In the Tempest...

do miranda and ferdinand get married? i can’t figure out if they remain engaged or if when alonso says ‘give me your hands. let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart that doth not wish you joy!’ they become married.

Off to Cafe Society

DrMatrix - GQ Moderator

He’s not a minister; I think the idea is that they’ll get married when they get back to Italy. See the warning Prospero gives to Ferdinand in the previous scene.

A little more thought: he’s the King, I think he’s just giving them his blessing. Ferdinand is his son, after all, so he does have to agree to the marriage. The second line isn’t exactly “I now pronounce you man and wife,” it’s just ‘anyone who doesn’t wish you happiness deserves unhappiness.’