Act 1 Scene 1

Setting – A ship in the middle of a fierce storm (a tempest)

Characters – Boatswain, Sailors (Mariners), Royal Passengers (Alonso, Antonio, Gonzalo, Sebastian)

The sailors work very hard to save the ship while the royal passengers disturb. The boatswain asks them to return below deck. Gonzalo reminds the boatswain that he is speaking to the king. The boatswain does not regret his words. He states that the king is unable to stop the storm even though he is powerful. He wants the royals to go below deck so he can continue his work.

Antonio, Sebastian and Gonzalo return to the topside of the boat. Antonio and Sebastian curse the boatswain and are very disrespectful. The sailors enter and scream that all is lost. Everyone expects to die.