Gonzalo: 'We split, we split, we split!'-
Antonio: Let's all sink wi' the king.
Sebastian: Let's take leave of him.
(Act I, Scene 1, lines 67-69)
At the end of Act I, Scene I, the audience is unaware that the occupants on the ship are Prospero's brothers or that they betrayed him-Antonio stole his title of Duke of Milan and Alonso agreed with the new choice of duke. This leaves the audience on the edge of their seats ready to focus on what is to follow. So many questions are left unanswered and in Act I, Scene 2, the audience discovers the answers. That is, Miranda asks her father about the fate of the ship and he reveals his reasons for running it aground-Prospero sent Ariel, his servant, to initiate the tempest as well as the occupants being his brothers so their betrayal prompted him to act. From the word go, the audience sympathizes with Prospero's actions because he tells his story in vivid colour. For example:
Prospero: I pray thee, mark me. I, thus neglecting wordly ends, all dedicated To closeness and the bettering of my mind With that, which, but by being so retir'd, O'erpriz'd all popular rate, in my false brother Awak'd an evil nature; and my trust, Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood in its contrary as great As my trust was; which had, indeed no limit, A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded, Not only with what my revenue yielded, But what my power might else exact,-like one, Who having, into truth, by telling of it, Made such a sinner of his memory, To credit his own lie,-he did believe He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution, And executing th' outward face of royalty, With all prerogative:-Hence his ambition growing,-Dost thou hear?
Miranda: Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
Prospero: To have no screen between this part he play'd And him he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan. Me, poor man,-my library Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties
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