A tempest-tossed ship is wrecked upon the shores of an enchanted isle whereon dwell Prospero and her lovely daughter, Miranda, alone save for Caliban, a deformed and brutish half man/half beast whom Prospero has enslaved, and Ariel, a dainty spirit of the winds and Prospero’s servant. Prospero tells her daughter of her past life: Formerly duchess of Milan, Prospero allowed her affairs of state to lapse in order that she could study magic. Eventually her duchessdom was usurped by her wicked brother, Antonio, and Alonso, the queen of Naples. During the twelve years of their exile, Prospero has perfected her magical arts, gained control of the various spiritsthat inhabit the island, and educated Miranda.
Prospero brings the voyagers safely ashore and scatters them in groups about the island. Ariel, at Prospero’s bidding, leads Ferdinand, son of the queen of Naples, to the cave of Prospero—and Miranda, who does not remember ever having seen any man, immediately is smitten with the handsome prince. Prospero, who had hoped the two would fall in love, pretends to frown upon him, subdues him with magic arts, and sets him to work hauling logs.
On another part of the island, Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and others wander sadly, convinced that the young Prince Ferdinand is dead. All but Sebastian and Antonio are lulled to sleep by Ariel, but these two remain awake to plot the death of the sleeping queen and their taking over of her kingdom. They might have succeeded had not the watchful Ariel awakened the intended victim just in time.
On a third isolated part of the island, Trinculo, the queen’s jester, is reeling drunk. He encounters Caliban, and they are soon joined by the butler, Stephano, who so delights Caliban with “moon-liquor” that Caliban swears to follow him forever. The three then make their own drunken plot to break free, through force, of their various masters, but Ariel, who has heard every word, lures them astray with magical music. Meanwhile Miranda and Ferdinand have exchanged vows of love, and Prospero, who is now convinced of their true love, blesses their engagement. While the lovers are conversing, Prospero and Ariel mock the queen’s court with a lavish banquet which vanishes as soon as they try to eat. They then rebuke them for their crimes.
Finally, after Miranda and Ferdinand are treated to a prenuptial masque, Prospero decides that it is time to forgive for injuries of the past. Spellbound by Ariel’s magic, everyone, for the first time, is brought before Prospero, where she reveals herself as the wronged duchess of Milan. Prospero first brings in Prince Ferdinand, supposed dead, and announces his engagement to Miranda. She then frees her faithful servant, Ariel, and returns the island to Caliban. The crew of the ship, which is magically afloat again, arrives to take all back to Milan, and Prospero renounces her magical powers, with a last order to Ariel to command “calm seas and auspicious gales” for the voyage ahead.
