Play Book Tag discussion

I read a version of the Tempest that includes a forward outlying several topics about Shakespeare, the writing and publication of The Tempest, and theatres and their practices during the Elizabethan era. After the play, excerpts of scholarly essays regarding different themes were included, giving a broader experience to the play. The play was also filled with footnotes to help better understand.

The Tempest is not my favorite Shakespeare play, no matter how much it was built up in the forward and the scholarly essays, though it was enjoyable. Prospero was usurped by his brother and the king for his title and was set adrift with his daughter. Years later, a ship carrying the King and Prospero's brother is shipwrecked on the very Island Prospero and his daughter now inhabit with a "savage" and a spirit creature. And then events unfold.

Though I enjoyed the play, I am more interested in the events before the play. The play opens with the shipwreck, and the back story is filled in through conversation. I am more interested in the story not mentioned. Apparently, there was at least 2 inhabitants on the island before Prospero. His "savage" captive and the savage's mother who had locked the spirit away. I am more interested in how those events eventually lead to the outcome of The Tempest.

This definitely can be moved under British Literature, Jason!

The play was inspired by a real-life shipwreck, I forget which one.

In general I find Shakespeare plays more enjoyable acted out than read, even with notes.

oops. I meant to put it there. I will change.

yes, part of the information in this copy was about that wreck in the Bermudas. They even had excerpts of the account Shakespeare most likely read.