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The Tempest

Ferdinand and Miranda declare their love for one another and plan to marry. Prospero secretly approves of their union which he has carefully manipulated. Meanwhile, Caliban plots with Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero, believing Stephano can help avenge his mistreatment. Prospero uses illusion to remind Alonso and the others how hungry they are after their shipwreck, only to make the banquet disappear, condemning them through Ariel for exiling him. Their reactions to these events are consistent with their roles in usurping Prospero previously. Alonso is distraught, Antonio and Sebastian want to fight, while Gonzalo tries to care for the others.

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Julieta Bares
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290 views

The Tempest

Ferdinand and Miranda declare their love for one another and plan to marry. Prospero secretly approves of their union which he has carefully manipulated. Meanwhile, Caliban plots with Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero, believing Stephano can help avenge his mistreatment. Prospero uses illusion to remind Alonso and the others how hungry they are after their shipwreck, only to make the banquet disappear, condemning them through Ariel for exiling him. Their reactions to these events are consistent with their roles in usurping Prospero previously. Alonso is distraught, Antonio and Sebastian want to fight, while Gonzalo tries to care for the others.

Uploaded by

Julieta Bares
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Tempest

William Shakespeare
Act 3
Scene 1
Ferdinand is working for
Prospero.
He says Miranda's love eases the
difficulty of the task and is the
reason for what he works.
Miranda urges him not to work
so hard, and even offers to help
him.
Ferdinand says that she is the
most perfect woman he has
ever seen.
They declare their love for one
another, and Miranda suggests
that they marry, saying "I am
your wife, if you will marry me; if not, I'll die your maid"
(3.2.85-86). Ferdinand rapidly says yes.
Prospero blesses their love and secretly expresses his
approval of the union.
The entire interaction between Miranda and Ferdinand
seems to be carefully manipulated by Prospero to
make them fall in love and marry. That Prospero
watches their conversations unseen, makes us see his
role as the "director" or "playwright" of the Island.
Scene 2

In other part of the Island,


Stephano and Trinculo think
they are the only two survivors
of the shipwreck. Stephano
has escaped by holding on to
a barrel of wine that they
drink.
Caliban is enchanted by
Stephano and swears to be his
loyal subject.
Caliban begins to describe
Prospero's bad treatment and
asks Stephano to avenge this. He suggests several ways of
killing Prospero. He knows that Prospero's books are the
source of his power, so Caliban want Stephano to steal the
books but not destroy them. The implication is that Caliban
might appropriate them and use their power when Prospero
is gone.
Ariel enters, and starts saying
"Thou liest" with Trinculo's voice.
But because he is invisible,
Caliban and Stephano think that
it is Trinculo who has spoken.
Stephano threatens Trinculo,
who denies having said anything.
When Arial again shouts out "Thou liest," Stephano punches
Trinculo. This is a comical scene and it highlights the ways that
Prospero uses magic to control and manipulate the people on the
island.
Scene 3
Gonzalo, Antonio, Sebastian and Alonso enter. They are exhausted
after having covered the island in search of Ferdinand, whom
Alonso sadly gives up for dead. Antonio and Sebastian secretly
hope that Alonso's sadness and tiredness will give them the
chance to murder him that evening.
Prospero uses the illusion of
the banquet to remind the
men of how hungry and
desperate they are. Before any
of them can eat, a clap of
thunder sounds and Ariel
appears in the form of a harpy.

A flap of Ariel's wings makes


the banquet vanish.
Saying that he is an agent of Fate, Ariel condemns Alonso, Antonio, and
Sebastian for overthrowing and exiling Prospero and Miranda. He says
that the tempest was nature's tool for exacting revenge on Alonso by
taking Ferdinand. Ariel adds that only sincere sorry and regret can save
the men's own lives, then Ariel vanishes. Prospero uses magic to
manipulate and humiliate the men as a way to gain power over them.
Alonso is really sad and angry because of the overthrow of Prospero. He
thinks that Prospero caused the drowing of Ferdinand and decides to
drown himself and runs off.
Antonio and Sebastian declare that they will fight this new enemy, and
also run off, but following the spirits.
Gonzalo fears what all three will do in their frenetic states of mind, and
he orders the other courtiers to follow them and make sure none of
them do anything unwise.
The characters' reactions to the loss of the banquet are consistent with
their attitudes toward their past deeds, and foreshadow their reactions
to Prospero's future attempts at reconciliation. Alonso is sorry, Antonio
and Sebastian want to fight, and Gonzalo acts as a keeper. He takes care
of them.
End of act 3

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