In The Tempest, when Ferdinand first meets Miranda, despite being immediately taken by her beauty, his primary concern is her chastity: "If you be maid or no." ... When Prospero is about to "give" Miranda over to Ferdinand, he sternly warns him not to break the virgin-knot before the wedding had been officialised. ... If the men in Shakespeare are not worrying themselves over women's virginity, they are busy trying to take it; Caliban freely admits to wanting to take Miranda's virginity, by force, and subsequently "[people] else this isle with Calibans". ...

• Word Count: 2000
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

It combines elements of tragedy (Prospero's revenge) with those of romantic comedy (the young lovers Miranda and Ferdinand), and, like one of Shakespeare's problem plays, Measure for Measure, it poses deeper questions that are not completely resolved at the end. ...

• Word Count: 727
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate