The Tempest
William Shakespear
Main Characters 2
Minor Characters 5
Themes 6
Illusion of Justice 6
Difficulty of Distinguishing “Men” from “Monsters” 6
Exploitation and Power 7
Symbols 7
Act One 7
Scene 1 7
Scene 2 8
Act Two 9
Scene 1 9
Scene 2 10
Act Three 10
Scene 1 10
Scene 2 11
Scene 3 12
Act Four 13
Scene 1 13
Act Five 14
Scene 1 & Epilogue 14
Quotes 15
, Main Characters
Alonso
● King of Naples ; Father of Ferdinand
● He is on board the ship that is wrecked
● Aided Antonio in overthrowing Prospero as Duke of Milan
● Acutely aware of consequence of all actions
● Blames his decision to marry his daughter to Prince of Tunis on apparent
death of his son
● After magical banquet, regrets his role in overthrowing of Prospero
Sebastian
● Alonso’s brother
● On the ship that is wrecked
● Aggressive & cowardly
● Easily persuaded to kill brother (Act 2 Scene 1)
● Initiates ridiculous story about lions when Gonzalo
catches him with his sword drawn
Prospero
● Rightful Duke of Milan, is a magician ; father of Miranda
● Protagonist
● He was expelled from Milan & has been living on island for 12 years
● ‘Prospero” means ‘I hope for’ in Latin
● Another meaning ‘prosperity’ - a successful flourishing state
● Fleed Milan in a boat with Miranda
● Gonzalo aided Prospero into his escape
● Spent 12 year on island refining magic that gives him power he needs to punish & forgive enemies
Antonio
● Prospero's brother
● He was part of plot to overthrow Prospero
● Current Duke of Milan
● He is on the ship that is wrecked
● Power-hungry & foolish
● (Act 2 Scene 1) Persuade Sebastian to kill sleeping Alonso
● Goes along with Sebastian’s absurd story about fending off lions when Gonzalo wakes up &
catches Antonio & Sebastian with swords drawn
William Shakespear
Main Characters 2
Minor Characters 5
Themes 6
Illusion of Justice 6
Difficulty of Distinguishing “Men” from “Monsters” 6
Exploitation and Power 7
Symbols 7
Act One 7
Scene 1 7
Scene 2 8
Act Two 9
Scene 1 9
Scene 2 10
Act Three 10
Scene 1 10
Scene 2 11
Scene 3 12
Act Four 13
Scene 1 13
Act Five 14
Scene 1 & Epilogue 14
Quotes 15
, Main Characters
Alonso
● King of Naples ; Father of Ferdinand
● He is on board the ship that is wrecked
● Aided Antonio in overthrowing Prospero as Duke of Milan
● Acutely aware of consequence of all actions
● Blames his decision to marry his daughter to Prince of Tunis on apparent
death of his son
● After magical banquet, regrets his role in overthrowing of Prospero
Sebastian
● Alonso’s brother
● On the ship that is wrecked
● Aggressive & cowardly
● Easily persuaded to kill brother (Act 2 Scene 1)
● Initiates ridiculous story about lions when Gonzalo
catches him with his sword drawn
Prospero
● Rightful Duke of Milan, is a magician ; father of Miranda
● Protagonist
● He was expelled from Milan & has been living on island for 12 years
● ‘Prospero” means ‘I hope for’ in Latin
● Another meaning ‘prosperity’ - a successful flourishing state
● Fleed Milan in a boat with Miranda
● Gonzalo aided Prospero into his escape
● Spent 12 year on island refining magic that gives him power he needs to punish & forgive enemies
Antonio
● Prospero's brother
● He was part of plot to overthrow Prospero
● Current Duke of Milan
● He is on the ship that is wrecked
● Power-hungry & foolish
● (Act 2 Scene 1) Persuade Sebastian to kill sleeping Alonso
● Goes along with Sebastian’s absurd story about fending off lions when Gonzalo wakes up &
catches Antonio & Sebastian with swords drawn
