...............................................................................

Act II, Scene ii

On yet another part of the island a storm is brewing. Caliban is milling

about, gathering firewood, grumbling all the while about the spirits Prospero

sends to torture him when he is negligent in his duties.

Trinculo, Alonzo's court jester, wanders upon the scene. He, like the other

passengers of the ill-fated ship, has survived and managed to reach the island.

Caliban mistakes Trinculo for a tormenting spirit sent by Prospero, and he

falls face down on the ground to avoid being noticed.

Encountering the prostrate Caliban, Trinculo is at once intrigued by his

unusual appearance and odor. He imagines how wealthy he would become if he

were able to get such a creature to England, where he once visited, for there

the people will pay ten coins to see such a novelty when they won't give one

to help a lame beggar. Trinculo touches Caliban to see if he is dead or alive.

Noticing that he is still warm, that his legs are like those of a man and that

his fins resemble arms, Trinculo deduces Caliban is no monster after all but a

native islander who has recently been struck by lightning. Out of fear,

Caliban remains silent, hoping the spirit will pass him by. Thunder rolls in

the distance and Trinculo, who can find no other shelter, crawls under

Caliban's cloak to take protection, complaining that "misery acquaints a man

with strange bedfellows."

Stephano, Alonzo's drunken butler, now enters singing a bawdy chantey. He

carries a bottle made from the bark of a tree and filled with wine from a cask

the mariners had thrown overboard during the storm. It was this cask that

Stephano rode to shore after the storm and then safely stowed away in a cove.

There it now waits, ready to refill his bottle many times in the future.

Hearing the drunken singing causes Caliban to believe Prospero has sent yet

another spirit to torment him. He finally cries out for mercy!

Stephano's attention is drawn by this commotion to the cloak with its four

protruding legs. In his drunken state he, as Trinculo had imagined, at first

believes he has happened upon a monster. Caliban continues to beg for mercy

from the "spirits." Stephano concludes that the monster's raving is due to some

illness, and he is puzzled by the creature's ability to speak his own language.

Stephano also realizes that he would be paid a small fortune for such a

curiosity were he able to cure the monster, tame him, and transport him back to

Italy. To affect a cure, Stephano forces Caliban to take a drink from the

bottle.

From under the cloak, Trinculo recognizes Stephano's voice and cries out to be

saved from what he surmises must be a devil, since he knows Stephano has

drowned. Hearing the monster speak from two mouths, Stephano decides to pour

some wine into each one. Trinculo, wondering if Stephano has somehow managed

to survive, timidly calls out his name. This causes Stephano to also fear he

is in the presence of a devil; how else could it be that the monster knows his

name? Trinculo calls out again and tells Stephano, if he is indeed Stephano,

to touch him and speak, for he is his good friend Trinculo! Stephano reasons

that if either pair of legs are those of Trinculo, they must be the thinner

set, so he grabs those and pulls Trinculo from under the garment. Recognizing

his friend, Stephano wonders in amazement how it is that the monster is able to

"vent Trinculos!"

Each of the friends is surprised to discover that the other has survived the

storm. They rejoice in their reunion. Trinculo relates how he came to shore

by swimming all the way, and Stephano demands that he "kiss the book" (take a

drink from the bottle) to swear he is telling the truth.

Caliban takes Stephano for a god because of the celestial liquid he possesses.

Stephano encourages this misconception by telling Caliban he was once the Man

in the Moon. Caliban remembers how he has adored him since his mistress first

pointed him out, along with his dog and his bush. Stephano demands Caliban to

swear to that by kissing the book. Caliban eagerly complies and vows to show

Stephano the most fertile parts of the island if he will be his god. Trinculo

thinks the creature is extremely gullible and doesn't trust him, suspecting he

will steal Stephano's bottle at the first opportunity. Caliban grovels to

Stephano and vows to be his subject, to point out the best springs on the

island, pick berries, catch fish, and fetch firewood for his new master.

Trinculo thinks Caliban is indeed foolish to worship a drunk. Caliban offers

to forage for his new master if he will follow.

Now thoroughly intoxicated and believing they are the only survivors of the

shipwreck, Stephano and Trinculo plan to inhabit the island and proclaim

Stephano as its king. Caliban sings of his new master and his freedom from

Prospero:

No more dams I'll make for fish;

Nor fetch in firing

At requiring,

Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish.

'Ban 'Ban, Ca-Caliban,

Has a new master--Get a new man.

Freedom, high-day! High-day, freedom! Freedom, high-day, freedom!

