The Isle is Full of Noises

This picture from Shakespeare’s The Tempest is commonly referred to as “The Isle is Full of Noises,” referring to the beautiful, magical sounds that echo around the island where the main action in the play takes place.

This ethereal illustration brings to life a magical moment from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Arthur Rackham, known for his intricate and fantastical style, captures the enchanting spirits of the island presided over by Prospero, an exiled magician. Ethereal beings emerge from the gnarled trees, their faces framed by foliage and intertwined with blossoms, while a dreamlike coastal landscape stretches beneath them. Rackham’s attention to detail, seen in the delicate flowers and flowing forms, evokes both the natural beauty and the otherworldly atmosphere of the play’s setting. The lower figure, perhaps an embodiment of Ariel or another spirit, plays a musical instrument as the others listen. 

Prospero, a powerful magician, has reigned over this island for 12 years after being ousted from his position as the Duke of Milan by his brother, Antonio. The island, which is described as having an enchanting, wonderous air about it, is home to many spirits with magical powers, the main one in the story being Ariel, who serves Prospero. After summoning a storm that shipwrecks his brother Antonio and Antonio’s men and allies, Prospero uses magic to manipulate events, executing his revenge and ultimately choosing to forgive his brother, which allows him to reclaim his rightful place.

“The isle is full of noises, / Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not / Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments / Will hum about mine ears” (3.2.148-151).

This is Caliban’s description, an enslaved native of the island who serves Prospero. While many of the other characters, namely Antonio, describe the island as wild and inhabitable, Caliban views it quite differently, arguing that it is an enchanting, fertile island. 

This image captures the fantastical elements of the play, where whimsical but perhaps wily spirits sit in a tree, listening to Ariel play an instrument. All of this takes place by the ocean, which provides a beautiful muted blue background, with sandy colored rocks jutting out. The two trees shown in the image are covered in flowers of cornflower blue, rose pink, and ivory. 

This illustration reflects themes of nature, magic, and transformation, central to The Tempest. Rackham’s work invites the viewer into the mysterious world of Shakespeare’s final play, where the boundary between the human and the supernatural blurs, evoking a sense of wonder and enchantment.