'The Tempest' was one of Shakespeare's last plays. After the first scene, depicting a ship at sea in a mighty tempest, the story continues on a remote island inhabited by a magician, Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, who were washed ashore twelve years before. They live with an untamed monster, Caliban, and a spirit, Ariel, who lived on the island before Prospero arrived, but are forced into servitude by him.
The play explores themes of magic, betrayal, revenge and forgiveness. It reflects the cruelty of colonialism in the 17th century and it is possible that Shakespeare based the character of Prospero on himself: just as Prospero relinquished his magic, Shakespeare stopped creating his magical plays.