A lord attendant to Alonso. Adrian accompanies Alonso back from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso's daughter, to the King of Tunis, when they are stranded on Prospero's island.
ALONSO
The King of Naples, and father of Ferdinand and Claribel. Before the start of the play, Alonso was a political enemy of Prospero, who as the Duke of Milan, a free state, was not subject to Alonso. Prospero's brother Antonio, wishing to govern Milan completely, conspired with Alonso to overthrow Prospero and place Milan under Neapolitan rule. The play begins twelve years later, while Alonso and company are returning from Claribel's wedding to the King of Tunis. The ship transporting Alonso and his retinue encounters a storm conjured by Prospero, and they are stranded on Prospero's island. Thinking his son and heir drowned, Alonso becomes depressed, guilt-ridden and inconsolable, causing his brother Sebastian and Antonio to plot his murder. They are prevented by Ariel, who leads the party to Prospero, who in turn reveals to Alonso that Ferdinand still lives and has fallen in love with Prospero's daughter Miranda. In gratitude, Alonso reinstates Prospero as Duke of Milan, relinquishing his control of the province, and agrees to Ferdinand's marriage to Miranda.
ANTONIO
The brother of Prospero. Before the play begins Antonio was appointed by his brother to execute the duties of the Duke of Milan while Prospero prefered to seclude himself in his library. Antonio was unhappy with the arrangement because he had the responsibilities of the Duke without having the title or revenue of the position. He therefore conspired with Alonso, the King of Naples, to overthrow Prospero. The play begins twelve years later, after Antonio has accompanied Alonso to the wedding of the King's daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis. While returning from the wedding, the ship transporting them encounters a storm conjured by Prospero, and they are stranded on Prospero's island. Alonso, thinking his son and heir Ferdinand has drowned, becomes depressed, guilt-ridden and inconsolable; seeing this, Antonio (hoping to free Milan from Neopolitan subjugation) persuades Alonso's brother Sebastian to depose Alonso, and together they plot to murder him. They are prevented from doing so by Ariel, however, and Antonio and the others are led by Ariel to Prospero. Prospero forgives Antonio and reclaims the Dukedom of Milan from him.
ARIEL
A spirit capable of taking many forms that inhabits Prospero's island. Prospero releases Ariel from a pine tree, in which the spirit was imprisoned many years earlier by the witch Sycorax for refusing to obey her commands. Ariel is forced to become Prospero's servant and do his bidding for one year, after which time Prospero promises to release the spirit from servitude. It is Ariel who, at Prospero's behest, raises the storm that strands Alonso and his retinue on Prospero's island. Ariel saves Ferdinand from drowning and, in the form of a water nymph, leads him to Miranda, with whom he promptly falls in love. Ariel then charms Alonso and his attendants into falling asleep, leaving Antonio and Sebastian awake to plot Alonso's murder; Ariel prevents the murder by awaking Gonzalo, who rouses Alonso from sleep. Ariel also overhears Caliban plot with Stefano and Trinculo to murder Prospero, and prevents that murder as well by leading them around the island until they fall into a pool. Prospero then commands other spirits to set a banquet before Alonso and his party to feed them; when they go to eat, however, Ariel, following Prospero's orders, appears as a harpy and causes the banquet to vanish while accusing them of the crimes they committed against Prospero. Ariel, along with other spirits, then enact a Masque or "revel" to entertain Miranda and Ferdinand. Finally, Ariel leads Alonso and his party to Prospero. It is Ariel who helps Prospero recall the goodness of Gonzalo thereby allaying the magician's vengeance and averting a tragic conclusion. Prospero frees Ariel as he promised.
BOATSWAIN
An officer on the ship that is carrying Alonso and his train back to Naples. During the storm conjured by Prospero, the Boatswain tries to maintain order on the ship's main deck and keep the ship from foundering; he offends the noble passengers by ordering them to either stay out of the mariners' way or to set to work saving the ship. He reappears at play's end, having been charmed to sleep during the main action, to report that the ship is whole and undamaged by the storm.
