Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Tempest




Title: The Tempest
Author: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Bantam Books
Year of Publication: 1988
Readers Rating: 2.5


In a Nutshell: This joyous play, the last comedy of Shakespeare's career, sums up his stagecraft with a display of seemingly effortless skill. Prospero, exiled Duke of Milan, living on an enchanted island, has the opportunity to punish and forgive his enemies when he raises a tempest that drives them ashore as well as to forestall a rebellion, to arrange the meeting of his daughter, Miranda, with an eminently suitable young prince, and, more important, to relinquish his magic powers in recognition of his advancing age. Richly filled with music and magic, romance and comedy, the play's theme of love and reconciliation offers a splendid feast for the senses and the heart.
(SUMMARY NOT BY ME.)*

The Fantastical Stuff: I would like to start off the review saying, yet again, Shakespeare stuns me with his beautiful work. Although it is hard to understand at times (even with my version that has notes telling you what certain things mean... ha!), it is a very fun and enjoyable story. {A little hint for reading Shakespeare: get a book that has either been modernized or has notes beside the more confusing sentences. Also, I read a review in The Bathroom Book about The Tempest and that helped immensely on the road to appreciating the story.} Anyway, the beauty and the whole flow of the story is magnificent; so poetic. I enjoy the love between Prospero and his daughter. It is so very sweet. To top that off, the humor is much more enjoyable and able to follow in this Shakespearean play than in Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Not-so-fantastical Stuff: There is quite a bit of alcoholic drinking and at one point, a couple men are so drunk, they can't figure the difference between what's real and what's fake. Also, some sexual comments (although, extremely vague) are thrown about, bad leadership is chosen which leads to bad decisions, and a rather large amount of references and conversations about killing are talked over. A few other things pop out such as one beast, who is a servant to Prospero, hates him and wants him dead because Prospero killed the monster's former owner. (The beast's old master was a witch or evil person of some sorts.) Another thing is the story seems long and boring at various points, but I'm sure that if I would have lived back in Shakespeare's time, I would have understood The Tempest and absolutely loved it! :) 


Wrap Up: Interestingly, I have grown quite fond of Shakespeare's writing. I always thought that I would not enjoy any of his stories, but they continue to amaze me. Although The Tempest is quite slow at times (and there are a few questionable things in it), I would definitely recommend it to any reader who's curiosity leads them to the Shakespearean shelf at the library but drags them away from his tragedies. It is, by far, my favorite Shakespearean comedy (that I've read) and I will be delighted to continue reading his beautiful tales when the time comes yet again.  

   

*SUMMARY FROM HERE: http://cbpl.sirsi.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=eBbMCuGExB/WESTCOBB/274360017/9

No comments:

Post a Comment