Neither tragedy nor comedy, but a romance, The Tempest (1610-11) is believed to be the last play written in entirety by William Shakespeare.  Prospero and his daughter Miranda have lived on a remote island for twelve years with native spirit Ariel as servant and the monstrous Caliban as slave.  Prospero’s brother, Antonio, conspired with Alonso, King of Naples, to deposed him as  Duke of Milan. Prospero, a sorcerer, divines that they are passing by and conjures a tempest to maroon them on the island. Prospero separates the survivors into several groups, and several plots unfold.  Caliban plots with two drunkards to undo Prospero and fails.  Prospero tests Alonso’s son Ferdinand, who passes and is rewarded with the hand of Miranda.  Alsonso’s brother Sebastian conspires with Antonio to kill Alonso and gain the kingdom of Naples, and is foiled by Ariel, working under Prospero’s guidance. With his powers in full sway, Prospero ends by forgiving the conspirators, freeing Ariel, pardoning Caliban, breaking his magic staff and drowning his magic book. 

The Tempest was overlooked until the Restoration, when adaptations began appearing. Productions began to perform the entire text in the 19^th century and the play is now considered one of Shakespeare’s finest works.  It has inspired no less that 46 operas. The character of Prospero and the power of his sorcery is seen by scholars as symbols of Shakespeare the playwright and the power of theatre to shape reality.  The closing moment when Prospero asks the audience to set him free from the island with their applause is interpreted as Shakespeare’s farewell. 

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