The Tempest: Act 3, Scene 3 - Another Part of the Island
The recap, key beats, and evidence for Act 3, Scene 3 - Another Part of the Island, without reopening the whole book.
Section recap · 2 min read
What happens in Act 3, Scene 3 - Another Part of the Island.
Alonso and his group are exhausted from searching for Ferdinand. Prospero watches from above, unseen. Strange shapes bring in a banquet, which vanishes before anyone can eat. Then Ariel appears as a harpy and accuses Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian of their crimes against Prospero and Miranda. The banquet disappears entirely. Alonso is shaken to the point of despair, while Antonio and Sebastian remain defiant.
The beats worth remembering.
The Vanishing Banquet
A magical feast appears and then disappears the moment the men try to eat. It's designed to torment them, giving hope and then snatching it away. Prospero is staging a psychological punishment, not a physical one.
Ariel as Harpy Delivers the Accusation
Ariel transforms into a harpy and names the specific crime: Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian drove Prospero and his infant daughter out to sea to die. This is the first time the original wrong is stated plainly to the men who committed it.
Alonso Breaks Down
After Ariel's speech, Alonso hears the sea and the wind as voices condemning him for what he did to Prospero. He runs off in a state close to madness, convinced Ferdinand's death is his punishment. Sebastian and Antonio, by contrast, draw their swords and want to fight.
The moments you can actually use later.
The Harpy's Accusation
Ariel, in the form of a harpy, tells the three men that their mistreatment of Prospero has made them unfit to live, and that only genuine suffering and regret can undo what they've done. It's the moral center of Prospero's whole plan.
Alonso's Guilt Response
After the harpy vanishes, Alonso interprets natural sounds as voices pronouncing judgment on him. His reaction is immediate and total. It shows the banquet scene worked exactly as Prospero intended, at least on him.
What to carry forward.
Prospero's Justice Is Psychological
He doesn't imprison or physically harm Alonso's group. He makes them feel guilt and fear. This scene is key for any argument about what kind of justice Prospero actually wants, and whether it counts as revenge or something else.
The Three Guilty Men React Differently
Alonso collapses under guilt. Antonio and Sebastian refuse to feel it. That split matters for the ending: Alonso can be forgiven because he shows remorse, while Antonio never really does.
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How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.