Act 1, Scene 2, Part 1 Summary

Miranda, who has watched the wreck of the ship from the shore of Prospero's island, worries that the people on board have all drowned. Prospero assures her that by the use of his magic, he saved them all from destruction. He then sits her down and explains why he created the storm and why he saved the lives of the ship's passengers and crew. Repeatedly and irritably reminding her to listen, he tells her he was once the Duke of Milan, but was far more interested in books and in learning than he was in governing the city. For that reason, he turned most of his responsibilities over to his brother Antonio, who eventually began to believe that the job was his by right.

Prospero says that Antonio allied himself with the King of Naples (Alonso) and then arranged...