3.8/5

mini-review because I have to go to work in ~4 minutes:

This is not my favorite Shakespeare play. Weirdly, it felt as though not a lot happened. However, it is as beautifully written as all of his works. Some of the themes seemed a bit iffy. For example, I'm not entirely sure what lesson Caliban's character portrays in terms of slavery. But others were spot on, like the negatives of colonization and nature's superiority to man! I also loved the motifs of the sea and the heavens. And if I can force myself to forget her romance, Miranda might be my favorite Shakespearean lady!

Bottom line: It's a really quick read and so lovely-ly written. Check it out!

Shakespeare's famous line "Hell is empty, And all the devils are here" holds a profound and somewhat chilling meaning. It seems to suggest that the malevolent forces that one might expect to find in the underworld have instead manifested themselves in the here and now. This could imply that the world we live in is filled with the presence of evil and immoral behavior.

Perhaps it is a commentary on the state of society, where the actions of some individuals can be so cruel and unjust that they seem devilish. It makes us stop and think about the nature of good and evil and how they coexist in our daily lives. The line also has a certain sense of foreboding, as if it is warning us to be vigilant against the encroachment of evil.

In conclusion, Shakespeare's words continue to resonate with us today, serving as a reminder of the ever-present potential for darkness in the human heart. Hell is empty,
And all the devils are here.

I might as well admit that I don't fully understand what it's all about. However, it is still absolutely gorgeous to listen to. Here are my three favorite bits.

Bronze goes to what is generally considered Shakespeare's farewell to the dramatic arts:

... Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

Silver goes to the following, surely one of the most brilliant lyrical passages in the English language:

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

And I'm afraid I have to give gold to my all-time favorite stage direction:

PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess.

I know that isn't very rational. But The Tempest isn't a very rational play. It is a play that is full of magic, mystery, and wonder. It takes the audience on a journey through a strange and wonderful island, where anything is possible. The language is beautiful, the characters are complex, and the story is engaging. It is a play that has stood the test of time and continues to be performed and studied today.

I truly enjoyed this experience to a much greater extent than I had initially anticipated. It was a pleasant surprise that made me wish I had discovered and read it much sooner. What I particularly love about it is how distinct it is from the other Shakespeare plays that I have read up until now. Each of his plays has its own unique charm and characteristics, but this one stands out in a special way. The line 'This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine' is both profound and thought-provoking. It makes me wonder about the deeper meanings and interpretations that lie within the text. Shakespeare's ability to craft such powerful and evocative language is truly remarkable. I can't wait to explore this play further and uncover all of its hidden gems.

I am sure that with each subsequent reading, I will gain a new perspective and a deeper understanding of the story and its characters. It is a testament to the enduring power and relevance of Shakespeare's works that they continue to captivate audiences even after all these years.

This play was one of the most tasteless comedies of Shakespeare! Except for a few short parts, it really didn't have the point of being humorous, except that there might be some wordplay in the English language that was lost in translation.

The only reason I can think of for this play being called a "comedy" is that in that era, the genres were not as extensive as they are today, and any play that didn't have a disastrous ending was called a "comedy". (Like "Divine Comedy", which is by no means humorous.)

After reading it, I realized there was a reason why Shakespeare's unknown plays remained unknown! The good plays became famous, and the bad ones didn't. I had intended to read some other unknown plays of his (Antony and Cleopatra, and A Winter's Tale), but with this experience, I came to the conclusion that enough was enough!

I don't know.

Really, I had hoped that I would like the book more, but it didn't completely convince me.

However, I still hope to read more works of Shakespeare because his critical perspective on society is truly wonderful.

Maybe it's because this particular book didn't fully展现 his genius.

Or perhaps my expectations were too high.

Nevertheless, I believe that Shakespeare has a lot more to offer.

His plays and sonnets are renowned for their depth, complexity, and timeless themes.

I'm eager to explore more of his works and gain a deeper understanding of his unique vision.

Who knows, maybe the next Shakespearean work I read will become one of my all-time favorites.

It’s so easy to judge Caliban based upon his actions and his violent speech. However, he does have some real problems that cause them.

