The Tempest, William Shakespeare, 1611

A ‘comedy’ that is viewed by many as WS’s farewell play, especially given the epilogue in which Prospero says “Now my charms are all o’erthrown/And what strength I have’s mine own/Which is most faint.”  Prospero, the Duke of Milan, is overthrown by his brother Antonio and the King of Naples, Alonsa, and along with his daughter, Miranda, ends up on this island in the Mediterranean where he finds the native ‘monster’ Caliban and the spirit Ariel.  The overthrown Duke is restored to his rightful place when he creates a storm which ‘sinks’ the ship returning from Claribel’s wedding in Tunis along with the brother, the King of Naples and his son and brother along with various knaves and good guys.  A happy ending which is quite unusual in this course!