Summary:
The Tempest opens in the midst of a storm in the Mediterannean sea, the ship transporting the king of Naples and his entourage en route from Tunisia struggles to stay afloat in the midst of immense crashing waves. Meanwhile Prospero and his daughter Miranda, watch from the nearby island, as the storm engulfs the ship. His daughter Miranda is worried for the fate of the crew of the ship. Prospero reasures her that all will be well. At this point owing to the circumstances, he decides to tell his daughter the truth about his past, he goes on to tell her that he has generated the storm with a magic spell and explains that his enemies are on board the ship.

The story Prospero narrates, is that he is the rightful Duke of Milan, but he was betrayed by his younger brother Antonio, who seized his title and property. Twelve years previously, Prospero helped by Gonazalo, had managed to escaped on a small raft with Miranda at the time an infant together with his books of magic. Miraculously they both survived the ordeal and arrived safely on the island that they made their home. Since then Prospero has learned to harness his magic, which he has used to manipulate other inhabitants of the island. When he first arrived on the island, Prospero rescued a fairy called Ariel, who had been imprisoned in a tree by the witch Sycorax. The other inhabitant of the island is the child of Sycorax and the devil: Caliban, whom Prospero has enslaved. Caliban is a wild man, uncivilized whose only wish is to have his island returned to him, so that he may live alone in peace.

The royal entourage  of the ship land ashore, but are separated into three groups, on different parts of the island. The king’s son, Ferdinand, has landed on the other side of the island where he sees Miranda, and the two instantly fall in love. Meanwhile, Alonso, the king of Naples, and the rest of his party have come ashore on another part of the island. Alonso is worried that Ferdinand is dead and grieves for the loss of his son. Antonio, who is Prospero’s younger brother, has also been washed ashore togrther with the king’s younger brother, Sebastian. Antonio easily convinces Sebastian that he should murder his brother and seize the throne for himself. This plot to murder Alonso is similar to Antonio’s plot against his own brother, Prospero, 12 years previously.

Another element of the royal party, the timid court jester Trinculo and the butler Stephano, also come ashore. Trinculo and Stephano stumble upon Caliban, and each immediately sees an opportunity to make money, by exhibiting Caliban as a retrived monster from this uninhabited island. Stephano has also come ashore with a cask of wine and very soon Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano are drunk. While drinking, Caliban devises a plot to murder Prospero and enrolls his two new acquaintances as accomplices. However Ariel overhears everything, and reports the plot to Prospero.
Prospero fearing for his daughter has kept Ferdinand busy carrying wood and doing other chores. He has  forbidden Miranda to speak to him. Nonetheless the two still find time to secretly meet and proclaim their love for each other; which is exactly what Prospero had intended to happen. Prospero then stages a masqued ball to celebrate the young couple’s engagment, with goddesses and nymphs entertaining the couple with singing and dancing.

While Ferdinand and Miranda are  celebrating their new found love, Alonso and other members of the royal party have been searching for the king’s son. Exhausted by the search and with the king frantic for his son’s life. Prospero using a spell sends a group ghosts to lay out an imaginary banquet for the King. Then a  god-like voice accuses: Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian of their wrongdoings, then the banquet vanishes. Everyone is terrfied and Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian run away. Prospero punishes Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano with a run through a patch brambles and swim in a scummy pond. Having accomplished what he set out to do, Prospero has the king’s party brought to him by Ariel, when he appears infront of the group, Prospero has renounced to his magic spell, and is clothed as the rightful Duke of Milan. Alonso rejects all claims to Prospero’s dukedom and apologizes for his mistakes. Within moments, Prospero reunites the king with his son, Ferdinand. Alonso is over joyed to learn of Miranda’s existence and her engagment to Ferdinand.

Prospero then addresses his brother, Antonio, who expressese no regrets or apology for his perfidy. Nevertheless, Prospero decides to forgive him and pledges not to punish Antonio as a traitor. When Caliban is brought in, he admits to Prospero that he has learned his lesson. His two co-conspirators, Trinculo and Stefano, will be punished by the king. Soon after the whole party retires to Prospero’s lodgings to celebrate and await their return home. Only Prospero is left alone on stage.
In his final speech, Prospero informs the spectators that only with their applause, will he be able to leave the island with the rest of the party. Prospero leaves the stage to the audience’s ovation.