10 Key Quotes (Tempest)

• ‘If by your art my dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar allay them.’ — Miranda

  • Wild waters refers to the huge storm at sea that she has just witnessed.
  • The storms looks like it will sink a passing ship.
  • She suspects that Prospero has used his magical powers create the storm, and asks him to stop it.
  • She doesn't
  • know that they have been stranded because of the people on the ship.
  • When they reach the island, Prospero will get an opportunity for revenge.
• ‘Me, poor man, my library was dukedom large enough’. — Prospero

  • Prospero is telling Miranda that the reason he was thrown from power was because he is devoted to learning, his library is the thing he values more than his dukedom.
  • He wants to read rather than lead, and it was this neglect of his duties as a ruler that allowed Antonio to seize power.
  • Provokes the question of what makes a good reader?
• ‘For I am all the subjects that you have, which first was my own king.’ — Caliban

  • Informs us of the current mindset of the only native islander, Caliban.
  • Caliban is described as a monster and has been taught to understand Prospero’s language.
  • This quote Shows that there is a great deal of animosity between Prospero and Caliban.
  • Caliban reitterates that he was king of his own island before Prospero arrived and took his freedom. (Colonialism)
  • Provokes the question of whether Prospero has colonised the island and imposed his own beliefs and behaviours on Caliban?


  Caliban
• ‘There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.’ — Miranda

  • Miranda’s first words when she first sees Ferdinand.
  • Prospero has ensured that he is seperated from his fellow travellers so that he can meet Miranda, however she is unaware of this.
  • Highlights her naive belief that what people look like is how they are inside.
  • As he is handsome like a temple he cannot be bad or ill on the inside.
• ‘be not afeared. The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.’ — Caliban

  • Part of one of the most lyrical passages in the play.
  • Describes the magical music that can be heard around the island.
  • By giving such a beautiful speech, we get the impression that Caliban can be empathetic, and he does respond to the music and the delight it offers.
  • Suggests that the work Prospero has done to educate Caliban might have had an effect.
• ‘A devil, a born devil on whose nature nurture can never stick.’ — Prospero

  • Prospero believes that Caliban cannot be made good.
  • Nurture (education or training) cannot improve his nature.
  • However ‘do not be a afeared the isle is full of sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not‘ contrasts this
  • Caliban is described as irredeemable.
• ‘At this hour lies at my mercy all mine enemies.’ — Prospero

  • As the play is developed, Prospero has used his powers to orchestrate events.

  1. Miranda and Ferdinand met and fell in love, and their love is designed to unite Milan and Naples.
  2. Caliban had plotted to kill Prospero but that is now under control.
  3. Antonio and King Alonso are now being brought to Prospero for a final confrontation.

  • ’Mercy‘ is important, does he take revenge, or is he merciful towards his enemies?


  Prospero
• ‘How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has such people in it.’ — Miranda

  • Miranda meets all the people who have been shipwrecked on the island, and she is amazed by how magnificent they are.
  • The audience knows that many of them are far from admirable, yet Miranda still believes that what she sees on the outside matches their character.
  • Limited character development, she remains naive.
  • We will shortly be informed that Prospero plans for her to become the new Queen of Naples, and this creates doubt about her ability to rule effectively.
  • Will she be too trusting of others?
• ‘I’ll be wise hereafter and seek for grace.’ — Caliban

  • these simple words suggest that Caliban realises his error in being so antagonistic towards Prospero and hopes that he will forgive or be able to please him.
  • these lines are often cut in productions that focus on a post-colonial interpretation. They do not want Caliban to be seen as compliant to Prospero.
  • the opposing argument is that Prospero’s methods have created a situation where Caliban is learning a new set of regulation by which he will live.
• ’now my charms are all overthrown, and what strength i have’s mine own, which is most faint.

  • Prospero abandons magic, and accepts that the only power he has lies on his person.
  • He admits that without magic, his power to influence others is faint.
  • We hear that Prospero is returning to rule Milan, and that his daughter will become Queen of Naples.
  • It seems that he has won, however there remains the uneasy sense that he’s not returning to a life he really wants.
  • His brother Antonio, although offered forgiveness is silent and does not accept, there is unresolved trouble still ahead.