Summary: The Tempest

We start with a storm at sea and a shipwreck. The survivors land ashore on a remote island where a man lives with his daughter, a magical spirit and a half-wild boy. The man, Prospero, was exiled to the island 12 years before when his daughter Miranda was only a baby. He used to be the Duke of Milan, until his brother Antonio stole it from him with the help of Alonso, the King of Naples, Prospero's enemy.Caliban, the half-wild boy, was born on the island but his mother, Sycorax the witch, died before Prospero and Miranda arrived. He claims to be badly treated by Prospero, but Prospero claims that he is a savage, so must be restrained. Both Miranda and Caliban have grown up only knowing Prospero, each other, and the island.Prospero can work magic, and has commanded Ariel, the magical spirit who is his servant, to cause the sea storm and the ship wreck because he knows that Alonso and Antonio, his enemy and his brother who betrayed him, are on board. He wants to trap them on his island to take revenge so commands Ariel to make sure everyone lands on the island alive.

Sebastian, the King's brother, takes advantage of the confusion of the ship-wreck to try and murder his brother so that he can become King. Ariel also prevents this.Two of the king's servants, Stephano and Trinculo, are also shipwrecked on another part of the island. They meet Caliban who promises that they can rule the island if they will help him get rid of Prospero. Ariel overhears their plans and, after it all goes comically wrong, they are punished.Ferdinand, the king's son, lands alone and meets Miranda. They fall in love, which Prospero says is all part of his plan. After subjecting the King and the other lords to fearful visions, Prospero eventually allows the king to be reunited with his son, after convincing him Ferdinand was dead. He confronts Antonio and the King Alonso about their plot against him all those years ago and Alonso begs for forgiveness. Everyone except Caliban leaves the island to return home. Prospero breaks his magic staff and sets Ariel free.