A Tempest

Ferdinand sings and works at the start of Scene 1, and Caliban supervises him. Miranda approaches and offers to help Ferdinand. He responds to her offer by asking for her name, and after she tells him that her father will not allow her to tell him her name, Caliban quietly informs Ferdinand that her name is Miranda. Prospero approaches to interrupt Ferdinand, and he asks Caliban to finish the work; Caliban protests but capitulates. Prospero and Ferdinand move away as it starts to rain, and though Caliban hears voices in the distance, he stops working and “make[s] [himself] scarce” (40).

Scene 2 introduces Trinculo and Stephano, Alonso’s jester and butler. They have survived the shipwreck, and they sing and drink as they individually approach Caliban, who has taken shelter beneath a wheelbarrow. Trinculo mistakes Caliban for an Indian, but he is unable to discern if Caliban is dead or alive. If Caliban is dead, Trinculo will steal his clothes; if he is alive, Trinculo will “sell him to a carnival” (41). When Stephano sees Caliban, he too believes him to be a “Nindian” whose potential value is high. Stephano compares Caliban to a catalog of side-show characters before recognizing Trinculo. At the same moment, Trinculo recognizes Stephano, and they marvel at their good luck to have survived the shipwreck.

Together, they try to revive Caliban. Stephano begins his “civilizing mission” by talking to Caliban as if he is a child and offering him wine from his bottle. Stephano speaks of his relief that the shipwreck “got rid of a lot of old farts that were always keeping the world down” and asserts his belief that tyrants need to be stripped of their power (43). Trinculo points out that the deaths of Alonso and Antonio mean that there are positions of power available to them. They argue about who will be king when Caliban wakes up and speaks to them. Stephano marvels at Caliban’s ability to speak; Caliban warns them about Prospero, naming him as the usurper of the island that rightfully belongs to Caliban. For Stephano to take over the island and be king, he must defeat Prospero. Trinculo agrees to help Stephano “march upon the foe” (45), and Caliban proposes a toast and a song to celebrate their imminent freedom from Prospero. Noticing that night has fallen, Stephano interrupts their song to suggest they go to sleep.

Scene 3 takes place in Prospero’s cave. He has summoned a group of gods and goddesses to the engagement celebration, and they arrive with blessings for Miranda and Ferdinand. Juno, Ceres, and Iris dance, accompanied by nymphs, and Ferdinand is impressed with the sight. When Eshu arrives, however, Miranda observes that he looks like “a devil.” Eshu admits that his enemies do find him devilish as Prospero blames Ariel for Eshu’s unwelcome presence. Eshu explains that he comes uninvited, lamenting his unpopularity and asking for a drink. His talk of eating dogs scandalizes Iris and the other guests, and when Prospero tells him to go away, Eshu agrees to leave, singing a threatening song as he exits.

Prospero is shaken by Eshu’s performance, and he wonders if his power is diminishing as he ages. He summons Ariel, instructing him to gather “all stinging poisonous creatures” (50), with which he will fight Caliban and his forces. Ariel tries to defend Caliban, but Prospero is too insulted by Caliban’s desire to do battle to listen.

Daylight approaches at the beginning of Scene 4, and voices of forest creatures respond to Ariel’s roll call. Caliban sneers at the small stature of Ariel’s recruits, denying the power of any natural being to defy him as he seeks to defeat Prospero, “the Anti-Nature.” As Caliban sings a war song, Stephano and Trinculo interrupt him to ask about a strange roaring sound. Caliban answers in riddles and then tells them directly that the sound is coming from the sea, which he describes as a “pal of mine” (53). The men argue with Caliban, disapproving of his tendency to blame everything on Prospero, even as Prospero’s magic poison gas chokes them and makes them itch. Trinculo complains that he feels tired, so Stephano, united with Caliban, threatens him until he moves again. Stephano continues to give orders to Trinculo, and they fight when Trinculo accuses Stephano of tyrannical behavior. Caliban regrets his decision to recruit the men for his cause just as Prospero enters and challenges Caliban, “Strike your Master, your benefactor!” (55). To Prospero’s satisfaction, Caliban stalls; Prospero mocks him and calls Ariel to take Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano as prisoners.

Miranda and Ferdinand play chess in Prospero’s cave at the start of Scene 5. When Miranda accuses Ferdinand of cheating, he admits his guilt and expresses relief; his betrothed appears sharp-witted enough to survive in his “less-innocent world of men” (56). The gentlemen enter, and Alonso and Gonzalo offer their blessings to the young couple. Prospero welcomes the gentlemen, announcing that he will accompany them to Europe tomorrow morning when their ship and their men will appear, “safe, hale and hearty” (57). Gonzalo is overcome with joy, and Prospero frees Ariel from his duties. Ariel sings songs of freedom, annoying Prospero, as Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban enter. The two men betray Caliban by telling Prospero a fiction about their encounter with Caliban. Alonso notices Caliban, and Prospero criticizes Caliban in front of the group. Only Gonzalo recognizes that Caliban has a courageous spirit, but when he tries to exorcise Caliban, Caliban starts laughing. Caliban speaks of his failure to free himself and to regain his island, and Prospero tries to make peace with Caliban by reminding him that they have spent 10 years together. Caliban refuses peace, preferring freedom, and Prospero states that he “won’t succeed in making me believe that I’m a tyrant” (61).

Caliban responds in verse, summarizing his experiences as Prospero’s prisoner. He acknowledges Prospero’s power, but he denies respecting it; he threatens to “impale” Prospero, taunting Prospero with his belief that Prospero will never leave the island for Europe. Caliban invokes Shango, and, in verse, Prospero acknowledges that Caliban has given him reason to feel doubt in himself. Prospero tells the gentlemen that he will stay on the island and that Gonzalo will take his place at Miranda’s wedding. He says goodbye, and everyone except Caliban and Prospero exit. Prospero turns to Caliban and speaks in verse, ready to “answer [his] violence with violence” (65). The curtain lowers partway, to represent the passage of time, and Prospero reappears, looking “aged and weary” (66). He complains of an excess of forest creatures overwhelming his civilization before he shouts for Caliban, calling him “You-me…me-you!” (66). Caliban responds by calling out for freedom.