He tried to rape Miranda, which is, of course, an absolutely terrible thing. But does Caliban actually know this? In his life, he has only known two people prior to meeting Prospero and Miranda. The first was his mother, the evil witch who raised him. This doesn’t sound like a fun childhood. The second was his mother’s slave Ariel, and he would have witnessed his mother abuse and imprison her. That’s all the life experience Caliban has had. He has had nobody to teach him human values or appropriate behavior.

This doesn’t justify his crimes, but it does explain them. I don’t think he fully knows right from wrong. He’s had nobody to teach him. The only other woman he’s ever seen is his mother. He just didn’t know how to behave with other people, especially with other females. He didn’t even have speech until Prospero let Miranda teach him. I don’t think Caliban is fully responsible for his actions. Prospero should have taught him these things as soon as he arrived on the island. Instead, he took control of the island and used Caliban as his lackey.

Caliban is clearly a volatile individual who doesn’t fully understand what it is to be human. He has been alone for a long time. Prospero, for all his knowledge, failed to fully comprehend the complexities of the situation. When he looked at Caliban, he didn’t perceive how he might receive his coming to the island. It’s a complex situation that becomes even more complex with the arrival of Prospero’s past. Caliban mistakenly thinks two of the new arrivals are Gods because they carry alcohol. He quickly offers to share the secrets of the island with them, enslaving himself once again.

Poor Caliban. Out of all the characters in this play, his situation is the one that produces the most empathy. He is left alone on the island, having inherited what was rightfully his, but his story never receives any real closure. For me, Caliban steals the stage in this play. His situation is the most thought-provoking. The Tempest will always be the play that represents the voice of the colonized through Caliban’s desire to be left alone and rule himself. Congratulations Shakespeare: you’ve somehow managed to write a play that pre-dates postcolonial theory by almost 400 years!

I had been keeping the review writing for this until I could see a theatrical quote from it and then come and write. But now, there is no time.

I used to like the BBC audio version, and its protagonist was Dr. Who. As usual, along with the main text, I also read the simplified text. I also read a bit from the Oxford version and its explanations. But this time, I didn't go to Persian at all.

Before, since I expected comedy and was faced with a serious text and subject, I was a bit surprised. Then the model of using his companions to draw a picture and the vengeful model he wanted to adopt was a bit off-putting to me, but it was adjusted as it went along.

Ali's review for it is very good, and I refer you to it.

I wanted to say a bit about the similarities with some characters and events in an animated work that I felt there was no place for at all.

Delay in synchronization with the members of the Pines family.

Esfand 1403.

After reading, the feeling was mixed. The story was simple and wonderful. But after reading the answer the second time, I changed my mind. Prospero, the magician, controlled everything according to his own will throughout the whole story. At the end, when leaving the island, it is clearly seen that this is actually Shakespeare's own farewell message. On the island, Prospero's magic worked and everything was under his control. Now, when it's time to leave, his power is gone. Can he still control people? Will people remember him? Can he survive in the long run? This kind of doubt, this kind of exclamation, Shakespeare experienced just like any other artist.

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here."

**The Tempest, William Shakespeare**

The Tempest is a remarkable play penned by the renowned William Shakespeare, likely composed between 1610 and 1611. Many critics consider it to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote entirely on his own.

Set on a secluded island, the story revolves around Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan. He devises a plan to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and cunning manipulation. To achieve this, he conjures up a powerful storm, the eponymous tempest, which causes his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to believe they have been shipwrecked and marooned on the island.
There, Prospero's machinations lead to the revelation of Antonio's true nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand. The play is rich in character development and themes, exploring power, revenge, forgiveness, and love. It also features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique traits and motives.
The Tempest has been translated and adapted numerous times over the years, and continues to be a beloved and studied work of literature. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Shakespeare's genius as a playwright and his ability to create stories that resonate with audiences across time and cultures.

Characters in The Tempest

The play features a wide range of characters, including Prospero, the sorcerer and rightful Duke of Milan; Miranda, his daughter; Ferdinand, the son of King Alonso of Naples; Ariel, a spirit under Prospero's control; Caliban, a brutish and savage creature; Alonso, the weak and indecisive King of Naples; Sebastian, Alonso's treacherous brother; Antonio, Prospero's usurping brother; Gonzalo, a loyal friend of Prospero; Trinculo, a jester; Stephano, a drunken butler; Adrian and Francisco, lords attending Alonso; and various other sailors and spirits.

