The Tempest

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.8

Word count: 102K words
Chapters: 11

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Tempest by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 1997

Editor's review

The Tempest is often regarded as the representative work of Shakespeare's late romances, centering on magic, an isolated island, usurpation, and reconciliation. It offers both exquisite scenes of illusion and complex reflections on colonialism, power, and forgiveness. Among Shakespeare's plays it is relatively accessible: the plot is concentrated, the characters are vivid, and the relationships among Prospero, Caliban, and Ariel are especially thought-provoking. It can be read as a fantasy story or as a political allegory. The Project Gutenberg edition provides a public-domain English electronic text, convenient for searching the original, comparing lines, and citing passages. When reading, pay attention to the duality of "magic" as a means of control, and to the significance of laying down the staff and choosing forgiveness at the end; these can lead to discussions about power, freedom, and reconciliation. For readers who want to approach Shakespeare's late style, this is a suitable entry work.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers new to Shakespeare's late romances
Readers interested in themes such as magic, the isolated island, and colonial allegory
Creators who need a public-domain English original for citation or adaptation
Students at secondary school level and above with basic English reading ability

Not a good fit for

Beginners with weak English who need line-by-line annotations
Readers expecting purely realistic history plays or dense political debate
Readers who only want a Chinese translation and do not wish to read the English original

Reading tips

Read through for the plot first, then go back and read closely the dialogues between Prospero and Caliban and Ariel.
Read magic and the staff as symbols of power, and note the meaning of laying down the magic book at the end.
You may read alongside a Chinese translation; when you meet unfamiliar words, first guess from context and then verify.
After finishing, try to summarize the play's structure of "reconciliation" to test your grasp of its themes.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is The Tempest suitable for readers new to Shakespeare?

Relatively suitable. Its plot is concentrated, it is not long, and its fantastical elements are fairly easy to draw readers in. However, the original still contains many archaic words and allusions; readers with only average English are advised to read it alongside an annotated edition or a Chinese translation for smoother understanding.

How should the character Caliban be understood?

Caliban is often read as a symbol of dispossessed land and indigenous identity, and can also be seen as a figure of the oppressed in a power relationship. His rebellion and curses are not simply "savagery" but a response to control and enslavement. When reading, note the contrasting relationships among him, Prospero, and Ariel.

Does this electronic edition include annotations and an introduction?

This edition comes from the Project Gutenberg public-domain English text and mainly contains the play's text; it usually does not include detailed annotations, an introduction, or a chronological background. If you need scholarly annotations, it is advisable to use an edited edition alongside it, or first read the introduction of a Chinese translation.

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About the author

William Shakespeare Author · English · 1564–1616

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the greatest playwright, poet and actor of the English Renaissance. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he is known as the "Bard of Avon." He wrote roughly thirty-seven to thirty-nine plays, one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and narrative poems. His representative works include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. His works span tragedy, comedy and history play, distinguished by rich, poetic language and profound characterization. His explorations of human nature, power, love and fate have had a lasting influence, and his works have been translated into many languages and circulated widely around the world.