Act 2 The Tempest

Who was "Widow Dido"?

"Widow Dido" alludes to Aeneas' lover in Virgil's The Aeneid.

What is Adrian's main dramatic purpose in this scene?

Adrian acts as a foil to Antonio and Sebastian who are cynical and abusive.

How does Alonso feel about Gonzalo's proposed commonwealth?

Alonso does not want to hear about Gonzalo's commonwealth.

Why does Alonso feel that he suffers a double loss?

Alonso feels he has lost his daughter in marriage to a man in a distant country and has lost his son in the tempest at sea.

How does Alonso feel about sleep?

Alonso feels that sleep will shut up his thoughts of grief for his son.

Why is Alonso feeling depressed and sad?

Alonso is grieving the supposed loss of his son Ferdinand.

What was Antonio and Sebastian's excuse for drawing their swords?

Antonio and Sebastian claimed they heard the sound of wild animals and drew their swords to protect the king.

Why are Antonio and Sebastian caught with their swords drawn?

Antonio and Sebastian were getting ready to stab Alonso and Gonzalo when Ariel woke them.

How does Antonio view the king's position in the natural hierarchy or society's law of degree.

Antonio feels that the king is "no better than the earth he lies upon."

What does Antonio do as soon as the king falls asleep?

Antonio tries to persuade Sebastian that Sebastian should replace his brother as the king.

How does Antonio feel about his conscience?

Antonio's conscience has been hardened beyond the point of no return.

What does Caliban ask Stephano to be?

Caliban asks Stephano to be his god.

How does Stephano's wine affect Caliban?

Caliban believes Stephano is a "brave god" who "bears celestial liquor."

What promises does Caliban make to Trinculo and Stephano?

Caliban promises to show Trinculo and Stephano all the natural wonders of the island.

What is the central idea in Caliban's song?

Caliban's song expresses a joyous freedom from his master, Prospero.

Who would manage Gonzalo's ideal commonwealth?

Gonzalo would be the king of the commonwealth.

How does Adrian feel about the atmosphere of the island?

He feels that the island is uninhabitable, yet the air is sweet and climate is temperate

Who has sent Ariel to stop the conspiracy? Why?

Prospero has sent Ariel to stop the conspirators so his project will not fail.

What is Prospero's project?

Prospero's project is the restoration of his dukedom of Milan.

How do Antonio and Sebastian react to Alonso's depressed mood?

Sebastian and Antonio are rude and insensitive to Alonso.

Why does Sebastian tell Alonso he has himself to blame for his son's death?

Sebastian is implying that Alonso forced his daughter to marry a foreigner. It was their trip to the wedding that caused his son's death.

How does Sebastian feel when Antonio suggests that Sebastian should be the future king?

Sebastian thinks that Antonio must be asleep.

How did Stephano arrive at the shore of the island?

Stephano floated to the shore on a barrel of wine.

What does Stephano think he has found when he runs across Caliban's cloak with four legs protruding?

Stephano thinks he has found a four-legged, two-voiced monster.

What happened to the garments of the royal party during the storm at sea?

Their garments were drenched but now they are as fresh as they were the day they put them in Africa.

Where does Trinculo hide from the impending thunderstorm?

Trinculo hides under Caliban's cloak with him.

How did Trinculo get to the shore?

Trinculo swam to the shore like a duck.

What does Trinculo think about Caliban's worship of Stephano as his god?

Trinculo thinks Caliban is a "ridiculous monster" who would "make a wonder of a poor drunkard."

What does Trinculo think he has discovered when he first meets Caliban?

Trinculo thinks he has run across some fish-like monster of the island.

In what way is Sebastian an heir to the throne?

With Ferdinand supposedly dead and Claribel, his sister, in Tunis, Sebastian is next in line to the throne.