Introduction to Shakespeare's The Tempest
Brief Biography of William Shakespeare
- Birth and Family: Shakespeare's father was a glove-maker. Despite his modest background, Shakespeare received a grammar school education.
- Marriage: He married Anne Hathaway in 1582.
- Move to London: Around 1590, he left his family and moved to London, where he became an actor and playwright.
- Success: Shakespeare quickly gained popularity, becoming the most renowned playwright of his time and a part-owner of the Globe Theater.
- Royal Patronage: In 1603, his theater troupe was adopted by King James as the King's Men.
- Retirement: Shakespeare retired to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613 as a wealthy and prominent man and died three years later.
Related Literary Works
The Tempest stands out among Shakespeare's plays as it does not have a single clear source. However, it incorporates many motifs common in his works:
- The painful parting of a father with his daughter.
- Jealousy and hatred between brothers.
- The usurpation of a legitimate ruler.
- The play-within-a-play technique.
- The experiences of courtiers in new environments.
This play is often classified with Pericles, The Winter's Tale, and Cymbeline as part of the "romances." These plays blend elements of comedy and, to a lesser extent, tragedy, without fully belonging to either genre. Common elements in Shakespearean romances include:
- Experiences of loss and recovery.
- Imaginative realms where magic plays a significant role.
Key Facts
| Full Title: | The Tempest |
| When Written: | 1610-1611 |
| Where Written: | England |
| When Published: | 1623 |
| Literary Period: | The Renaissance (1500-1660) |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Setting: | An unnamed island in the Mediterranean Sea |
| Climax: | Ariel appears as a harpy before Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian and condemns them for stealing Prospero's kingdom |
Extra Credit
Shakespeare or Not? Some believe that Shakespeare lacked the education to write the plays attributed to him. The most popular theory suggests that Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, wrote the plays and used Shakespeare as a front man because it was improper for aristocrats to write plays. However, the evidence supporting Shakespeare's authorship significantly outweighs the evidence against it. Until further notice, Shakespeare remains the most influential writer in the English language.