The Tempest (A Storm not a Character)

             The Tempest is a romance for it mixes elements of comedy as well as tragedy yet resolves with a happy ending. A traditional Shakespearean romance, according to Schwartz, includes elements of “happy endings to potentially tragic situations,” (Schwartz). Prospero, who from the start causes a storm only to take revenge on his brother, ends up forgiving him and their children get married. In fact, in many parts of the play there are threats of murder like when Stephano and Trinculo plan to kill Prospero and take his daughter “Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen--save our graces!—and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?” (Shakespeare act 3 scene 2). Stephano is very greedy and wants to take over the island just for his own gain, yet he does not succeed, eliminating the tragic element to this plot point. Romances are concerned with forgiveness while tragedies with revenge, and although The Tempest includes elements of both, the ending is resolved due to forgiveness. (Schwartz).

            A major aspect of a romance is that they are unrealistic, including supernatural elements, which are an avid part of The Tempest. At one point in the play, Prospero uses his magic to make ghosts fly around the ship and the shipmates are so shocked that they assume more fantasy elements will come, “A living drollery. Now I will believe that there are unicorns, that in Arabia there is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix at this hour reigning there”(Shakespeare act 3 scene 3).  Ariel is also a completely magical being that can cast spells, and work with elements like air, earth, and water. Schwartz discusses the presence of supernatural in Romances, “Romance is unrealistic.  Supernatural elements abound, and characters often seem "larger than life" or one-dimensional,” (Schwartz). Prospero is a very dynamic character who can perform magic which is not at all consistent with characteristics of a tragedy. Another part of The Tempest that fits the romantic characteristics perfectly is that the plot seems serious and ending in catastrophe yet a strange occurrence solves most of the problems. In the play, Antonia agrees with Prospero that having their children married would be the best idea, so instead of them fighting each other, they forgive each other and the play ends in hopes of a wedding (romantic) instead of death (tragedy).

Works Cited 

Schwartz, Debora B. "Shakespeare's Four Final Plays: The Romances." 2005.Web. 13

January 2015. 

"The Tempest: Entire Play." The Tempest: Entire Play. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.