Act II. Scene I. - Another Part of the Island.
The rest of the shipwreck survivors wake up on the
island. They are surprised that their clothes smell
and feel as fresh as if they had just been bought at
a market... Ariel's song puts them all to sleep again
except for Sebastian and Antonio. Antonio who replaced
his brother Prospero as Duke of Milan manipulates Sebastian,
King Alonso's brother into doing the same by replacing
King Alonso. The two are about to kill Alonso in his
sleep but Ariel wakes everyone up and they make an excuse
for drawing their swords out.
Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Adrian, Francisco and Gonzalo,
who have all survived the shipwreck, now ponder their
position on the island (Lines 1-64).
Gonzalo remarks on how odd it is that their clothes
should be "new-dyed" (freshly dyed or colored, made)
in appearance rather than stained with salt from their
shipwreck (Line 64-68). We learn from Gonzalo that Alonso
and company were returning from Africa, where they attended
the marriage of the "king's [Alonso's] fair daughter
Claribel to the King of Tunis" (Line 70).
Gonzalo repeats his fresh clothes observation to Alonso
(Line 100), but Alonso has more pressing fears. He believes
that he has lost his son Ferdinand forever (Lines 113-119).
Francisco tries to offer hope, saying that he is sure
he saw Ferdinand escape the ship alive (Lines 120-129).
Alonso however, is convinced that he has lost his
son, and asks his subjects now for, "Prithee, peace"
(quiet), (Line 134). Sebastian echoes Alonso's feeling
of loss, and adds that it is the King's fault he lost
his son, since the voyage to Africa was advised against
"By all of us;" (by all of us), (Line 136).
Gonzalo scolds Sebastian for this thinking and then
daydreams about what he would do with his new island
home as a part of a commonwealth (Line 154). This earns
Gonzalo the mockery of both Antonio and Sebastian (Lines
143-192).
Ariel now enters invisible and playing solemn music.
This music has a powerful effect on our survivors; they
each fall asleep except for Antonio and Sebastian (Lines
192-210).
Now alone, Antonio begins to convince Sebastian to
kill his brother, The King of Naples (Alonso), by telling
him that "My strong imagination sees a crown / Dropping
upon thy head" (my strong imagination sees the crown
of your father, King Alonso falling on your head. I
can see you replacing your brother as king), (Line 216).
Sebastian is at first reluctant to accept this but
is gradually convinced by Antonio's guarantees that
the King's men will follow him. Antonio further points
out that he has experience in this; he did after all,
replace his brother Prospero by similar means and was
successful.
Drawing their swords to kill Alonso in his sleep, Ariel
reappears and with a song in Gonzalo's ear awakens him,
Gonzalo's shouting then waking the King (Lines 308-316).
Alonso and then Gonzalo ask why Sebastian and Antonio
have their swords drawn (Lines 320-332).
Sebastian explains that they heard "a hollow burst
of bellowing / Like bulls, or rather lions;" (I heard
noises like bulls or lions and so drew my sword as protection),
(Line 320). This appears to convince all present. Ariel
departs, pledging to tell Prospero of his deed and telling
Alonso to "go safely on to seek thy son" (go look for
your son, Ferdinand), (End of scene).
Act II. Scene II. - Another Part of the Island.
Trinculo, a jester on the ship, discovers Caliban
and quickly realizes that such a beast would earn him
a fortune as a novelty in England. Stephano, Trinculo's
friend eventually finds Trinculo under Caliban's huge
frame. Stephano gives Caliban alcohol, causing Caliban
to think Stephano is more powerful than Prospero whom
Caliban hates. The three set off together...
Caliban enters our view, carrying a heavy burden of
wood. Caliban is cursing his master Prospero. Trinculo
now appears. Caliban seeing this jester, assumes that
he must be a spirit: "Here comes a spirit of his [Prospero],
and to torment me / For bringing wood in slowly:" (here
comes another one of Prospero's spirits to torment me
for bringing the wood in too slowly), he says, deciding
to lie flat on the ground to hopefully avoid it's attention
(Line 15).
Trinculo, dressed in his jester costume fears the elements.
He has a solution, and decides to hide his head under
Caliban's large frame. Not sure whether Caliban is man
or fish, such is his smell, Trinculo nonetheless uses
Caliban as shelter. Furthermore, he believes that should
Caliban be a fish, he would earn Trinculo a good living
back in England as a novelty.
Stephano now arrives, singing, bottle in hand. Caliban
again believes this man to be a spirit telling Stephano
to leave him alone. "Do not torment me:" he cries (Line
59).
The sight of Caliban amazes Stephano. At first he believes
this monster to have four legs and two heads but later
realizes it is just his friend Trinculo crawling under
the frame of Caliban. Probing Caliban, Stephano like
Trinculo, realizes that Caliban would earn a fortune
back in England as a "monster of the isle with four
legs," (Line 69). Caliban however is not enjoying any
of this, telling Stephano to leave him alone.
Discovering Caliban's head, Stephano pours his alcohol
into Caliban's mouth (Lines 87-127). Stephano now discovers
his friend Trinculo under Caliban's frame.
The alcohol however has affected Caliban profoundly.
Spellbound by what he believes is a celestial drink,
Caliban renounces (rejects) Prospero, and pledges his
loyalty to Stephano, whom he hopes will free him from
Prospero. Caliban will fish for his new leader, find
wood and pick berries (Lines 172-180). Stephano now
decides that with the King and all his followers likely
drowned, he will inherit this island. Together they
follow Caliban, newly united as three.
|