The Typical Shakespearean Comedy

             The Tempest by William Shakespeare falls under the category of a Shakespearean comedy, and naturally, it is pretty compliant with the standard structure of such a play. Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, receives the title of the comic individual. As the audience learns in Act 1, Scene 2, Prospero has been stuck on this island in the middle of the sea for twelve years after being stripped of his dukedom by his own brother, Antonio. However, this is not to say that Prospero’s loss of power is due to solely his brother. In true Shakespearean comic individual fashion, Prospero is a victim of his own acts. While ruling over Milan, he became entranced by his library, unable to pull himself away to actually govern. This governing duty then fell upon his brother. With Prospero wrapped up in his reading, Antonio, for all intents and purposes, was the Duke of Milan; he only lacked the official title. With Prospero tossing aside his responsibilities, it was only natural for Antonio to seize power officially. Obsession got the best of Prospero and led him to this island, making Prospero The Tempest’s comic individual.

                In keeping with the structure of a Shakespearean comedy, The Tempest ends happily. All the controversy and confusion is finally cleared up. Prospero, the comic individual, finally reveals himself to the shipwrecked.  All are surprised to see that he is alive after all of these years. Along with revealing himself, Prospero reveals to Alonso, the king of Naples, that his son Ferdinand is still alive and has fallen in love with Miranda, Prospero’s daughter. As if the web was not tangled enough, Alonso decides to put Prospero back in power in Milan, dethroning Antonio. In this same span of Act 5, Prospero relinquishes his magical powers, preparing to return to his rightful place as Duke of Milan. All of these events are happening in succession, truly creating a grand finale. The comic individual is restored to his initial position, disguises are stripped away, and the love story reaches its culmination, all the great attributes of a Shakespearean comedy ending.