The tempest is seen as one of the greatest plays of Shakespeare, combining his years of labor and philosophy into one play.
             The Tempest is viewed as one of the greatest works of William Shakespeare; the play encompasses many themes and Shakespeare provides insightful social commentary on the dealings within Britain during the Elizabethan era. The Tempest disputes issues such as hierarchy, power, individualism and colonialism, as well as challenging the viewpoints that there is only black and white and that an individual is either good or evil.
             The tempest creates the illusion of justice; Prospero is usurped from his position of power and therefore creates the tempest in order to return himself to his rightful position. Prospero feels that he has been unfairly treated yet has no problems with enslaving both Ariel and Caliban. Prospero's view of justice is rather one sided and seeks to benefit only him; he introduces Miranda to Ferdinand and orchestrates that they fall in love so that Prospero will have safe passage back to Naples and hopefully regain some of his previous power.
             Magic is another important theme, as essentially it creates the catalyst for the entire play – The Tempest. Through magic Prospero shows us how he believes he is justified with his actions. He creates situations, in which he exposes the true nature of his usurper, Antonio. Prospero creates the magical banquet, and the wedding masque using his magic and both events contribute to the fascination of the island. The tempest symbolizes the power of Prospero's magic, as well as the dark side of his character.
             The Tempest reflects on the influence of colonialism, which was just beginning in Britain at this time. The island symbolizes a microcosm of the British colony, which Prospero as the educated leader attempts to colonize the island and its inhabitants by endeavoring to discipline Caliban by teaching him their languag
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