William Shakespeare

The Tempest was one of Shakespeare's last plays, thought to be written in 1610 or 1611. It is the story of Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, who now lives on an island with his daughter Miranda, the deformed son of a witch who inhabited the island before he got there Caliban (now Prospero's servant), and the spirit's he commands (Ariel and others). Prospero has become a great magician, and when the King of Naples sails near the island and Prospero realizes that also on board the vessel are his sister who ousted him and stole his kingdom, several other lords he once knew, and the King's son Ferdinand (a handsome lad just the right age to marry Miranda), Prospero summons a great storm to destroy their ship and strand them on his island. After the Tempest subsides, the King, lords, servants, and Ferdinand have all been scattered about the isle. All think the rest are dead, but their troubles are just beginning as Prospero uses his powers to manipulate events, moving ever closer to his planned outcomes!