Intrigued by something that I would never have read on my own.

Although I have never been a big fan of Shakespeare’s work in the past, I am slowly warming up to the Tempest. In the beginning of this play, as we dove into Act I, I was bored, as is usual for me when I read Shakespeare. For a literary piece to interest me, I have to be sucked into the plot right away, or my attention will be drawn elsewhere. If I am able to relate to the actions of the characters in a novel, or in this case a play, then I am much more likely to enjoy what I read. Normally, I like literature that is realistic. I enjoy reading about (or seeing) something that could in a way relate to my life. The Tempest, however, forces us to use our imaginations, because some of the ideas within the play are a step out of reality. Although this play is nothing like what I would pick on my own to read, and goes against all of my normal standards, I am still finding myself actually paying attention and following the plot closely. Even though this isn’t something that I would normally enjoy, the different characters that make up this play intrigue me. Prospero, to me, is very interesting. It seems that all he wants is to get revenge upon Alonso and Antonio for stealing his title of Duke of Milan. However, I don’t understand why he isn’t happy with the fact that he now has his own island to rule where he has absolute power. Caliban is also very interesting because he is so content with being a servant. He is no longer happy with serving Prospero, but he is begging to serve Stefano and Trinculo. All of the characters contribute to the effect of the play and make it more enjoyable for me to read. So, it seems, I can no longer say that I dislike all of Shakespeare’s work. Instead, I am finding that, when it comes to the Tempest anyway, that I have been drawn in.