2.64k reviews for:

The Tempest

William Shakespeare

3.64 AVERAGE

lilith89ibz's review against another edition

4.0

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This one is not my favourite play, even though it is, of course, supremely quotable.

Above all, I take issue with Caliban as a character. I don't know what Shakespeare was going for, but what I get from it is that there are people who are inclined to serve whichever master comes along because even though they want to hold power they don't have the wherewithal to do it, and I find his physical description in combination with the description of his character as a "savage" and an attempted rapist to be indicative of some ugly colonialist beliefs. This is one of those times in which I honestly can't tell if he meant it that way, if it was a criticism of the ways holding power works in general or of something else entirely. I'll leave it to the scholars.

fiolud's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

josieplyep's review against another edition

4.5

challenging informative fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

justreadingabook's review against another edition

3.0

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A good play to read and see.

alyxbell's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jess_reads1000's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bandrs's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

coolharryreader's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

wanderolah's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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2019: 4.0 (Paperback - Folger)
2025: 4.5 (Audio - BBC Radio Edition)
= 4.25 Overall

mariabojan's review against another edition

3.0

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I felt bad for Caliban tbh.