This document provides character descriptions + analysis, themes and quotations for The Tempest. It is useful for revising for exams and tests for Grade 12 IEB English Home Language
CHARACTERS
Prospero
- Rightful Duke of Milan usurped by his brother
- Exiled to island
- Manipulative
- Enslaved natives of the island (Caliban + Ariel) threatens Caliban with punishment and Ariel
with total imprisonment
- Although they could all live on the island with total freedom, Prospero still manipulates and
uses his power to control nature (the tempest), Miranda and Caliban and Ariel
- this shows a human’s desire and instinct for power and control even when not
necessary
- His plans and plots are central to driving the action of the story
- He is like a playwright curating his own story
- “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
Miranda
- Innocent and pure
- Grew up on the island and has no recollection of what mainstream civilisation is (only
knows what her father taught her)
- Compassionate and gentle - seen when she tries to stop Prospero hurting the men on the
ship
- She does however choose to marry Ferdinand herself and their love and her asking his hand
for marriage shows her agency and herself coming into power
Caliban
- only known native of the island
- Son of evil witch Sycorax
- Enslaved by both Prospero and Stephano
- wants to kill Prospero to gain back his freedom where Stephano and Trinculo want to kill
him to gt power
- Resentful attitude towards Prospero
- Prospero wants to punish Caliban and makes him do the laborious activities like carrying
wood
- attempted rape of Miranda as he wants to impreganate her
- Naive as he swears allegiance to the drunken Trinculo and Stephano
- Does have a more noble side to him - represented by Shakespeare’s use of verse when
Caliban is speaking
- he speaks beautifully of the island and the noises
- Prospero “teaches” him how to speak English
- There is no promise of his freedom which makes him more rebellious
, Ariel
- Source of mystery
- “airy spirit”
- imprisoned by previous ruler of the island: evil witch Sycorax
- fulfils every demand of Prospero so that he can be set free
- attitude towards Prospero is more positive and he is compliant in Prospero’s orders
Ferdinand
- Son of Alonso
- Isolated on the island (per Prospero’s plan)
- Prospero wants Miranda and Ferdinand to fall in love and get married so that
Prospero can have revenge on Alonso
- love at first sight and agrees to be servant for Prospero so that he can marry Miranda
- honourable and principled as he respects Prospero’s wishes of not breaking Miranda’ “virgin
knot” before the wedding
Gonzalo
- trustworthy and honest
- elderly counsellor of King of Naples
- provided Prospero with his magical books
- introduces idea of a utopian dream
- everyone works in harmony with one another
- no work
- no money
Antonio
- Prospero’s younger brother
- Allows Prospero to be usurped so that he can be Duke of Milan himself
- Hungry for power
- His actions are motivated by furthering his position and benefiting himself: plans to kill
Alonso with help from Sebastian so that he can take control and power from the king
- shows no remorse for his actions and does not attempt to reconcile with his brother
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