The Tempest Character Map by

Island Characters

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:11:31 UTC

Ship Characters

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:11:40 UTC

Prospero

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:11:56 UTC

SORCERER/MAGICIAN

Former Duke of Milan

Usurped by his brother
Gained interest in magic

Forced to leave Milan with his daughter Miranda

Has lived on the island for 12 years

Controls all the spirits on the island

Served by Caliban and Ariel, whom he is close with

Miranda

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:12:40 UTC

DAUGHTER OF PROSPERO

Cast out with Prospero when 3

Grew up on the island

15 or so years of age

Only knew her father until the shipwreck

Falls in love with Ferdinand

(as her father had hoped)

Antonio

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:13:33 UTC

DUKE OF MILAN (C)

BROTHER

Prospero's younger brother

Ruled Milan while Prospero studied magic

Overthrew him with the help of Alonso

Is indebted to Alonso and wants Sebastian to be king

Makes contributions to Naples, but would rather not

Caliban

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:14:41 UTC

MONSTER-LIKE

SON

The son of Sycorax

Was left alone after Sycorax died

Helps Prospero and Miranda

Taken in by Prospero

Enslaved after attempting to
sexually assault Miranda

Tries to get the butler to kill Prospero

Thought Stephano was a god because he owned alcohol

(ends up serving Stephano)

Ariel

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:14:52 UTC

SPIRIT/FAIRY

Chief spirit on the island

Can control all the other spirits

Able to create storms

Imprisoned by Sycorax in a tree

Can only be seen by Prospero

Loyal to Prospero but wants freedom

Alonso

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:15:45 UTC

KING OF NAPLES (C)

Helped Antonio usurp Prospero

Has a daughter named Clarabel and a son named Ferdinand

His fleet is returning from Tunis

His daughter married the King of Tunis

Thinks Ferdinand drowned

(he's very upset about this)

Makes Prospero duke again upon meeting him

Glad that Miranda and Ferdinand are engaged

Sebastian

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:16:01 UTC

BROTHER (C)

The younger brother of Alonso

Plots with Antonio to overthrow Alonso

Ferdinand

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:16:16 UTC

SON (A)

Only child

Loyal to his father, the King

Swam ashore after the shipwreck

Arrived alone and thought his dad died

Fell in love with Miranda at first sight

Respects Prospero

Forced into slavery by Prospero

Worked as long as he could see Miranda
Released and given Prospero's blessing

Trinculo

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:22:12 UTC

KING'S JESTER (B)

Swam ashore and arrived alone

Hides under Caliban's cloak

Follows along with Caliban's plot to kill Prospero

Feels left out of Caliban's and Stephano's plan

Gets drunk off of Shephano's wine

(he's a drunkard)

Stephano

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:22:20 UTC

KING'S BUTLER (B)

Washes ashore alone clutching a barrel of wine

Shares his wine with Caliban and Trunculo

Caliban sees him as a god and serves him

Agrees to kill Prospero and rule the island

Enjoys the attention he gets from Caliban

(is a drunkard)

Gonzolo

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 19:22:46 UTC

CHIEF ADVISOR OF ALONSO (C)

Made sure Prospero had everything he needed when he was forced to leave Milan

Prospero remembered his kindness

Helps Alsono search the island for Ferdinand, and tries to cheer him up

Glad that Ferdinand and Miranda will be king and queen of Naples

Sycorax

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 22:46:22 UTC

WITCH

Was abandoned on the island

Gave birth to Caliban

Died before the arrival of Prospero and Miranda

Imprisoned Ariel in a tree

Adrian

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 22:46:38 UTC

(C)

Francisco

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-12 22:48:46 UTC

(C)

Knowledge

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-16 19:32:05 UTC

In The Tempest, Shakespeare illustrates the theme that in dire situations, knowledge is often more powerful and deciding than any other factor. At the beginning of The Tempest, Noble's boat is weathering a fierce storm, but the sailors are the ones in power, as they are the ones who know how to steer the boat. We also see the same dynamic when Caliban and Prospero first meet. Though Caliban is but a monster-like creature, Prospero still needs his help as a human because Calliban had information that could help Prospero survive.

Perspective

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-16 19:32:14 UTC

Power

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-16 19:32:48 UTC

Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, illustrates the theme that oftentimes possessing power is dangerous, as it is envied or desired by others. Throughout The Tempest, there are many examples of a person or creature's power being desired by another, which ultimately harms the one who possesses the power. The spirit Ariel is trapped in servitude to Prospero, who will not release him because he wants to use the power Ariel possesses. The only reason Prospero found himself on the island in the first place, was because his brother wanted the power he possessed as Duke of Milan. Sebastian also plots to kill his brother Alonso, who is the king, most likley because he wants the power that comes with the position. If Prospero, Ariel, and Alonoso had no power, then they would not be placed in danger or destress in the same way we read in the play.

Revenge

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-18 22:24:14 UTC

Prospero will benefit greatly if Miranda becomes the queen, and the king becomes his son-in-law.

Power 2

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-23 19:18:52 UTC

Throughout the Tempest, Shakespeare illustrates the theme that practical power is more valuable than power given by status.

Power corrupts

Themes

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-23 19:22:18 UTC

Knowledge 2

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-23 19:26:23 UTC

Those in power may not respect the knowledge of the informed when necessary

When knowledge is applied correctly, it can give one power over others.

Perspective 2

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-23 19:32:07 UTC

Diverse perspectives are necessary for success, as limited or manipulated perspectives can result in a distorted view of the truth, and lead to harmful misunderstandings.

Act 2: Perspective

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-31 16:06:16 UTC

In The Tempest, Shakespeare illustrates the theme that it is important to look up to and listen to the correct people, as their influence will often change one's perspective, for better or worse. When Sebastian arrives on the island, he does not see his misfortune as a chance to overthrow Alonso. However, not long after the crash, Antonio robs him of his innocence. When the party falls asleep, Antonio tries to convince Sebastion to kill his brother:

They fell together all, as by consent.

They dropped as by a thunderstroke. What might,

Worthy Sebastian, O, what might—? No more.

And yet methinks I see it in thy face

What thou shouldst be. Th’ occasion speaks thee, and

My strong imagination sees a crown

Dropping upon thy head (Shakespeare 2.1.225-231).

Act 3: Knowledge

ainsleajhadley — 2024-01-31 16:06:24 UTC

Through The Tempest, Shakespeare illustrates the theme that it is important to wisely choose who you spend time with, as convening with negative people can influence one's actions for the worse. When they first arrived on the island, Trinculio and Stephano had no plans to cause harm to others, but by interacting with Calliban they became involved in a plot for revenge. Calliblan complains against Prospero, saying, "by sorcery he got this isle;/ from me he got it. If thy Greatness will,/ revenge it on him, for I know thou dar’st,/ but this thing dare not" (Shakespeare 3.2.59-62).