The Tempest Thesis

Imagine being stranded on an island with no experience, surviving for ten months, and building an escape with just the help of some people. In the “True Repertory of the Wreck”, all of this did happen and was influential in shaping Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The shipwreck that occurred during this time caused several crew members of the Sea Venture to be stranded on an island. While this vessel was trapped on an island, the others made it to a village called Jamestown, in Virginia, where they went to establish a colony. Strachey, the author of “The True Wreck,” had to survive for ten months with his crew members and find a way to get back to safety. The True Repertory of the Wreck that took place in 1609 near Bermuda played a very influential

This storm was also known as the “Storm that saved America,” due to the idea that colonization helped shape America. After months of Strachey and his crew of being stranded on the island, built vessels to sail to America. They arrived there only to notice that their colony was raided by native Indians. The greatest idea of creating the play the way it was the idea of colonization in Jamestown, Virginia. This was Shakespeare’s main inspiration for him to write The Tempest. Some events included in Shakespeare’s play that is mentioned in Strachey’s text are the storms taking over ships, causing the crew to be stranded on an island for a long time. In these situations, many people had to build a temporary life until they were rescued. They colonized the area in Virginia, but for the time being, they also initiated a settlement on the island. These aspects of colonization such as having conflicts with the native peoples, shaping a new society and attempts to control others are apparent in both

Each story, a violent storm takes place which William Strachey and Shakespeare had to adapt to a new environment after the occurrence. With that being, both characters of each text had to live to their new surroundings and make a new living. In The Tempest, Prospero arrives on the island with his daughter Miranda after they were sent into exile. For about 12 years, Prospero and Miranda had to find ways to survive with the help of teamwork and magic. Although Shakespeare’s text is modified from The True Repertory of the Wreck, it is clearly understood that there were attempts to shape a new society through the help of Strachey. As Prospero arrives on the island, he encounters Caliban, which is a major struggle in shaping a new society because the native, Caliban, refuses to give up his land due to his previous actions on Prospero. Caliban attempted to rape Miranda, which Prospero became enraged and imprisoned him in his own land. The main significance of shaping a new society and gaining control over others in both plays is revenge. After Prospero enslaves Caliban, he has the urge to take revenge on Prospero to take back his island. In Strachey’s text, his castaway crew are stranded on an island and later colonize Jamestown, where soon they were raided by indians. In both texts, a theme of revenge occurs when the colonists and natives encounter each other. The