Stephano orders Caliban to lead the way as they all exit in a drunken state of

euphoria.

...............................................................................

Act III, Scene i

Outside Prospero's cell, Ferdinand enters bearing one of a thousand logs he has

been ordered to move and re-stack (a trial of his love for Miranda imposed by

Prospero under the guise of punishment). He admits such toil would normally be

repulsive to him, but not this task because it serves the object of his desire:

the daughter of Prospero. She is, he believes, ten times more gentle than her

father is harsh. He has seen how his suffering has brought tears to her eyes

and caused her to proclaim that never such drudgery had so grand a laborer.

These thoughts of Prospero's daughter, Ferdinand admits, even now make his work

lighter.

Miranda emerges from the cave with her father following at a distance, clad in

his cloak of invisibility. She begs Ferdinand to rest, for Prospero (as she

believes) is now at his studies and will be occupied for the next three hours.

Ferdinand replies there is not time to stop and still complete his task before

sunset. Miranda pleads to be allowed to bear his burden for a while.

Ferdinand would rather break his back, he says, than to sit idly by while she

undergoes such dishonor. Miranda argues that the task is as suited to her as

to Ferdinand, and she would do it with greater ease, for her heart is in it,

while his is not.

Prospero realizes from Miranda's words that she has truly fallen in love.

Ferdinand asks Miranda if he might know her name in order to mention her in his

prayers. Responding without hesitation, Miranda reveals her name and then

suddenly realizes she has broken her father's edict in doing so.

Ferdinand has known other women, he confesses, and has even been infatuated

with some, but they all have had faults, and none has ever approached the

perfection that is Miranda.

Apart from her own face, Miranda admits, she has never seen another woman, nor

has she seen any of what might be called men other than Ferdinand and her own

father (Caliban cannot truly be considered a man). Even without knowing how

people look in other parts of the world, she has no desire for any companion

other than Ferdinand, nor can she imagine any form more pleasing than his.

Miranda stops abruptly, realizing she has spoken more than her father would

approve.

Ferdinand insists that he is a prince, and probably a king (since he believes

his father has been drowned), and would not endure the indignation of this

labor were it not for the fact that his heart wants only to serve Miranda.

Miranda asks if he loves her. Ferdinand vows he does, beyond all limits.

Miranda weeps. Prospero is pleased by what he hears and asks the heavens to

rain grace upon their love. Ferdinand inquires of Miranda why she is crying.

She replies it is due to her inability to offer that which she wants to give or

to take that which she so desperately wants. Then, in an about face, she

declares she will no longer try to hide her affections. She says she will be

Ferdinand's wife, if he will have her, and if not, she will be his slave.

Ferdinand eagerly consents to wed Miranda.

The lovers pledge their fidelity and bid each other farewell, agreeing to meet

again within a half-hour. They exit in opposite directions: Miranda back to

the cave and Ferdinand to fetch another of the logs.

Prospero, now alone, remarks that he could not be more pleased with the turn of

events. He leaves to consult his book, for there is much work to be done

before supper pertaining to this courtship.

...............................................................................

Act III, Scene ii

The drunken Caliban-Stephano-Trinculo party is still wandering about the

island. Stephano vows they will drink nothing but wine until the cask is

empty. He orders Caliban to toast him once again. Trinculo's disdain for

Caliban has increased, and he makes several punning, insulting remarks towards

the savage. Caliban reasserts his loyalty to his new master, but refuses to be

subservient to Trinculo, who he believes is not courageous. This remark

incites Trinculo to call Caliban a liar. Caliban begs his lord not to permit

such mockery. Trinculo then calls Caliban a fool, as well, for referring to

Stephano as "lord." Caliban protests again, and Stephano insists that Trinculo

keep a civil tongue in his head or hang from the next tree. As king of the

isle, Stephano cannot stand by while his subject is insulted.

After thanking Stephano for this intervention, Caliban asks if he may be

permitted once again to make the plea he set forth earlier. Stephano agrees,

and Caliban kneels. Ariel enters, invisible to the other three. Caliban

begins by telling how he is subject to a sorcerer who has robbed him of that

which is rightfully his by birth. Ariel, unseen, calls out, "Thou liest!"

Thinking Trinculo has hurled yet another insult, Caliban returns it in kind and

pleads with his master to destroy this slanderer, for Caliban does not lie.

Stephano comes to Caliban's defense once more, threatening to knock out

Trinculo's teeth if he interrupts again. Trinculo insists he said nothing!

