The play "The Storm": a brief summary (Shakespeare William)

Many people are interested in this work - the history of creation, reviews, summary ... "Storm" (Shakespeare) and to this day is included in the repertoires of many theaters. This play is attributed to the late works of Shakespeare. In genre, the work is a tragicomedy. This means that it describes the tragic vicissitudes, but the end is happy. You will be convinced of this by studying the plot of the work "The Storm" (summary). Shakespeare, creating the play, followed the spirit of the times. The genre of the tragicomedy came into fashion in the early 17th century. Most of the late plays of the author of interest are related to him. It is believed that the best tragicomedy, created by Shakespeare, is "The Storm".

Summary

The events of the play unfold on a secluded island. All the characters of the work are transferred here from different countries.

Shakespeare describes the storm. Thunder is heard, lightning flashes. The ship is in the sea. The team is trying to save the ship, but the notable passengers (Antonio, Duke of Milan, Neapolitan King Alonzo, his son Ferdinand and brother Sebastian, as well as the nobles accompanying the king) distract her from work. Using very unpleasant expressions, the boatswain sends all the passengers to the cabins. When Gonzalo, the virtuous old counselor of the king, tries to shout at him, the sailor replies that roaring shafts do not care about kings. The efforts of the team, however, do not lead to anything.

That's what exciting events the work of "The Storm" begins (a short summary). Shakespeare then tells us about the cause of the disaster that happened. It, I must say, is very interesting.

The true cause of the shipwreck

So, the ship goes to the bottom under the curses of some and the plaintive cries of others. This spectacle is shocked by the 15-year-old Miranda, the daughter of Prospero, a mighty wizard. Together with her father she lives on the island. The unfortunate ship is broken precisely on its shores. Miranda begs Prospero to use her magic to pacify the sea. However, he calms her down, saying that through the power of his art he has made sure that all the passengers remain alive. The magician conjured this sham shipwreck to arrange the fate of Miranda.

The story of a magician and his daughter

For the first time Prospero decides to tell his daughter about how they found themselves on the island. The wizard was once the duke of Milan. His brother Antonio 12 years ago, he overthrew him from the throne, enlisting the support of Alonzo, the Neapolitan king. The usurper promised to pay tribute to Alonzo.

The villains, however, did not immediately decide to kill Prospero. The fact is that the people were very fond of the Duke. Therefore, together with Miranda, he was sent to an open sea on an unfit ship. Only thanks to Gonzalo they managed to escape. This compassionate lord gave them supplies, and also allowed the wizard to take with him the folios that he valued above the duchy. These books are the source of the magical power of Prospero.

The wicked witch and her son

The Duke and his daughter, after swimming some time in the sea, found himself on an island that was already inhabited by that time. Here lived the vile Caliban, whose mother was the evil sorceress Sicorax. This woman was expelled from Algeria for numerous villainies. Besides them, Ariel, the spirit of the air, was on the island. The witch wanted Ariel to serve her, but he was too pure, so he could not carry out her evil orders. For this the sorceress clamped the air spirit in the split pine. Here, Ariel has suffered for many years without any hope of liberation, for Sicorax died.

Prospero managed to liberate a powerful and beautiful spirit. However, the magician obliged him to serve himself in gratitude for his salvation, promising Ariel freedom in the future. As for Caliban, he has since become a slave to Prospero and has done all the hard work for him. The magician first tried to plant the fruits of civilization to an ugly savage. He taught Caliban to speak. However, the sorcerer could not defeat the savage nature of this savage.

Ariel's help, Ferdinand's acquaintance with Miranda

The father plunges his daughter into a dream. Appears Ariel. It was he who broke the Neapolitan fleet returning from Tunisia. In Tunisia, the king celebrated the wedding of his daughter with the local king. This Ariel drove to the island of the royal ship and played a shipwreck. In addition, he locked the ship's crew in the hold and put it to sleep, and scattered noble passengers along the shore. Prince Ferdinand was alone in a deserted place. The summary of the work "Storm" (Shakespeare) conveys only the main events of the play. Therefore, we will not dwell on the details.

The wizard orders Ariel to become a sea nymph, visible only to the magician himself. The sweet singing of this nymph must entice the prince into the cave where Prospero and his daughter live. Then the wizard calls Caliban. He is rude to the master, because he thinks that he got the island from his mother by right, and Prospero robbed him. In response, the sorcerer showered Caliban with terrible threats and reproaches. The villain is compelled to obey. Appears Ariel in the form of an invisible nymph. He sings, and spirits echo him. Ferdinand follows Ariel, driven by magic music. Miranda is delighted with the prince. He, in turn, takes on the beautiful daughter of Prospero for the goddess.

The test of the prince from the play "The Storm" (Shakespeare)

The summary of the chapters continues with an interesting scene. Ferdinand says that he is a Neapolitan king, since his father just died. He wants to see Miranda as Queen of Naples. The wizard is pleased that the young people liked each other. However, he wants to create obstacles to their love, so as not to discount its ease.

