Other Characters (The Tempest)

Alonso (Court Character)

• King of Naples.
• Is remorseful and wants forgiveness for his many sins, and even contemplates suicide for the crimes he has committed against Prospero.
• He inspires others and has many devoted followers.
• A gentle character, he spends most of the play sad and depressed as he fears he has lost his son in the storm.
• Tired of Antonio and Sebastian’s continual sarcasm he is a serious character.

Antonio (Court Character)

• Aggressive and unpleasant to almost everyone except Sebastian who is his close friend.
• Plots the death of Alonso, desperate for power and control.
• Ambition is his downfall according to Prospero, who calls him a traitor.

Ariel (Earth and Air Character)

• The spirit of the air, under the complete control of Prospero.
• Rescued from slavery by Prospero (ironic as he treats Ariel like a slave).
• Obedient servant, he does as Prospero asks.
• Refers to the elements air, earth, water and fire.
• Can take on many shapes such as a Harpy, hounds and uses many voices.
• Light and of the air.
• Seems unhappy to be working for Prospero “is there more toil”.
• Helps in the punishment and education of the other characters.
• Often uses poetry to speak, showing his light nature.
• Ariel is loyal. He states to Prospero that ‘…I have done thee worthy service / Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, serv’d / Without grudge or grumblings.’
• One role he performs in the play is to provide music.

Ferdinand (Court Character)

• Alonso’s son, Miranda falls in love with him.
• The romantic interest.
• He is a gentle character, a positive figure.
• A man of honour and courage.
• Miranda is impressed with his good looks and falls for him on first sight.
• He is moved when Miranda tries to help him share his labour but will not allow her to suffer, and he is happy to give up his inheritance, the throne, for her.
• Loves his father and grieves when he dies.
• Sincerely loves Miranda and the marriage resolves the conflict in the play.

Gonzalo (Court Character)

• Knowledgeable, loyal and old.
• Sensible, wise and holy.
• A positive thinker in times of despair.
• Has a vision of the perfect world.
• Rescues Prospero and also Alonso from the evil clutches of Antonio and Sebastian.
• Prospero calls him: ‘Holy Gonzalo, honourable man’ showing his truly good nature.

Miranda

• Prospero’s daughter.
• ‘Admired Miranda’ is the only woman in the play and as the name suggests, she symbolises beauty, modesty and innocence.
• She sympathises with the suffering of others, all except Caliban who had tried to rape her.
• She falls in love with Ferdinand, at first sight and this highlights her simplicity and uncomplicated nature.
• She has not seen anyone else other than Prospero and Caliban and finds the others fascinating.
• A gentle and caring character, she seems genuinely concerned for the welfare of those on the ship.
• She trusts her father and doesn’t ask questions.
• “O brave new world that has such people in’t” expresses best her innocence and naivety.
• She agrees to marry Ferdinand and is sorry he has to go through such pain to show his love for her.

Sebastian (Court Character)

• Aggressive, insulting and sarcastic.
• Jokes at others expense.
• He is racist.
•  Follows Antonio and will do all he can to support him.

Stephano

• Lacks intelligence.
• Plays on physical comedy of drunkenness, bawdy humour.
• Caliban ends up being frustrated by their inept attempts to overthrow Prospero.
• Rude jokes and comments made would have provided the audience with humour and light relief.
• A coward and easily scared when it matters most.

Trinculo

• Drunken and foolish.
• Uses prose to speak to show his low status.
• Abuses Caliban, but a coward when pushed.

Together, Stephano and Trinculo provide the main comedy of the play:

• They speak in prose which is indicative of their character and status
• Both are greedy and seek to manipulate Caliban for material gain.
• They represent the destructive nature of colonialism.