The Tempest: A Happy Ending?
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is a short comedy, with some romantic aspects involved, set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skillful manipulation. Though the play ends on a happy note, there are many ambiguities which make one wonder whether this will be a ‘happily ever after’ story, as we expect to have all issues resolved in a happy ending.
Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love with each other at first sight. This can cause many drawbacks in their relationship as husband and wife, since they know each other in the play for a very short time and have not yet learned about each other. They seem to be enamored about each other and each is willing to do almost anything for the other. For instance, being a prince, Ferdinand might not have done any physical labor in his life but happily obeys Miranda’s father’s orders to win his favor. Even Miranda becomes extremely upset on seeing Ferdinand’s plight. But these seeming acts of deep affection could be accounted for by other feelings. Ferdinand is taken by Miranda’s beauty and, since he had a near death experience when he believed, he might mistake his sexual attraction to her as true love. Miranda has never seen another man in her life except for her father and the ugly Caliban. She does not have anyone else to compare him to and not knowing what her feelings for him might be.
Moreover, even if Miranda and Ferdinand shared deeper feelings than common attraction, there are other practical reasons that can cause a rift between them. Since Miranda has never been to any other place than the island, she does not know how to interact with anybody else. This can be major problem as she will be a princess immediately after arriving at the court and will become a queen one day; which
Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love with each other at first sight. This can cause many drawbacks in their relationship as husband and wife, since they know each other in the play for a very short time and have not yet learned about each other. They seem to be enamored about each other and each is willing to do almost anything for the other. For instance, being a prince, Ferdinand might not have done any physical labor in his life but happily obeys Miranda’s father’s orders to win his favor. Even Miranda becomes extremely upset on seeing Ferdinand’s plight. But these seeming acts of deep affection could be accounted for by other feelings. Ferdinand is taken by Miranda’s beauty and, since he had a near death experience when he believed, he might mistake his sexual attraction to her as true love. Miranda has never seen another man in her life except for her father and the ugly Caliban. She does not have anyone else to compare him to and not knowing what her feelings for him might be.
Moreover, even if Miranda and Ferdinand shared deeper feelings than common attraction, there are other practical reasons that can cause a rift between them. Since Miranda has never been to any other place than the island, she does not know how to interact with anybody else. This can be major problem as she will be a princess immediately after arriving at the court and will become a queen one day; which
Cited: Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Penguin 97-107.