English 144: Tempest

What a start of the play! Nothing grabs attention like total chaos. I thought it was really interesting how Shakespeare chose to have the play begin with a storm. People are running around shouting, things are shifting about on board the ship, and there is a huge storm happening. Then the crashing of the ship, in which people are separated into different groups as they drift ashore to this island. That is when it gets even crazier!

Even though the next scene is calm and quiet, there is a lot happening in this scene. We learn of a magician named Prospero, who was the one who actually created the storm. He purposely brought the people from the ship to the island where he and his daughter have been for years. We also learn about why and how Prospero and his daughter got to the island and the “creatures” they met there. I am not like Caliban so far. He is just a creeper to me, and I do not think he will get better throughout the play. I like Ariel though, reminds me of a fairy for some reason- because he/she is a spirit probably. I do feel bad for both Ariel and Caliban though. Both were on this island before Prospero came. Granted that Ariel was trapped in a tree, but still once Prospero comes, both get enslaved! What is that about? Dumb! Prospero had no right to do that, even though Caliban tried to rape his daughter. You would think that after that he would kill Caliban or at least get him away from his family.

This play was off to a crazy start and I fear that it will only get crazier. I do not think that it will be “Midsummer Night’s Dream” crazy, but possibly around that area. It will be interesting to find out what happens in the end. I am sad that his play will be so rushed, to fit it in to our schedule. But it does seem like a great play and maybe easier to get into, with all the action. I am excited for it!