Characters

Characters

1. Prospero

   • protective father of Miranda
   • ex Duke of Milan
     • neglected his people to 'better his mind'
   • brother of Antonio who overthrew him
   • 12 years refining his magic- obsessed with his books
   • starts revenge only to end up forgiving
   • control freak and master to Calliban and Ariel

2. Miranda

   • falls in love with Ferdinand at first sight "I might call him / A thing divine, for nothing so natural / I ever saw so noble" (1.2.21).
   • loyal daughter to Prospero
   • naive and non-judgemental and compassionate
     • only seen 2 men before Ferdinand

3. Alonso

   • • King of Naples and good and loving father of Ferdinand.
   • • Aided Antonio in unseating Prospero as Duke of Milan twelve years before.
   • • He is acutely aware of the consequences of all his actions. • Blames his decision to marry his daughter to the Prince of Tunis on the apparent death of his son
   • After the magical banquet, he regrets his role in the usurping of Prospero.

4. Ferdinand

   • • Son and heir of Alonso.
   • • seems as pure and naïve as Miranda.
   • He falls in love with her upon first sight and happily submits to servitude in order to win her father’s approval.-
   • • seemingly quick to forget his father's "death,"

5. boatswain

   • • Appearing only in the first and last scenes
     • • vigorously good-natured. • He seems competent and almost cheerful in the shipwreck scene, demanding practical help rather than weeping and praying.
       • And he seems surprised but not stunned when he awakens from a long sleep at the end of the play.

6. Antonio

   • • Prospero’s power-hungry and foolish brother .
   • In Act II, scene i, he persuades Sebastian to kill the sleeping Alonso. He then goes along with Sebastian’s absurd story about fending off lions when Gonzalo wakes up and catches Antonio and Sebastian with their swords drawn.
   • Antonio is noticeably silent in response to his brother's offer of forgiveness at the end of the play.

7. Sebastian

   • Alonso’s brother.
   • Like Antonio, is both aggressive and cowardly.
   • easily persuaded to kill his brother in Act II, scene i, and he initiates the ridiculous story about lions when Gonzalo catches him with his sword drawn.-

8. Ariel

   • • Prospero’s loyal spirit helper although he wants his freedom
     • • Rescued by Prospero from a long imprisonment pine in a tree at the hands of the witch Sycorax.
       • 1. Prospero did Ariel a favor, so Ariel's servitude is something of his paying off his debt in the interest of earning the ultimate prize: his freedom.
         • Ariel is glad to do service because it will be rewarded, diligently working towards a goal,
   • Ariel's compassionate spirit is the catalyst for Prospero's change. Without Ariel, Prospero may never have learned that "the rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance" (5.1.2).-
   • Ariel has a (mostly) warm and loving relationship with Prospero,

9. caliban

   • Another of Prospero’s servants. and son of the witch Sycorax,
     • showed Prospero the island when Prospero arrived and was taught how to speak by Prospero
       • 2. Caliban earned his servitude by trying to rape Miranda. He is not remorseful for this great wrong
         • Caliban's servitude is a constant reminder of lost freedom. Caliban is serving his time as punishment.
           • victim of colonization- victim of Prospero’s magic-
             • • His speech and behavior is sometimes coarse and brutal, as in his drunken scenes with Stephano and Trinculo (II.ii, IV.i), • Sometimes eloquent and sensitive, as in his rebukes of Prospero in Act I, scene ii, and in his description of the eerie beauty of the island in Act III, scene ii (III.ii.130-138).
   • • A term derived from "carib" (as in the Caribbean), which became a European term used to describe flesh-eaters. – • Romany word "Cauliban," which means "black" or something associated with blackness- • Hag-born" "whelp," not "honored with human shape."- "Demi-devil."-"Poor credulous monster."- "Hag-seed."- "Strange fish
     • Canibal--- caliban

10. Trinculo

    • • The king's jester.
    • Another comical character and is drunk for much of the play.
    • Trinculo is less charismatic and more cowardly than Stephano.
    • • He resents Caliban's worship of Stephano but readily follows along with the plot to murder Prospero

11. Gonzalo

    • • An old, honest lord of Alonso , Gonzalo helped Prospero and Miranda to escape after Antonio usurped Prospero’s title.
    • • Gonzalo’s speeches provide an important commentary on the events of the play, as he remarks on the beauty of the island when the stranded party first lands,
    • • Though he is an object of Antonio and Sebastian's ridicule, he always maintains his dignity.
    • honest, good hearted, would like a wold without work

12. Stephano

    • • Alonso's butler.
    • • Comical character who spends the whole play drunk.
    • When Caliban mistakes him for a god because he gives Caliban wine and gets him drunk, Stephano begins to fancy himself a king.