Book Review: The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Every year I try to read at least one Shakespearean play. Not only do I love Shakespeare's writing, but I also feel like it lifts my soul, even if it's a tragedy. The way the characters express themselves to one another, or to the audience, is beautiful, sometimes ugly, but often ring with a touch of humanity. Lately I've been swept up in Tudor England with the Wolf Hall series (book reviews coming soon) and Thomas Cromwell. However, I had already picked out my Shakespearean play by the time this Tudor obsession ignited, so I went forward with The Tempest instead of skipping to a historical play...which I will probably read later this year.

OVERVIEW

Prospero and his daughter Miranda are kicked out of their kingdom by Prospero's brother Antonio. They find themselves on an enchanted island with no other inhabitants except Caliban, a witch's son (who is in one way or another described as a monster), and spirits. Prospero and the spirits combine magical forces to live in harmony on the island. One day, Prospero has a chance at revenge when Antonio's boat is shipwrecked on the island along with Alonso (the King of Naples), his son Ferdinand, and many others. Prospero has to make a choice between punishing those who thwarted him or to forgive.

INITIAL THOUGHTS

This is the second time I've read this play. One was in college during a Shakespeare class, and I felt almost the same way about it then as I did on this re-read. I didn't love it. There were some excellent moments in the play, and some really great zingers: "A pox on your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!" -Sebastian Act 1, Scene 1. But I just couldn't get behind the story. I couldn't figure out why it was touted as one of Shakespeare's best. Hasn't everyone read Hamlet?

UPON FURTHER CONSIDERATION

This time after reading the play I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something. My mind immediately went historical. Perhaps there was something that Shakespeare was trying to tell his audience that pertained to their time in history. He's never really done that in his non historical plays, so I thought that was a stretch. Then I thought perhaps I just don't like that there aren't a lot of female characters, which is kind of unusual for Shakespeare. Miranda, Prospero's daughter, feels like such a blah character after reading heroines like Portia from Merchant of Venice. What was this play really about?

Then it hit me. I'm pretty sure if I was a cartoon, the moment would have displayed a light bulb flashing above my head. It's a timeless tale of revenge. But there's a twist, what if you forgave your oppressors instead of punish them? What if you did a little of both? This is the beauty and genius of Shakespeare. How many times in modern film, books, etc. do we see this story? Someone's power is usurped by someone else, and then that person spends all their energy rebuilding themselves and creating hell for anyone involved. There is hardly ever any forgiveness that goes along with these tales. The Tale of Monty Cristo, Sweeney Todd, pretty much all modern dramatic TV series now have a character like Prospero. Sometimes we cheer for them, and sometimes we don't. I just think in today's world where there is such a heavy emphasis on vengeance, anger, and aggression it is nice to read something where the "bad guys" get played a bit, but in the end they are forgiven and everyone moves on. Prospero even decides to seal the forgiveness deal by allowing his daughter to marry Prince Ferdinand. It might not be a Hallmark ending, or a classic Shakespearean comedy with a big happy wedding, but there's hope. At the end of the play there is hope of a better life for the players and us as the audience. Prospero even asks the audience to let him go, because he has been trapped by the play itself (perhaps his anger as well). So as an audience member, or reader, we have to let our anger go in order for the play to fully be complete.

After having this light bulb moment I'm definitely going to read The Tempest again with new eyes. Even Miranda seems more interesting in this new hopeful light. If this is your first Shakespeare play, I would read something else. If you've tried The Tempest before and thought, what's the big deal? Give it another chance, if for no other reason than to brush up on your Shakespearean insults (they're especially good in this play). Enjoy reading or rereading The Tempest, and may all of us learn a lesson from Prospero to let go of the past, and move forward with hope.