A storm wrecks a ship carrying King Alonso of Naples and other royal passengers including the Duke of Milan Antonio, the King's brother Sebastian and son Ferdinand and the courtier Gonzalo onto a desert island.
The storm was caused by the former Duke of Milan and Antonio's brother Prospero. His daughter Miranda watches the storm from the island. Prospero tells Miranda that he didn't hurt anybody on the ship, and then uses magic to put her to sleep and calls for Ariel, his magical servant, who has been spreading the passengers of the ship across the island.