CALIBAN
Caliban, whose name is sometimes argued to be an anagram of "cannibal," is the beastly son of Sycorax. Because she was pregnant with Caliban, Sycorax was spared execution for practicing witchcraft and instead exiled from Algiers. She was taken to the deserted island that Prospero would later inhabit, and there gave birth to Caliban. Upon Sycorax's death, Caliban inherited the island and saw himself as king of it. When Prospero arrived, he took control of the island away from Caliban, and taught him how to be civilized. However, when Caliban tried to rape Miranda, Prospero made him a slave. The play begins twelve years after this action. After Prospero conjures the storm that strands Alonso's party on the island, Caliban meets Stefano and Trinculo, Alonso's butler and jester. Stefano gives Caliban wine, and Caliban thereby mistakes him for a god and pledges him fealty. They become drunk and conspire to murder Prospero. Ariel overhears the plot and prevents it by leading the three around the island until they fall into a pool. Caliban is later confronted by Prospero, who indicates that he will pardon Caliban.
CERES
Roman goddess of the fertility. A part taken by one of Prospero's spirits in the Masque or "revel" performed for Ferdinand and Miranda. The performance also includes spirits disguised as Juno, Iris, nymphs, and reapers.
CLARIBEL
A "ghost character." Daughter of Alonso. Alonso and his train are stranded on Prospero's island while returning from Claribel's wedding to the King of Tunis.
FERDINAND
The son of Alonso, the King of Naples. Ferdinand accompanies his father to his sister Claribel's wedding to the King of Tunis. While returning, the ship transporting them encounters a storm conjured by Prospero, and they are stranded on Prospero's island. Ferdinand is separated from the others, causing Alonso to think that his son has drowned. Ariel, however, on Prospero's command, has brought Ferdinand safely to shore, and leads him to Prospero's daughter Miranda. The two immediately fall in love, and Ferdinand subjects himself to hard toil under Prospero to prove himself worthy of Miranda. In the end, Alonso is reunited with Ferdinand who happily agrees to his son marrying Miranda.
FRANCISCO
A lord attendant to Alonso. Francisco accompanies Alonso back from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso's daughter, to the King of Tunis, when they are stranded on Prospero's island. He tries to reassure Alonso that Ferdinand, Alonso's son, has survived the apparent shipwreck.
GONZALO
An elderly counselor to Alonso, the King of Naples. When Antonio conspired with Alonso to overthrow Prospero, Gonzalo was ordered to set Prospero and his daughter adrift at sea. Out of his own kindness, Gonzalo provided them with food, clothing, and other supplies. Twelve years later, as the action of the play begins, Gonzalo has accompanied Alonso to the wedding of the King's daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis. While returning from the wedding, the ship transporting them encounters a storm conjured by Prospero, and they are stranded on Prospero's island. Alonso, thinking his son and heir Ferdinand has drowned, becomes depressed, and Gonzalo tries to console him. Ariel charms Alonso and Gonzalo into falling asleep, but he awakens Gonzalo when Antonio and Sebastian come to murder the King. In the end, It is the remembrance of Gonzalo's kindness that turns Prospero's vengeance into virtue. Prospero indicates that he will reward Gonzalo for his charity and loyalty.
HARPY
A disguise assumed by Ariel to frighten the men shipwrecked by Prospero's art. After the banquet magically appears to attract the men, the Harpy rises to chastise and terrify them. The creature recalls the sins they have committed against old duke Prospero before causing the banquet to disappear "with a quaint device." Shakespeare borrows this image from the Argonautica in which Jason comes upon Phineus the blind Thracian king tormented by harpies sent by Zeus that despoil his daily meals.
IRIS
Roman goddess of the rainbow and messenger to the gods. A part taken by one of Prospero's spirits in the Masque or "revel" performed for Ferdinand and Miranda. The performance also includes spirits disguised as Juno, Ceres, nymphs, and reapers.
JUNO
Roman queen of the Gods. A part taken by one of Prospero's spirits in the Masque or "revel" performed for Ferdinand and Miranda. As goddess of the hearth, she blesses their union. The performance also includes spirits disguised as Iris, Ceres, nymphs, and reapers.
KING OF TUNIS
A "ghost character." Husband of Claribel, Alonso's daughter. Alonso and his train are stranded on Prospero's island while returning from their wedding.
MASTER OF THE SHIP
An officer on the ship that is carrying Alonso and his train back to Naples. During the storm conjured by Prospero, he barks orders to the Boatswain, who tries to maintain order on the ship's main deck and keep the ship from foundering. He reappears at play's end, having been charmed to sleep during the main action. Although he enters with the Boatswain at play's end, it is the latter that reports the ship is whole and undamaged by the storm.