Stephano tells him to keep quiet, then asks Caliban to continue.

It was through sorcery, Caliban explains, that Prospero stole the island from

him. He pleads with Stephano to revenge this injustice, for Stephano is

courageous enough to do it, he knows, though Trinculo is not. Stephano

acknowledges this is true. Caliban vows to serve Stephano as master of the

island, once Prospero is eliminated. Stephano asks how this can be

accomplished; can Caliban take him to Prospero? He can, and at a time when

Prospero is sleeping, which will make it easy to drive a nail through his head.

Ariel calls out, "Thou liest; thou canst not." Thinking Trinculo has once again

insulted him, Caliban implores Stephano to beat the jester and take away his

bottle. This will leave Trinculo with nothing to drink but salt water, for

Caliban will refuse to show him where the fresh waters are. Stephano warns

Trinculo he will be beaten severely if he opens his mouth one more time.

Amazed, Trinculo swears again he said nothing, then resigns to move farther

off. Stephano asks Trinculo point blank if he did not, in fact, call Caliban a

liar. "Thou liest!," Ariel repeats for the third time. Stephano believes

Trinculo is now maligning him. He beats his sometime friend and threatens more

of the same if the accusation recurs. Trinculo curses his two companions and

blames their confusion on drunkenness.

Caliban laughs in delight at Trinculo's beating. He wants to see his detractor

beaten again and hopes that soon he will be the one doing the beating.

Stephano tells Trinculo to move farther off, then asks Caliban to continue.

Prospero's custom, Caliban says, is to nap in the afternoon, providing the

perfect opportunity for Stephano to bash in his skull, drive a stake into him

or slit his throat! But Caliban warns that Prospero's books must first be

taken and burned, for with his books Prospero is able to perform his magic and

summon spirits to his aid; without them he is powerless. He adds that only the

books should be destroyed, nothing else. As a further incentive, Caliban tells

of Miranda and her unparalleled beauty, as Prospero has described her. Caliban

says he cannot vouch for this himself for he has seen no other women in his

life other than his mother, the witch Sycorax, and he admits Miranda is as

superior to her as greatest is to least.

Once Prospero is dead, Caliban argues, Miranda will be Stephano's for the

taking, and she will give him many children. This convinces Stephano to do the

deed, and he imagines how he and Miranda will rule as King and Queen of the

island with Trinculo and Caliban as viceroys. Stephano asks, and gets,

Trinculo's approval of the plot, then apologizes for the beating he inflicted;

although he warns Trinculo, in future, to exercise better control over his

tongue. Caliban says Prospero will be asleep within a half-hour and asks

Stephano again if he will truly destroy him. Stephano vows on his honor.

Ariel, who has overheard all that preceded, resolves to tell Prospero of the

scheme against his life.

Caliban is elated by Stephano's promise and wants the three to celebrate by

singing a tune they taught him a short time earlier. Stephano agrees and

begins the round, asking Trinculo to join in second. But as he begins, Caliban

complains that it is not the same melody they sang before. Ariel then, unseen,

begins to play the tune on a drum and fife. Stephano and Trinculo are

frightened by the music coming from thin air; although Stephano, who cannot

allow his servant to think him a coward, makes a show of defiance and denies

being afraid. Caliban assures them there is nothing to fear, responding in

lines that reveal his natural appreciation of beauty, despite his unnatural

form:

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,

Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,

That, if I then had waked after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming,

The clouds methought would open and show riches

Ready to drop upon me, that, when I waked,

I cried to dream again.

This convinces Stephano that his kingdom is indeed a wondrous place where he

shall have his music for free! Caliban reminds Stephano that he can rule the

island only after Prospero is dead. Ariel continues to play and move farther

off. Trinculo wants to follow the music and do the murder later. Stephano

concurs and asks Caliban to lead the way. Stunned by the vacillation of his

companions, Caliban hesitates. Stephano moves on and Trinculo orders Caliban

to follow. All three exit pursuing the music.

...............................................................................

Act III, Scene iii

The members of the royal party enter. Gonzalo and the King have been

particularly exhausted by the search for Ferdinand, so they all stop to rest a

while. Alonzo says he sees little chance of ever finding his son. Antonio

remarks, in an aside to Sebastian, that he is glad the King is so out of hope,

and he cautions Sebastian to remain faithful to the plan they devised earlier.

They will do the murder at the next opportunity, Sebastian promises. It should

be done tonight, Antonio insists, for their victims, being tired from the

search, will then be less vigilant than if they were rested. As the

conspirators conclude their pact, the King and Gonzalo are intrigued by

"marvelous sweet music" suddenly and mysteriously sounding from nowhere.

