Characters Flashcards
What symbols are associated with Prospero?
Magic: Prospero uses magical powers to manipulate the other characters and control the story’s events.
Books: Prosper is a scholar and lover of books. He has a large collection of books on magic and other subjects and uses the knowledge to help him wield his magical powers. Books are a symbol of Prospero’s intelligence and desire for knowledge.
Control: Prospero is shown to be in control of other characters throughout the story. He uses his powers to manipulate the characters and control the story in the way he wants it to go. Control represents Prospero’s ability to shape the events of the play.
“You taught me language, and my profit on’t
Is, I know how to curse.
(1.2 - Caliban)”
While Prospero considers it a gift that he has taught Caliban language, Caliban refuses to separate this education from Prospero’s overall imprisonment of him. Caliban implies that there is little use to having language fluency if he is not treated as an equal by the people he communicates with. Under these circumstances, the only value in being able to speak is to curse his oppression. This tension is symbolically significant when compared to the “education” that European colonisers imposed on colonised populations throughout the New World.
How is Miranda represented in Act 1 of the play (with quotes)?
“O, I have suffered
With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel, Who had no doubt some noble creature in her, Dashed all to pieces.”
- Miranda
Through this quote, she is showing how she is compassionate and cares about the people who have just been shipwrecked. She can relate to this as she has experienced this herself. Furthermore, Miranda is suggested to be a kind, compassionate person as shown by the quote “I have suffered with those that I saw suffer!”.
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows (2.2 Caliban)
On a different part of the island, Caliban has delivered a
speech about the ways in which Prospero torments him;
noticing Alonso’s jester Trinculo, he hides under a cloak,
believing the jester to be one of Prospero’s spirits there to
punish him for doing his work too slowly. Trinculo,
meanwhile, notices Caliban despite his attempt to hide, and
at first speculates about bringing him back to Naples to
show him off as an exotic oddity. Then, fearing lightning
from a coming storm, Trinculo crawls under the cloak with
Caliban, exclaiming that “misery acquaints a man with
strange bedfellows.” Beyond the literal truth of the fact that
Trinculo and Caliban are now lying under a cloak together,
Trinculo’s words also apply to the way in which the storm
has brought an unlikely group of people together on the
island and caused unexpected alliances.
Who is Antonio and how is he represented in the play?
Antonio is Prospero’s brother. Antonio once plotted to
overthrow Prospero and later encourages Sebastian to do the same to Alonso. He is a power-hungry and conniving character, and never shows remorse for his cruel schemes or their consequences. Antonio is noticeably silent in response to his brother’s offer of forgiveness at the end of the play.
Who is Miranda and how is she represented in the play?
Miranda is Prospero’s daughter, the rightful princess of Milan. Miranda knows nothing of her past until Prospero fills her in during the second scene of the play. Miranda is a compassionate, dutiful daughter, and her only harsh words in the play are directed at Caliban, who tried to rape her at one time. Completely isolated from other people except for her father, Miranda is amazed when she sees other humans, and
immediately falls in love with Ferdinand, even though he is only the third man she can remember meeting in her life.
Who is Prospero and how is he represented in the play?
Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan who was overthrown and exiled by his brother Antonio and Alonso, the King of Naples. Prospero has lived for 12 years with his daughter Miranda on a deserted island, where he has become a powerful enchanter and the master of the spirit Ariel and the “monster” Caliban. Prospero has become a powerful enchanter, and his magical skill gives him almost complete control over everyone on the island. He’s not shy about using his enchantments either, whether on his enemies or on his daughter, to manipulate events to his liking. In fact, Prospero’s power on the island is so complete that many critics compare him to an author of a play—just as an author controls the actions of the characters in a play, Prospero controls the actions of the people on the island. Prospero is domineering and expects gratitude and devotion from both his daughter and his servants. Yet he is not bloodthirsty, and at the end of the play, rather than taking revenge on those who wronged him when he has them at his mercy, he instead chooses to give up his magic power and reconcile with his enemies.
Who is Gonzalo and how is he represented in the play?
Alonso’s advisor. Gonzalo was charged with carrying out the kidnapping of Prospero and Miranda. A kind soul, he pitied the pair and arranged for them to have provisions for survival in exile. Gonzalo makes the best of every situation, while others seem to tire of his unfailingly positive attitude. Though he is an object of Antonio and Sebastian’s ridicule, he always maintains his dignity.
