The Tempest Characters: Full List & Analysis

Who drives the story

Main characters

Prospero

The usurped Duke of Milan and a magician who engineers the whole storm-island drama with his books and his spirit Ariel. He wants revenge on his brother, a future for his daughter, and finally chooses forgiveness—then breaks his staff and drowns his book.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Forgiveness over vengeance; Power, books, and renunciation; Language and enslavement; The transience of art and life; Innocence and first sight

Miranda

Prospero's innocent daughter, raised on the island having seen no man but her father and Caliban. She falls for Ferdinand at first sight, proposes marriage herself, and greets the assembled court as a 'brave new world.'

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Language and enslavement; Innocence and first sight

Ariel

An airy spirit, freed from Sycorax's pine by Prospero, serving out a term he insists has expired. He stages the tempest, torments the guilty with music and a harpy's shape, and longs for liberty.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Forgiveness over vengeance

Caliban

Sycorax's son and the island's only native, enslaved by Prospero after he tried to violate Miranda. He curses the language he was taught, trades one master for a bottle, plots murder, and ends sobered, promising to seek grace.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Power, books, and renunciation; Language and enslavement; Innocence and first sight

Ferdinand

Prince of Naples, son of Alonso, who believes his father drowned in the wreck. He falls for Miranda, proves his love by hauling logs without complaint, and earns Prospero's blessing.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Innocence and first sight

Alonso

King of Naples, who helped Antonio usurp Prospero and spends the play mourning Ferdinand as dead. Struck by Ariel's harpy speech, he repents his crimes and restores Prospero's dukedom.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown

Antonio

Prospero's brother, the usurping Duke of Milan, who never repents. He promptly tries to talk Sebastian into a second usurpation and receives forgiveness he has not asked for.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Forgiveness over vengeance

Sebastian

Alonso's brother, persuaded by Antonio to murder the sleeping king for a crown. Ariel's timely waking of Gonzalo saves him from the act—and from becoming a king by regicide.

Appears in:: Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown

Gonzalo

The honest old councillor whose supplies and books let Prospero and Miranda survive the open boat. He comforts Alonso, is nearly murdered in his sleep, and is embraced by Prospero as his 'noble friend.'

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown
Themes:: Power, books, and renunciation

Stephano

Alonso's drunken butler, washed ashore with a cask of wine. He becomes Caliban's worshipped 'god,' dreams of ruling the island with Miranda as queen, and is chased off by spirit-hounds.

Appears in:: Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown

Trinculo

Alonso's jester, who hides from weather under Caliban's cloak and joins the drunken conspiracy. He is more interested in the stolen fine clothes than in any murder.

Appears in:: Part 2: Swords in the Dark; Part 3: Logs, Plots, and a Vanishing Feast; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown

The Boatswain

The blunt seaman who orders nobles below deck during the storm and, at the end, reports the ship found 'tight and yare and bravely rigg'd' with the crew freed.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm; Part 4: Revels Ended, Charms Overthrown

How they are connected

Key relationships

Prospero Ariel
The usurped Duke of Milan and a magician who engineers the whole storm-island drama with his books and his spirit Ariel.
Miranda Prospero
Prospero's innocent daughter, raised on the island having seen no man but her father and Caliban.
Miranda Caliban
Prospero's innocent daughter, raised on the island having seen no man but her father and Caliban.
Miranda Ferdinand
She falls for Ferdinand at first sight, proposes marriage herself, and greets the assembled court as a 'brave new world.
Caliban Prospero
Sycorax's son and the island's only native, enslaved by Prospero after he tried to violate Miranda.
Ferdinand Alonso
Prince of Naples, son of Alonso, who believes his father drowned in the wreck.
Ferdinand Prospero
He falls for Miranda, proves his love by hauling logs without complaint, and earns Prospero's blessing.
Alonso Prospero
King of Naples, who helped Antonio usurp Prospero and spends the play mourning Ferdinand as dead.
Alonso Antonio
King of Naples, who helped Antonio usurp Prospero and spends the play mourning Ferdinand as dead.
Alonso Ariel
Struck by Ariel's harpy speech, he repents his crimes and restores Prospero's dukedom.
Antonio Prospero
Prospero's brother, the usurping Duke of Milan, who never repents.
Antonio Sebastian
He promptly tries to talk Sebastian into a second usurpation and receives forgiveness he has not asked for.

Go deeper

The Tempest themes & symbols

Forgiveness over vengeance · Power, books, and renunciation · Language and enslavement · The transience of art and life

Themes explained

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The full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.

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