It was Prospero's power over the spirit Ariel that allowed this captivating opening scene to take place.
PROSPERO Hast thou, spirit,.
Preformed to point the tempest that I bade thee?.
ARIEL .
To every article.
I boarded the King's ship. Now on the beak,.
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin.
I flamed amazement. Sometime I"d divide,.
And burn in many places. On the topmast,.
The yards, and boresprit would I flame distinctly,.
Then meet and join. Jove's lightning's, the precursors.
O'th"dreadful thunderclaps, more momentary.
And sight-outrunning were not. The fire and cracks .
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune.
Seem to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble,.
Yea, his dread trident shake. 1.2.194-206.
This opening scene proves of course to be important to the play. It is with this fiery fashion of the opening scene that emphasises the dramatic effects used by Shakespear in order to pull the crowds in the Elizabethan times, as well as explore the sense of artistry about Shakespear which also shows in the characterisation of Prospero and his magic. The play started with the likes of plays such as Twelfth Night and As You Like it but more realistic. Besides this spectacle beginning it brought Alonso and Antonio, along with their followers, to the island to begin the plot that would eventually lead to the reinstatement of Prospero as the rightful Duke of Milan.
As previously mentioned, it was Ariel who caused the storm that bought the party to the island. Ariel also does Prospero's bidding throughout the play and it is he who moves the members about the island. The reason behind this serventry lies with Prospero's magic as stated in Act 1, scene 2. Prospero freed Ariel from the wicked witch Sycorax, and thus he is in debt to Prospero.