MIRANDA
The daughter of Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan. Miranda was three years old when she was cast adrift with her father twelve years earlier. She grew up on the island that she and Prospero came to inhabit. Even though Prospero and Caliban are the only other people she has ever really known, Miranda surprises Prospero by being able to recall that she once had several women attending her. When Prospero conjures the storm that strands Alonso and his party on the island, she is afraid for these strangers and urges her father to stop. Prospero then explains to her that he is really the Duke of Milan and that the two of them were exiled by his brother Antonio and Alonso; he further reveals that Antonio and Alonso are among those he has brought to the island with the tempest. Shortly thereafter Miranda meets Ferdinand, Alonso's son, whom by Prospero's design has been separated from the rest of Alonso's party. Because Miranda has never seen a young, healthy man, she is enchanted with Ferdinand and falls in love with him. She pities Ferdinand when Prospero sets him to hard labor collecting wood, and she offers to do the work for him. In the end, when Prospero reconciles with Alonso, it is agreed that Miranda will marry Ferdinand.
PROSPERO
The rightful Duke of Milan and father of Miranda. Prospero, preferring to seclude himself in his library, appointed his brother Antonio to handle his responsibilities as Duke. Antonio, wanting to become the Duke in full, conspired with Alonso, the King of Naples, to overthrow Prospero; Gonzalo was then ordered to set Prospero and Miranda adrift at sea. Gonzalo, having pity upon them, supplied their boat with food, clothing, and Prospero's book of magic. They landed on an island once ruled by the dead witch Sycorax and now inhabited by her son Caliban, Ariel, and various spirits. Prospero learns his magic there and makes Ariel his servant and Caliban his slave. The play begins twelve years later. Prospero conjures a storm that strands Antonio and Alonso, among others, on the island as they are returning from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso's daughter, to the King of Tunis. Through his command of Ariel and the other spirits, Prospero is able to confront Antonio and Alonso. His initial plan is to wreak vengeance upon them. His anger is mollified late in the play when Ariel reminds him that good Gonzalo is among the men he torments. Remembering the old man's kindness, Prospero sets aside his anger and chooses to forgive. He then reconciles with Alonso and Antonio, regains his dukedom, and betroths Miranda to Ferdinand, Alonso's son. Prospero then delivers an epilogue directly to the audience, asking for its applause to release him from the stage with their applause; this speech is often seen as Shakespeare's farewell to the theatre.
SEBASTIAN
The brother of Alonso, the King of Naples. Sebastian accompanies his brother back from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso's daughter, to the King of Tunis, when they are stranded on Prospero's island. Alonso, thinking his son and heir Ferdinand has drowned, becomes depressed, guilt-ridden and inconsolable; seeing this, Antonio persuades Sebastian to depose Alonso, and together they plot to murder him. Ariel, however, prevents the murder.
SPIRITS
Various spirits who inhabit Prospero's island and do his bidding. The spirits set up a banquet for Alonso and the others, and later perform a Masque or "revel" for Miranda and Ferdinand in which they perform the parts of Juno, Ceres, Iris, nymphs and reapers.
STEFANO
The drunken butler to Alonso, the King of Naples. Stefano accompanies Alonso back from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso's daughter, to the King of Tunis, when they are stranded on Prospero's island. Stefano becomes separated from the rest of Alonso's party and happens upon Caliban and Trinculo. Stefano offers them wine, and together they become drunk; Caliban then worships Stefano as a god, and pledges the island to Stefano if he will kill Prospero. The two, along with Trinculo agree to the murder, but are prevented from carrying out the plot by Ariel, who leads them around the island until they fall into a pool.
SYCORAX
A "ghost character." Deceased mother of Caliban. Banished from Algiers for witchcraft, Sycorax is stranded on the island Prospero and Miranda come to inhabit. She imprisoned Ariel in a tree for failing to obey her. From this imprisonment Prospero released the spirit before the play begins.
TRINCULO
Court jester to Alonso, the King of Naples. Trinculo accompanies Alonso back from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso's daughter, to the King of Tunis, when they are stranded on Prospero's island. Trinculo becomes separated from the rest of Alonso's party when he comes across Caliban. Caliban hides from Trinculo, thinking that he is a spirit sent to torment him. Trinculo, not realizing that Caliban is there, takes shelter under Caliban's cloak from an impending thunderstorm. Stefano happens upon the two of them under the gabardine and humorously mistakes them for a single creature with four arms and legs and two voices (one 'forward' and one 'behind' voice). Together they all become drunk and, emboldened by drink, plot to murder Prospero. However, Ariel prevents the murder by leading them around the island until they fall into a pool.
WATER NYMPH
A disguise assumed by Ariel after saving Ferdinand from drowning. In the form of a water nymph, Ariel leads Ferdinand to Miranda, with whom he promptly falls in love.