The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skillful manipulation. He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to lure his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand.
The play explores many themes, including magic, betrayal, revenge, and family. In act IV, a wedding masque serves as a play-within-a-play and contributes spectacle, allegory, and elevated language. The story draws heavily on the tradition of the romance, and it was influenced by tragicomedy, the courtly masque, and perhaps the commedia dell'arte. It is one of Shakespeare's most original and widely admired works, celebrated for its poetic language, its fantastical setting, and its profound meditation on art, power, and forgiveness.
