MIRANDA: If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
PROSPERO: Be collected. No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart
There’s no harm done.
MIRANDA: O, woe the day!
Prospero and Miranda on the Island — The Tempest
Prospero finally reveals the truth of their past to his daughter, Miranda, explaining how they were usurped and exiled to the island. The scene balances Miranda's empathetic distress over a recent shipwreck with Prospero's intense need to justify his magical actions and reclaim his lost legacy.
Format: Duologue · Genre: Drama · Source: The Tempest · Author: William Shakespeare · Characters: Prospero, Miranda
About This Scene
This dramatic duologue from Shakespeare's The Tempest offers a powerful opening to the play, setting the stage for the island's mysteries and the characters' entangled pasts. It captures a pivotal moment where Prospero, after years of silence, decides to reveal the painful truth of their exile to his daughter, Miranda. The scene is rich with emotional depth, exploring themes of revelation, manipulation, and burgeoning independence within the confines of a father-daughter relationship.
Character Analysis
Prospero, aged 45-55, embodies the archetype of an authority figure and a patriarch, yet he also carries a deep vulnerability. He is a man obsessed with his past wrongs, driven by a desire for justice and a need to justify his actions and powerful magic to his daughter. Miranda, though younger and seemingly an ingénue, displays profound empathy and a dawning understanding of the harsh realities beyond their isolated existence, making her a character with surprising depth and resilience.
Why This Works for Auditions
This scene is an excellent choice for auditions due to its immediate dramatic conflict and strong, contrasting character arcs. It allows actors to demonstrate a wide range of emotions—from Miranda's initial distress and compassion to Prospero's complex blend of control, paternal love, and underlying grievance. The classical language, while challenging, showcases an actor's ability to interpret and embody period text with clarity and genuine feeling.
Best Suited For
This duologue is best suited for actors in the 45-55 age range playing Prospero, and for those playing Miranda who can convey both youthful innocence and developing maturity. It's particularly effective for actors seeking to demonstrate their command of classical dramatic material and their ability to build a compelling on-stage relationship. The scene’s vulnerable tone also makes it ideal for actors who excel at portraying deep emotional states and revealing internal struggles.
Performance Tips
For Prospero, focus on the weight of his past and the conflicting desires of protecting his daughter while also instilling in her the story of his wrongs. Allow his moments of tenderness towards Miranda to contrast sharply with his underlying anger and calculated intent. For Miranda, lean into her genuine empathy and burgeoning curiosity, ensuring her questions are driven by a true desire to understand rather than mere naivety. Play the discovery of her past with a sense of dawning realization, rather than flat disbelief, allowing her vulnerability to shine through.