The Tempest
The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's last plays, and one of his strangest. Prospero, a sorcerer marooned on a remote island, conjures a storm to wreck the ship carrying the enemies who exiled him years before. With the help of an airy spirit, Ariel, and served by the resentful Caliban, he draws his enemies into his power and weighs revenge against forgiveness. It is a haunting play about magic, control, and letting go, often read as Shakespeare's own farewell to the stage.
Characters
Famous Quotes
See all quotes →“We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.”
Prospero — Act 4, Scene 1
“O brave new world, That has such people in't!”
Miranda — Act 5, Scene 1
“Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come In yours and my discharge.”
Antonio — Act 2, Scene 1
Further Reading
23 Shakespeare Phrases We Still Use Today
"Break the ice," "wild-goose chase," "green-eyed monster": these everyday expressions all started with Shakespeare. Here are 23 phrases the Bard gave us, with the plays they come from and what they really mean.
Sayings from Shakespeare – Words and Phrases He Gave Us
Shakespeare's writings give us the first recorded use of over 1,700 English words. From "alligator" to "zany," explore the sayings from Shakespeare that we still use every day, organised by theme.
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