- Who is it for?
- Ages 12–99
- How long is it?
- 35 min
- What does it include?
- Synced read-along and a quiz
- What does it cost?
- Premium access in Emma's Library
About this audiobook
Twelve years after his brother Antonio stole his dukedom of Milan, the magician Prospero lives on an island with his daughter Miranda, the airy spirit Ariel, and Caliban, the island's first inhabitant. When Antonio, King Alonso of Naples, and their company sail nearby, Prospero commands Ariel to raise a carefully controlled tempest and scatter them ashore unharmed. Miranda and Alonso's son Ferdinand fall in love, while Alonso grieves for the son he thinks drowned. Antonio tempts Sebastian to another act of betrayal; the jester Trinculo and drunken Stephano recruit Caliban into a clumsy plot against Prospero. Ariel's compassion finally moves Prospero to abandon revenge. He reveals Ferdinand, forgives his enemies without pretending their wrongs never happened, frees Ariel, gives up magic, and prepares to return to Milan. Caliban remains on the island, chastened but no longer under Prospero's command, leaving a final question about who can truly claim a land or another person's service.
Why it's worth a listen
A ship seems to break apart in a storm, but every wave is part of Prospero's design. Shakespeare's final solo play mixes magic, comedy, young love, political betrayal, and a difficult struggle over freedom. Listening closely reveals that giving up revenge is only one part of justice; the deeper question is what powerful people owe those whose lives they control.
What listeners will learn
Subjects: literature, storytelling, historical imagination.
- character
- setting
- conflict
- choice
- consequence
- theme
- retelling
- tempest
- classic
- fiction
Questions for after listening
- Retell the central conflict in order.
- Name one important choice and what happened because of it.
- How did the setting or tradition shape the story?
A question to keep
Is forgiveness still meaningful when the person forgiving holds all the power?
Chapters
- The Sea of Glass and Fire
- Spirits of Air and Earth
- The Brave New World
- Whispers in the Dark
- The Banquet of Shadows
- A Question to Keep
Editorial review
Quality reviewed · 96/100 on . Certificate EL-7597-4D77 is bound to the exact narrated script.
The review checks factual care, audience fit, teaching quality, structure, tone and source honesty. Read the editorial standards.
Published 2026-07-19 · Updated
