obedience, and the transformative nature of art, with Prospero’s magical abilities serving as a metaphor for the creative process. The first part of the play is set up like a classic revenge tragedy, like Hamlet, where the quest for vengeance, no matter how righteous leads to destruction. But Prospero takes the path that none of Shakespeare's avengers took before, that of forgiveness, and when he renounces the means of his vengeance, and the power his anger gives him (his magick) he avoids the fate of the avenger. This is a tale of growing spiritually and renouncing vengeance, no matter how justified, after a moral awakening. That really deepens the meaning of his arc, and gives several of the scenes meaning they might not otherwise achieve. Prospero knows the truth: that living well is the best revenge. I’ll admit, forgiveness is not a quality that I was born with. I have had trouble letting go of the people who have wronged me. But this play and this story has helped me move forward with my life and helped me learn how to leave behind the need for justice or balance or closure. In essence, Prospero's forgiveness in The Tempest is a powerful illustration of the transformative power of compassion and the importance of choosing virtue over revenge. It is a testament to the idea that true freedom comes from letting go of anger and embracing reconciliation. This is one of Shakespeare’s final plays, and I was happy to find that it was a story about forgiveness. I have a lot to learn from this one.

“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.”
adventurous emotional funny medium-paced
challenging funny reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Finally one story where people end up alive

imagine being like “ i’m bored. im gonna start tormenting the people who survived the shipwreck i caused 12 years ago, and oh! my daughter loves this man? let’s enslave him until i know i can approve”

adventurous funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Magic??????

*Reread
*Great quotations
*Could work for both middle and upper school students