Importance of the setting in The Tempest The island of magic and mystery that Shakespeare creates in The Tempest is an extraordinary symbol of both the political and social realities of his contemporary society, and the potential of a reformed New World. Shakespeare's Island is a creation that juxtaposes real and idealized worlds and shows its audience what it is and what it should be. The 17th century was a time of ideological upheaval in Europe, with medieval ideas of a hierarchical and ordered society being challenged by Renaissance thinkers. For dynastic powers, including England under Elizabeth I, colonialism was an important opportunity to realize their territorial ambitions and prove their religious pre-eminence. For Shakespeare, colonialism was an opportunity for humanity to explore the extraordinary possibilities of the human mind, free from the conflicts and prejudices of real life. Just two years before The Tempest was written, British colonists were shipwrecked on a Caribbean island, and their account of the paradise and magic they found there is one of many popular writings of the era that may have had an influence on The Tempest. Tempest, Shakespeare adheres closely to classical unities of time, place, and action. The unity of the place required that the scene remain unchanged throughout the play. All the action, except for the first scene, is confined to the island. The storm in the first scene symbolizes a transition in the characters' lives, and establishes their relationships with each other and with a world in disorder. The characters' initial reactions to their arrival on the island are important metaphors for the ideologies they carry...... middle of paper ...... and many aspects of audience sensibilities. With elements of music, dance, sound effects and supernatural movements in every scene of the play, audiences will never forget that the island is separate from reality. As isolated as Tempest Island may be, its characters are representative of the people. in our own society. The social disorder they find themselves in becomes an exploration of their aspirations – some have unique ideas about a perfect way of life, while others are just the product of an escalating political hegemony in the imperfect society whose they came from. Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest, is more than an artist's farewell; it explores the infinite possibilities of our minds and our efforts, as humanity enters the “brave new world.” Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. New York: books about penguins, 1987.