Act 1

 The opening scene of William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ is a dramatic significance for many
reasons. The name of the poem is linked into the story straight away because King Alonso and
his noble courtiers are trapped on a ship in the midst of a storm which is the literal meaning of
the tempest. The tempest itself is like an eruption of drama and action, the way it destroys is
almost symbolic of overthrow and usurpation which is echoed later on in the book.
The storm scene that opens The Tempest establishes nature as an important element of the play
and emphasizes the role of nature in society. Other tempests will be revealed in subsequent
scenes, such as the emotional tempests that familial conflict creates, the tempests of discord
and of forbidden love. Finally, the opening scene of The Tempest serves to introduce and give
some insight to the first set of characters being introduced in the play.

Act 2

 The dramatic significance of Prospero's story told to Miranda gives the audience a grasp of the
identities of the people on stage in relation to him and why he may want them on the island in
the certain groups, which is imperative if the audience is to understand the motives behind the
characters actions both beforehand and presently. This is shown in the conversation between
Antonio and Sebastian, as we were made aware of their crudeness and selfishness in the first
scene, but it is only now that the relationship between them is conveyed. This is depicted by the
continuation of each other's jokes, and the similar way in which they view the situation of being
stranded on the island.
 Later on in the Act, Prospero sent Ariel to put the King and his courtiers to sleep, using it as a
judge of character owing to the trend in Shakespeare that those susceptible to music or sleep
are of a better nature, and those who are not have guilty minds. This Act therefore serves to
introduce the theme of remorse and redemption.

Act 3

 Act 3 is significant of the climax of the play because it highlights the ways that Prospero uses
magic to control and manipulate the other people on the island and shows the fact that
Prospero finally has all his enemies at his mercy.
 Prospero uses the illusion of the banquet to remind the men of how hungry and desperate they
are for power and the banquet's sudden disappearance ironically shows the courtiers how
powerless they are. Ariel's rebuke forces them to realize that everything they have lost is a
result of their own sinful actions. Prospero uses magic to manipulate and humiliate the men as a
way to gain power over them. The characters' reactions to the loss of the banquet are
consistent with their attitudes toward their past deeds, and foreshadow their reactions to
Prospero's future attempts at reconciliation. Alonso is repentant, Antonio and Sebastian are
defiant, and Gonzalo acts as caretaker.
 Prospero’s final verse, “My high charms work, And these, mine enemies, are all knit up In their
distractions. They are now in my power; And in these fits I leave them”, sets the stage for his
confrontation with his enemies and the restoration of peace.
Act 4

 The dramatic significance of the betrothal masque is to confirm the marriage of Miranda and
Ferdinand and it draws on mythical goddesses and on Greek and Roman mythology which
represent the promise of fertility, heavenly harmony, and an eternal springtime of love.
 The betrothal strengthens the theme of reality and illusion and also signifies Prospero’s great
power. However, Prospero became so overwhelmed with his magical abilities that he almost
forgets about Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo, who were conspiring to murder him. If he
remained absorbed in his magic, he would have lost his opportunity to carry out his revenge.
The moment is a humanizing one for Prospero, as he realizes his mortality and his forgetfulness,
as well as the limits of his magic and he finally accepts that in order to properly regain his
dukedom, he would have to abolish all his magic.

Significance of the Game of Chess (Act 5)

 The game of chess which interrupts Act 5, Scene 1, between Miranda and Ferdinand is used by
Shakespeare to show how Prospero has successful completed his aims - as he has managed to
win the king, Alonso, and taught him the lesson of his treachery.
 The game may also suggest that Prospero's power is ominous as he uses the people around him,
even Miranda, as 'pawns' in his game to achieve his aims, disregarding the wishes of the other
characters.

Significance of the Setting Used

 The Tempest takes place on an island somewhere in the Mediterranean, creating a setting that
instantly isolates the characters from the world beyond. That isolation allows the magic to
happen on the island and allows the viewer to suspend disbelief as the natural and the
supernatural collide there without the constraints of civilization. Isolation also adds to Miranda’s
innocence, leaving her untouched by the world and by men other than her father, so she has no
feminine wiles, no deviousness, only purity, sweetness and honesty.

Significance of Prospero’s Books

 Prospero's books demonstrate the art of knowledge and also show his isolation from civilization
as magic is what causes him to forget his duties as Duke of Milan and cause Antonio to usurp
him. We can see, from the ending of the play, that the only way Prospero can return to
civilization is by ridding himself of his magic by destroying his books. This suggests that magic or
the supernatural does not function in society.