Student Book Review:


Tempest,The

-

classic

by: William Shakespeare


Review done by:

 Elizabeth G.
Grade 6
Van Antwerp Middle School
Niskayuna, NY

William Shakespeare is a wonderful writer and The Tempest is one his best. It is set in Shakespeare's time, (the early 1600's) so the language is a little challenging, but it is a wonderful story.
Before the play begins, a magician named Prospero was the duke of Milan. He left the duties of ruling Milan to his brother, Alonso, who eventually usurped the dukedom from him. When Alonso did that, he ordered an old councillor, Golonzo, to set Prospero and his baby daughter, Miranda, adrift in a little boat with no food or water. But Golonzo was Prospero's friend and secretly gave him enough to eat and some water, as well as Prospero's books of magic. After a while at sea, Prospero and Miranda land on an island and free a spirit of the air, Ariel, who later helps them out--a lot.
The play begins twelve years later on a ship carrying Alonso, who is now the duke of Milan, Antonio,the king of Naples, Golonzo, the man who saved Prospero twelve years ago and Ferdinand, Antonio's son (There are others on board, but these are the ones we are primarily concerned with.). They are in the midst of a very big storm (the tempest)and the boatswain (pronounced bo-sun) is telling them to stay in the cabin. But no matter what the crew does, they seem destined to sink--and they seem to.
Then the scene changes to the island where Prospero is. Miranda is now fourteen and is worried about the ship. Prospero then explains to her that the storm was stirred up by his magic, and that not one person is hurt. Then we meet Caliban, Prospero's slave, who is half-man, half-monster. In the next scene, Caliban plays an important part in the play by plotting to kill Prospero with Stephano, Alonso's drunken butler and Trinculo, his jester. Then two lords of Antonio's plot to kill him but Ariel stops that plan in a hurry. Now, Miranda and Ferdinand meet and Prospero pretends to be very mean and makes Ferdinand carry logs. In III.1, Miranda and Ferdinand get married. The ending is very satisfying and heartwarming. It made me feel as if I were watching the characters. This book was truly wonderful; I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
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