The Tempest (Tara) by

Prospero

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 19:55:58 UTC

Prospero is the father of Miranda and the brother of Antonio. He was the Duke of Milan before his brother overthrew him and took his position. Prospero was forced to leave with his daughter. They went overseas to an island with some inhabitants. He commands Ariel and Caliban. Prospero seeks revenge in the play from his brother.

Miranda

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 19:56:14 UTC

Miranda is the only child of Prospero. She was very young when they left for the island, so she knew nothing of the outside world. Prospero inwardly encourages the relationship between Ferdinand and Miranda but outwardly discourages it. When Ferdinand proves himself, he marries Miranda. Miranda is about 15 and has seen almost no people from the outside world.

Caliban

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:01:13 UTC

Caliban is the son of the witch Sycorax, when she died, Caliban was left alone on the island. When Prospero and Miranda arrive on the island, he lives with them. He proves himself untrustworthy and then becomes a slave to Prospero. He wants revenge on Prospero but is afraid. He talks to Stephano. He does help Prospero and Miranda learn the island's ways.

Ariel

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:01:22 UTC

Ariel is the spirit that inhabited the island. Prospero finds him trapped in a tree and frees him. Ariel then became indentured to Prospero. He carries out tasks for Prospero and is eventually set free at the end of the book. Ariel can create storms, and only Prospero can see him.

Alonso

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:01:30 UTC

Alonso is the King of Naples, he has a daughter and a son named Ferdinand. Alonso supported Antonio to usurp Prospero. His ship is caught in a storm and is washed up on the island. When he meets Prospero, he makes him Duke again and supports his son's engagement to Miranda.

Ferdinand

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:01:36 UTC

Ferdinand is the son of Alonso and the prince of Naples. He swam ashore after the shipwreck and thinks his father is dead. He falls in love with Miranda, but before marrying her, he serves Prospero for a time to prove himself.

Antonio

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:01:43 UTC

Antonio is the younger brother of Prospero. He overthrew his brother and took the dukedom for himself. He used help from Alonso so that he could achieve this, so he was indebted to the king. He would rather Sebastian be king.

Sebastian

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:01:54 UTC

Sebastian is the King's younger brother. He is powerful and ambitious. He seeks personal power and attempts to overthrow the king with the help of Antonio.

Gonzolo

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:02:04 UTC

Gonzolo plays the part of mentor/kindly advisor to the King. He helps Miranda and Prospero be prepared for their trip and helps guide the king in his search for his son. He is also in favor of the match between Miranda and Ferdinand.

Trinculo

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:02:53 UTC

Trinculo is the jester to the King, and friend of Stephano. He gets drunk easily and acts as comic relief throughout the story. Caliban convinced him to attempt to kill Prospero, followed by Stephano.

Stephano

taraaustin — 2025-01-10 20:03:01 UTC

Stephano is the butler to the King and the friend to Trinculo. He carries around wine and acts as comic relief. He bands with his friend, Trinculo, to attempt to kill Prospero. He doesn't succeed. Caliban thinks he is a god because of his wine.

Adrian

taraaustin — 2025-01-14 18:32:46 UTC

Adrian is loyal to the King and is one of the royals in his party. He gets shipwrecked and provides counsel, he is mostly a minor character and doesn't contribute to the overall plot.

Fransisco

taraaustin — 2025-01-14 18:33:39 UTC

Fransisco is a minor character, he is a loyal and trustworthy nobleman included in the King's party. He helps the King look for his song and is friends with Adrian.

Sycorax

taraaustin — 2025-01-14 18:35:10 UTC

Sycorax is the witch mother of Caliban. Sycorax is not a character we meet in the story, instead all of her time is spent before the start of this book. She practiced bad magic and followed the demonic god, Setebos.

Knowledge

taraaustin — 2025-01-15 19:59:47 UTC

It is more dangerous to have false knowledge than ignorance especially if a situation requires specific skills and expertise.

Perspective

taraaustin — 2025-01-15 19:59:54 UTC

You can't change your circumstances, but you can change your perspective, however, ignoring reality isn't the best way to go through life.

Power

taraaustin — 2025-01-15 19:59:59 UTC

The best way to judge a person's character is to give them power and see what they do with it, or take it away, and see how they act particularly during a stressful situation.

Example from the book: When the sailors gained power during the storm, what they did with that power (saving other people instead of using their power and knowledge for ill) greatly showed their values and true character. When power was taken away from the royals, some acted entitled and tried to take power away from the sailors by controlling them (Antonio and Sebastian), while others accepted their incapacity and let others have the power, like Gonzales.

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taraaustin — 2025-01-17 19:23:15 UTC

Act 3

taraaustin — 2025-01-31 20:01:13 UTC

Topic: Knowledge

Theme: In certain circumstances, the ignorant man in the room has the most wisdom usually when the older man has less experience or less specific knowledge.

Evidence: When Caliban knows about the ways of the island, he knows not to get distracted by the voices, whereas the duke and jester:

"TRINCULO. The sound is going away, Let's follow it, and after we do our work.

STEPHANO. Lead, monster, We'll follow. -I would I could see this taborer. He says it on. Wilt come?

TRINCULO. I'll follow, Stephano" (Shakespeare 3.3.1532-1536).

You'll notice that Caliban doesn't follow the other two in this scene.

Act 2

taraaustin — 2025-01-31 20:01:19 UTC

Topic: Perspective

Theme: Something that was once distasteful may become necessary under the threat of more distasteful circumstances. in order to protect yourself.

Evidence: At first Trinculo looks in distaste at the blanket, but with the storm brewing and no other shelter he hides under it saying" I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past" (Shakespeare 2.2.1102-1103).