Prospero appears in his cloak of invisibility above the scene (in the Jacobean

theater he would have stood on the "tarras," or projecting balcony above the

inner stage). Several strange Shapes enter bearing a table. They place the

table before the King and his companions, dance about it, and with gentle

actions invite them to partake of the banquet spread before them. The Shapes

then depart.

Alonzo is frightened by this spectacle and appeals to Heaven for protection.

He wonders what these strange figures could be. To Sebastian, they resemble

living puppets, and, having seen this sight, he no longer will doubt that there

are unicorns, or that in Arabia, the phoenix (a bird continually reborn from

the ashes of its predecessor) is enthroned in a tree unique to its own species.

Antonio says he will believe in all those things and the other incredible

stories travelers tell of their journeys, as well, though the fools at home

believe all such tales are lies.

Gonzalo wonders if he were to report in Naples what they have seen here, would

there be any who believe him? Though these "islanders" are of monstrous shape,

he observes, yet they have manners more gentle than most of the humans in his

generation. In an aside, Prospero voices agreement: "Honest lord, thou hast

said well; for some of you there present are worse than devils."

Alonzo also could not help but notice that the Shapes, though lacking speech,

had an excellent way of conversing with gestures. Prospero comments that

Alonzo would do well to wait until the entertainment is completed before

praising his hosts.

"They vanished strangely," Francisco remarks. No matter, Sebastian says, they

left the food behind, and, since they are all hungry, he asks who will be the

first to partake. "Not I," Alonzo says with apprehension. Gonzalo assures him

there is no need to fear. When they were boys, who would have believed the

things explorers now tell them of mountaineers with wallets of flesh hanging

under there throats, dewlapped like bulls, and men whose heads are within their

chest?

Alonzo submits. Though it may be his last meal, he says, it will make little

difference, for the best part of his life is past. He then commands his

brother to join him in sampling the food.

As they approach the table, thunder rolls and lightning flashes. Ariel

suddenly appears in the guise of a harpy (a mythological creature with the head

of a woman and the body of a vulture). He claps his wings over the table and

the banquet vanishes. In a stern, accusatory voice, audible only to Alonzo,

Antonio and Sebastian, Ariel indicts them as "three men of sin" whom Destiny

has caused the sea, ever-hungry for drowning victims, to belch upon this

uninhabited island (a place wholly suited to them, since they are unfit to live

among other men). He has made them mad, Ariel says, and in such madness men

are often wont to hang or drown themselves.

The three draw their swords. Ariel calls them fools. He and his companions

are ministers of Fate, impervious to their weapons; they might as well strike

at the wind or stab at the water. Even if they could do harm, Ariel warns, he

now has made their swords so heavy they cannot be lifted.

Accusing them of supplanting the good Prospero from Milan and exposing him and

his innocent child to the sea, Ariel pronounces that the Powers (delaying their

punishment, but not forgetting) have now made all of Nature conspire against

them. These Powers have already deprived Alonzo of his son, and, through

Ariel, do now sentence them to a "lingering perdition" worse than any death.

Only repentance and a blameless future life, he warns, will prevent such

punishment in this lonely place. Then, as suddenly as he appeared, Ariel

vanishes in a thunderous noise.

To soft music, the Shapes enter again and dance with contemptuous gestures and

expressions as they carry out the table.

Prospero is pleased with Ariel and the other spirits for the manner in which

they performed his instructions. Nothing was omitted, he says, and his high

charms have now placed his enemies completely within his power. Leaving them

in their confused state, he exits from his position over the scene to return to

the business concerning Ferdinand and his daughter.

Gonzalo, who has been unable to hear Ariel's words, asks Alonzo why he stands

in such a strange stare. "It is monstrous, monstrous!" the King responds. To

him, it seemed as though the waves spoke, the winds sang and the thunder did

pronounce his crime against Prospero. He now understands: his son has drowned

in retribution for his own hideous offense! He rushes off, vowing to lie with

Ferdinand in the muddied bottom of the sea. With swords drawn, Antonio and

Sebastian run out defiantly, threatening to take these fiends on one at a time.

Gonzalo realizes that guilt has finally made these men mad, "like poison given

to work a great time after." He pleads with the younger members of their party,

those that have "suppler joints," to pursue swiftly and prevent what madness

may now provoke in these men. Adrian asks Gonzalo to follow, and they all exit

hurriedly.