Prospero makes a severe appearance and accuses Ferdinand of being impostors. Despite her daughter's pleas, the wizard defeats the prince, using witchcraft. Then he turns him into slavery. Nevertheless, Ferdinand is pleased. He thinks that he can at least catch a glimpse of Miranda from his prison. The daughter of the magician comforts him. Prospero praises Ariel, informs him that he will soon be released. But while the magician gives him a new task.

The plan of the villains

Alonzo, who is on the other side of the island, mourns for her son. King tries to console Gonzalo. Sebastian and Antonio blame Alonzo for everything that happened. Invisible Ariel appears under the sound of music. He brings a magical dream to the nobles and the king. However, two villains - the usurper Antonio and Sebastian - remain awake. The usurper forces Sebastian to commit fratricide, promises a reward. Swords are already exposed, but Ariel, as always with music, interferes with what is happening. The spirit awakens Gonzalo, and the others awake. Antonio and Sebastian, nevertheless, manage to wriggle out.

Villain Caliban meets in the woods the drunkard Stefano (the royal butler) and the jester Trinkulo. Stefano treats Caliban with wine from a bottle, which he managed to save. The villain is happy. He says that Stefano is now his god.

Explanation of love

We will not dwell on this scene in detail, describing the play "The Storm" (summary). Shakespeare is, as always, on top. He draws the following picture. Turned by a wizard into slavery Ferdinand drags logs. Prospero's daughter seeks to help him. Young people explain each other in love. This scene is unnoticed by the deeply moved Prospero.

Villains are defeated

Caliban proposes Stefano to take possession of the island, killing a wizard. The whole company gets drunk. They are not clever yet, and then the spirit of the air is taken to confuse them and fool them.

Under strange music, a table is set before the king and his entourage. Everyone wants to start eating, but she immediately disappears. Ariel in the form of a harpy appears under thunderous rumblings. He reproaches those gathered for the atrocity that they committed against Prospero. Ariel encourages them to repent, frightening with terrible torments. Antonio, Alonzo and his brother go crazy.

Allegorical representation

The wizard tells Ferdinand that he has stood the test of love. Prospero promises his daughter to be his wife. Meanwhile, he asks Ariel and other spirits to play before the young people an allegorical performance with singing and dancing. The named father-in-law at the end of the play tells the prince that our whole life is surrounded by a dream.

Escape the thieves

Describing the work "Storm" (a summary of the acts and scenes), one should also tell about the future fate of Trinkulo, Stefano and Caliban, who conceived evil. Savage in vain encourages his companions to action - these greedy Europeans draw bright rags, specially posted by Ariel on this occasion. There are spirits in the form of hounds of dogs. Ariel and Prospero, invisible to others, yell at them for thieves. They escape with screams.

The Last Sorcery of the Magician

Ariel tells the wizard how the criminal madmen, to whom he feels pity, suffer. And the magician is not alien to compassion. His goal is the repentance of the madmen. Prospero orders the king and his entourage. The spirit of the air disappears.

The wizard, left alone, says that he decided to leave magic, drown magic books and break his rod. Alonzo and his retinue appear under solemn music. Prospero last resorted to magic - he removes the enchantments of insanity from his offenders, and then appears before them with ducal regalia and in all his glory. Alonzo asks the magician to forgive him. Prospero promises Antonio and Sebastian not to tell anyone about their criminal intent against the king. The omniscience of the magician frightens them. The wizard hugs Gonzalo and praises him. He lets go of Ariel. The spirit of the air flies with a cheerful song. The magician comforts the king by showing him a lively and healthy son, who plays chess in the cave with Miranda.

You are curious to know what is the end of the work "Storm" (summary)? Shakespeare prepared for us a very spectacular finale.

Final Events and the Importance of the Play

So, the wedding is a decided thing. Appear sailors from the ship. Miraculously saved ship is ready to sail. The spirit of the air leads the spoiled Trinkulo, Stefano and Caliban. Everyone laughs at them. The wizard forgives the thieves, but only if they tidy the cave. Full of repentance Caliban promises to fulfill everything and will continue to be smarter. He blames himself for believing that he was a drunkard. The magician invites everyone to the cave to spend the night, in order to go "to the wedding of children" in Naples in the morning. From there, Prospero plans to return to Milan, where he wants to reflect on the leisure of death. The wizard asks Ariel about the last service - to conjure him a fair wind, after which he bids farewell to him.

Shakespeare ends his work with these events. The "storm", the summary of which we have outlined, has not lost its popularity for many centuries. There are several adaptations of this work, the last of which refers to 2010. A source of inspiration for a number of painters was the play created by William Shakespeare (The Storm). The summary of it became the basis of several well-known musical works. Among them - the symphonic fantasy created by PI Tchaikovsky "The Storm". It is no accident that many talented people paid tribute to Shakespeare. "Storm", the summary of which was reviewed by us, is just one of the many worthy works of this author.