In any great piece of literature, a reader may find many themes that make a connection to underlying meanings or that help shape the true meaning of the work. William Shakespeare was a brilliant writer, who also incorporates diverse themes within his literature; his plays in particular. Shakespeare's The Tempest deals with many themes, however, nature is one that is treated in unique ways throughout this late romance play. .
Nature is significant because it sets the tone of the play. It is affiliated with image, and the plot is based around these images in which the royal blood of Milan is unfamiliar with. In Act II, Scene I, Adrian, Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo speak about the nature of the island. Adrian exclaims that "It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate temperance/The air breathes upon us here most sweetly" (II.i.45, 49). Gonzalo agrees and says "How lush and lusty the grass looks! How green!" (II.i.55). Antonio and Sebastian are disagreeing with the two, however they are all allowing beauty and other qualities of nature of the island to be largely a matter of perspective. All of those characteristics that the men speak of in that scene are a part of nature. Nature is used to give the audience a beautiful picture. .
The theme is shown not only in the setting, but also in many of the characters. Prospero shows his strength in magic through Ariel. The actions in which he uses his powers to control illustrate precisely how nature is used. There is a barrier caused by nature that sets the shipwrecked crew apart from those on the island, and it is shown specifically through Caliban and Miranda. They exemplify both negative and positive effects of living in a natural world. These effects coincide with the theme of nature very well in comparing the natural man [Caliban], with one who is civilized and educated by the society in which he lives. .
Act I opens up with thunder and lightening; the ship is in nature's hands at sea in a storm.
