Question

I think no-one can answer this question . Some critics and readers a suggested that the more appropriate title for the tempest might be The Island.In what ways is a great storm the focus of The Tempest?Why might Shakespeare has chosen The Tempest as the title? Would the play gain new meaning if it were titled The Island?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Shakespeare himself has said, “A rose may smell as sweet as by any other name.” This statement reflects his tendency to be less choosy about the titles of his plays. The value of his plays should be judged by their worth and not simply by their names.How do we account for the title of the play The Tempest? The sea-storm or tempest in the play rises and is over in the very first scene of Act I. There is nothing left of the tempest during the action of the play and yet Shakespeare has called the play The Tempest. Although most critics have accepted the title of the play as it is, there are a few exceptions who feel that the play should have been named “Prospero” as the entire action of the play moves round the figure of him.

Some might aver that The Tempest is not a good title because a tempest is suggestive of death and destruction. There is no death or destruction in the play. The passengers remain safe, even the ship remains whole and safe. The action of the play follows the storm. So, a better title would be “After The Tempest”. But would such a title be poetic? It would certainly be dull and prosaic. It may also be borne in mind that the storm is not a natural event. It is raised by Prospero by his magic art for certain purpose and the storm ceases and there is calmness. The storm in The Tempest has no destructive effects. On the other hand, it is a beneficent and benevolent storm. The action of the play results from the tempest.