Comment on Shakespeare’s use of the matter of romance in The Tempest.

Comment on Shakespeare’s use of the matter of romance in The Tempest.

"Romance" was not a generic classification in Shakespeare's time.  The modern term "romance" refers to a new kind of play, a hybrid of comic and tragic elements, developed and popularized by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher between 1607 and 1613. Their Philaster, 1609, is typical of the genre.  At the end of his theatrical career, Shakespeare wrote four such plays which are now commonly grouped together as the Romances: Pericles (1607-1608);Cymbeline (1609-1610); The Winter's Tale (1610-1611);and The Tempest (1611).

A romance is unrealistic. A romance usually has an improbable plot; rapid action; surprises; extraordinary occurrences such as shipwrecks; disguises; riddles; children or parents lost and found; supernatural events or beings etc. The Tempest , as a romance ,has alomost all these characteristics.

The plot of The Tempest includes inprobable happenings. The setting of the play is in a remote island. We find ourselves on a remote, enchanted island which is full of `noises,sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.” It has a romantic glow, a rainbow world which has been created entirely out of the imagination. The entire atmosphere is surcharged with magic and enchantment.  There are strange events and shows. The play begins with shipwreck.The passengers on board the ship are cast ashore. On a previous occasion, twelve years ago, Prospero and Miranda had themselves been cast ashore on the same island after having been exposed to all the dangers from the sea and the sky.Now, although all the passengers have been saved from death, King Alonso is separted from his son Ferdinand, and believes him dead.......................................................................

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