 Prospero, a potent magician, lives on a desolate isle with his virginal daughter, Miranda. He s in exile, banished from his duchy by his usurping brother and the King of Naples. Providence brings these enemies near; aided by his vassal the spirit Ariel, Prospero conjures a tempest to wreck the Italian ship. The king s son, thinking all others lost, becomes Prospero s prisoner, falling in love with Miranda and she with him. Prospero s brother and the king wander the island, as do a drunken cook and sailor, who conspire with Caliban, Prospero s beastly slave, to murder Prospero. Prospero wants reason to triumph, Ariel wants his freedom, Miranda a husband; the sailors want to dance.