Shakespeares Inspiration

One of the most common theories of what inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest is a real shipwreck that happened in 1609 in the Bahamas. The Sea Venture was a main ship that was made for powerful Virginia Company, left port in June carrying settlers to Jamestown in Virginia. About two months into the trip, the ship was caught in a real life tempest, a hurricane that lead the Captain to ground the ship on reefs of an island, because of this crash in Bermuda 150 people and a dog were saved but many thought they were lost at sea. Although in after the crash many of the British struggled to adapt to survive in this new country and as a way of survival they asked the natives for help and once they had grown accustomed to the new world they lived in and became stronger they killed the natives who had once helped them and claimed their land, this is a start to colonialism. Some of those shipwrecked lived on the island for 10 months and within that time built two boats to journey back on. From this experience a new country was discovered and colonialism began.

Back in London the shipwreck and the following events were published in a pamphlet by William Strachey, an eye witness. It is now believed that Shakespeare used these tales of the storm and shipwreck as well as his imagination to create The Tempest with elements of the storm and reports from Jamestown and English colony at Roanake.  The Tempest was first performed in 1611 making the timing of the play match up to the real event.


For a contemporary performance of The Tempest it is important to know the background and inspiration for The Tempest as we can find parallels for it in the modern world. For example we can link the colonisation for new lands and worlds to the discovery in science and space, such as the race between Russia and America to put a man on the moon. This discovery of new worlds and wanted to own and claim them as one owns. This gives contemporary audiences a universal understanding as there is a common link in humanity and people in societies to want to show off their power by claiming new worlds that is still relevant to us today.