| Act 1 scene 1 importance | establishes a sense of chaos and tension before we know it is an illusion – immediately engages the audience |
| Act 1 scene 1 plot setting | forms the basis of the entire structure of the play |
| Act 1 scene 2 . importance | – establishes background for major characters-allows audience to understand the context of whats going on-establishes key relationship dynamics-founds antonio and sebastian as villains- forms miranda and ferdinand as sense of hope but also as symbols of Prospero’s control |
| Act 1 scene 2 plot setting | foreshadows and justifies prospero’s actions |
| Act 2 scene 1 importance | founds the evil charactersestablishes Gonzalo as a good characterGonzalo’s utopia speech diverts focus from hierarchy when the ‘superiors’ in the scene are evil -highlighting it as a plausible method of government |
| Act 2 scene 1 plot setting | gives the ‘bad guy of the play’drives the audiences sense of fear and animosity |
| Act 2 scene 2 importance | establishes subplot of the play to act as a foil to the main plotbuilds Caliban’s character as more complex leading . to the audiences questioning their views |
| Act 2 scene 2 plot setting | provides a literary foil to the main plotallows the audience to develop a greater understanding of calibanthis may be where modern audiences’ sympathy for caliban emerges |
| Act 3 scene 1 importance | deepens the love story of the play and shows contrast between courtly love and Miranda’a take on lovefurther illustrates Prospero’s control in the play |
| Act 3 scene 1 plot setting | establishes that their relationship is key to the reunification at the end of the play |
| Act 3 scene 2 importance | expands subplot further expands on Caliban’s hatred forProspero while also further expanding Caliban as a vulnerable character |
| Act 3 scene 2 plot setting | somewhat justifies the actions of Caliban against Prospero depending on the audience begins to flesh out the ‘key tension’ of the subplot |
| Act 3 scene 3 importance | begins the sense of Alonso’s remorse and begins to lean towards reconciliationfleshes out Antonio and Sebastian’s evil points out flaws in Ariel’s guise as he is really a slave |
| Act 3 scene 3 plot setting | pivotal in the play as a whole as this is when Alonso begins the path of remorse leading to the end of the play. Also shows A and S to have no guilt which is of importance later oncould be considered the major turning point |
| Act 4 scene 1 importance | displays importance of virginity in the play as a wholeillusion of goddesses provides a sense of the supernatural power of their loveProspero’s speech makes him appear more vulnerable and human but his treatment of Ariel reaffirms his brutality – cemented at the end of the scene |
| Act 4 scene 1 plot setting | solidifies F and M’s relationshipmay foreshadow the end of the play as Prospero is depicted as not an entirely horrible person |
| Act 5 scene 1 importance | jarring shift from vengeful end of previous scene to the peacefulness . of this oneestablishes prospero’s success and the recalibration of the natural order |
| Act 5 scene 1 plot setting | ties everything togther |
| epilogue importance | importance differs depending on perspective:a)shows how prospero’s changedb) shows how he is reconciling himself with Godc) but there is the underlying inference that Prospero is only ‘changing’ because he has one showing himself to not have changedd) Shakespeare speaking through Prospero giving his goodbye to theatre |
| epilogue plot setting | ends the play on a confusing note as Prospero can both be brutal and vulnerable |
The Tempest: scene importance and purpose in plot
July 20, 2019