The Story of The Tempest

Twelve years before the events of the play, Prospero was the Duke of Milan, but was betrayed by his brother Antonio with the help of King Alonso of Naples. Antonio seized Prospero's dukedom and exiled him and his young daughter Miranda to a desolate island. With the help of Gonzalo, a loyal friend, Prospero and Miranda were able to survive on the island. Over the years, Prospero has studied magic and has become a powerful sorcerer. He discovers that Alonso and his entourage are sailing near the island and decides to use his magic to cause a storm and shipwreck them. When the survivors wash up on the island, Prospero uses his magic to manipulate events and bring about the downfall of his enemies and the restoration of his dukedom. Along the way, Miranda falls in love with Ferdinand, and Prospero ultimately forgives his enemies and allows them to return home.

Re-read 3/7/25, for the umpteenth time.

Arguably, The Tempest is the most beloved of Shakespeare's romances. It presents a brave new world filled with such fascinating characters, even if they seem to be hidden deep within the mysteries of the story.

I have a profound admiration for the delicate balance that Prospero maintains between devilry and the angels. It is truly a realization that love, not hate, has the power to set not only him but everyone free.

It doesn't get any better than this. I have an unwavering love for redemption tales, regardless of how they may have been misused in the past. They still have a powerful impact, and in a world that sometimes seems headed towards total misery, this message will resonate even more strongly in the future.

Where can wisdom be found? Has it all been lost? Or will Prospero truly break his staff?

Power corrupts, and infinite power... well, you can imagine the consequences.

My synesthesia allows me to smell the ionization and the spray of an angry sea, adding a unique sensory dimension to my reading experience.

Personal note:

If anyone reading my reviews is interested in reading my own science fiction works, I will be open to requests. Simply direct message me on Goodreads or email me through my website, Arctunn.com. I would be overjoyed to have more people read my novels and gain their perspectives.

We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.

  We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.

This was my first encounter with reading Shakespeare in English. I had a certain liking for the play, yet it presented an enormous challenge for me. The reading process wasn't exactly filled with joy, which is why I gave it a three-star rating.

The Tempest is a captivating tale that weaves together elements of revenge, forgiveness, romance, and moments of beautiful poetry and comedy. Overall, it's quite enjoyable, provided one is willing to invest some effort in reading it.

In my case, it meant that initially, I was constantly searching online for the meanings of numerous words. I also referred back to a particular chapter in the book that provided a short list of some of the most common words in Shakespeare's plays and their modern equivalents. Clearly, this made achieving proper immersion nearly impossible. Another approach was necessary, and I ended up reading the play in both English and my native language, German, scene by scene, switching back and forth between the two versions. This proved to be a good method as, on one hand, I was able to appreciate the "original" text (which is far superior to the German translation), and on the other hand, I didn't miss any important developments in the story. I put "original" in quotation marks because, of course, the original text is over four hundred years old, and any version we read today has been edited in some way.

This book, in addition to the actual play, offers the following:

• A short biographical overview of William Shakespeare
• A likewise short overview of his canon
• An explanation of Shakespeare's English
• A short portrayal of the theater scene at the time, with a focus on Shakespeare's plays
• A note on the use of boy actors in female roles
• A look at Shakespeare's dramatic language (costumes, gestures, silences, prose, poetry)
• An explanation of how actors, editors, and other collaborators became part of the texts and/or the interpretation of the texts, and how there might sometimes be uncertainty as to who contributed what
• An analysis of the play
• Partial reprints of potential sources for The Tempest
• Several lengthy commentaries on the play

I read most of these, but skimmed through large parts of the last two. There was some interesting stuff, but it wasn't the main reason I picked up this book.

So, will I read more Shakespeare? I'm not sure. I might, as I already own a few books. However, the language truly makes this a challenging endeavor, and I'm not certain if I'll ever be able to fully grasp all the nuances of his writing. I guess only time will tell.


This has been a buddy-read with Vero and Cathy. While none of us has English as our mother tongue, the two at least either live or lived in the UK. But is it any help in this case?