Character Sketch of Prospero, Miranda, Ferdinand, Ariel, Caliban, Antonio, the King of Naples and Gonzalo | The Tempest

by | Jan 17, 2026 | General | 0 comments

The tempest ChSketech

 

Character Sketch from JKBOSE Class 9 English Chapter 5 – The Tempest of Prospero, Miranda, Ferdinand, Ariel, Caliban, Antonio, the King of Naples and Gonzalo

 

A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Prospero, Miranda, Ferdinand, Ariel, Caliban, Antonio, the King of Naples and Gonzalo from JKBOSE Class 9 English Tulip Book Lesson 5 The Tempest

 

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Character Sketch of Prospero

Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan, a learned and wise man whose love of knowledge led to his downfall. Devoted to “secret studies” and valuing his books above his dukedom, he entrusted state affairs to his brother Antonio, never doubting his loyalty. This intellectual pursuit, while noble, showed a certain naivety about human nature. When betrayed and cast adrift with his infant daughter, Prospero survived through a combination of good fortune, Gonzalo’s kindness, and his own resourcefulness. On the island, he has transformed from a scholarly duke into a powerful magician who commands spirits and controls nature. However, his power is not used for mere domination, he is a loving father who has raised Miranda to be pure and innocent. Prospero is complex: stern with Ferdinand (testing his love), commanding with Ariel (reminding him of past debts), angry with Caliban, yet ultimately merciful to his enemies. His greatest strength is his ability to forgive despite having the power to destroy. By the end, his renunciation of magic shows wisdom and maturity, he understands that true power lies in forgiveness, not vengeance. Prospero represents the enlightened ruler who values knowledge, family, justice, and ultimately, mercy.

 

Questions related to the Character of Prospero

Q1. Describe Prospero’s character.
Q2. Discuss the complex relations that Prospero shares with different people.

 

Character Sketch of Miranda

Miranda is Prospero’s beautiful, innocent daughter who has lived on the island since infancy. Having seen no other humans except her father and Caliban, she represents pure innocence and natural goodness. Her first response to the tempest is compassionate, she begs her father to stop the storm because she cannot bear the suffering of the drowning sailors. This immediate empathy defines her character. When she sees Ferdinand, having never seen a young man before, she thinks he is a spirit because of his noble appearance. Her innocence is genuine, not foolish; she recognizes goodness instinctively. Miranda is obedient to her father but not passive, she pleads for Ferdinand when Prospero treats him harshly and secretly visits Ferdinand to ease his labor. Her love for Ferdinand is immediate and pure, uncontaminated by social conventions or calculations. Her famous exclamation, “O wonder! How many wonderful people there are here! How beautiful mankind is!” reveals her optimistic, generous view of humanity. She represents hope, innocence, the new generation untainted by the old generation’s crimes.

 

Questions related to the Character of Miranda

Q1. Why does Miranda beg her father?
Q2. What incident reflects Miranda’s optimism?

 

Character Sketch of Ferdinand

Ferdinand is the handsome, noble son of the King of Naples. When the ship is wrecked, he leaps into the sea, believing his father has drowned, showing both courage and filial love. Led by Ariel’s magical song to Prospero, he immediately falls in love with Miranda, thinking she is a goddess of the island. This shows his romantic, idealistic nature. When accused of being a spy by Prospero, he draws his sword to defend his honor, displaying courage and spirit. However, he willingly submits to Prospero’s magical power, showing wisdom in knowing when to fight and when to yield. Ferdinand’s true character shines through the labor test, he performs heavy, menial work (piling logs) without complaint because of his love for Miranda. He refuses to let Miranda do the work, showing both chivalry and genuine care for her. His statement that his misfortunes would be nothing if he could see Miranda once a day from his prison window reveals the depth of his love. Ferdinand represents noble young manhood, true love, and the virtue that makes him worthy of Miranda.

 

Questions related to the Character of Ferdinand

Q1. How does Ferdinand fall in love with Miranda?
Q2. How does Ferdinand show his love and care for Miranda?

 

Character Sketch of Ariel

Ariel is a magical spirit who serves Prospero faithfully. Before Prospero’s arrival, the witch Sycorax imprisoned Ariel in a pine tree, where he remained until Prospero freed him. Grateful yet yearning for freedom, Ariel is torn between loyalty and his desire for liberty. He performs all of Prospero’s commands perfectly, raising the tempest, leading Ferdinand, providing visions to the guilty men, and ensuring safe passage home. When Ariel reminds Prospero of his promise of freedom, and Prospero responds angrily, Ariel quickly apologizes and promises willing obedience, showing both courage to speak and wisdom to submit. His character represents the universal desire for freedom and the conflict between obligation and liberty. Ariel is not evil like Caliban but rather pure spirit, associated with air, music, and poetry. His final song celebrating freedom (“Merrily, merrily, shall I live now”) captures the joy of liberation. Ariel represents imagination, loyal service, and the spirit that soars once freed from obligation.

 

Questions related to the Character of Ariel

Q1. Who freed Ariel?
Q2. What orders of Prospero does Ariel fulfil?

 

Character Sketch of Caliban

Caliban is the deformed son of the witch Sycorax and the island’s original inhabitant. Described as looking “more like a fish than a man,” Caliban represents the uncivilized, natural man. Before Prospero’s arrival, he was the island’s master, but now serves Prospero as a slave. While the text doesn’t detail Caliban’s perspective in these chapters, his character represents the colonized native, the primitive versus the civilized, and the monstrous Other. His name (an anagram of “cannibal”) suggests savagery, yet he is also a victim of circumstance. Caliban embodies the darker aspects of nature and humanity.

 

Questions related to the Character of Caliban

Q1. How does Caliban look and what does he represent?
Q2. What does the name Caliban suggest?

 

Character Sketch of Antonio

Antonio is Prospero’s treacherous brother who represents ambition without conscience. Entrusted with Milan’s governance while Prospero studied, Antonio grew “greedy for power and possessions.” He betrayed his own brother by plotting with the King of Naples to seize the dukedom. His character shows how power corrupts and how ambition can destroy family bonds. Even when shipwrecked on the island, Antonio is among those who must face their guilt. His eventual repentance (suggested in Part II) shows that even the deeply corrupted can find redemption through sincere remorse.

 

Questions related to the Character of Antonio

Q1. Whom did Antonio betray?
Q2. Describe Antonio’s character.

Character Sketch of The King of Naples

The King of Naples conspired with Antonio to overthrow Prospero, making him complicit in the crime. His participation shows how political alliances can be based on treachery. However, when faced with the apparent loss of his son Ferdinand, the King experiences profound grief, showing his human vulnerability. His suffering on the island, confrontation with his guilt, and eventual repentance show that even powerful rulers must face justice for their crimes.

Questions related to the Character of the King of Naples

Q1. How does the king of Naples react to his son’s death?
Q2. Who enters into a conspiracy with the King of Naples?

Character Sketch of Gonzalo

Gonzalo represents loyalty, kindness, and conscience in a corrupt world. Though forced to participate in Antonio’s plot, he showed mercy by secretly stocking Prospero’s ship with water, food, clothes, and precious books. His actions saved Prospero and Miranda’s lives, showing that even in dark times, individual acts of kindness matter. When the party is shipwrecked, Gonzalo accompanies them, and later weeps with joy at the scene of reconciliation. He represents the good counselor, the moral voice, and the power of compassion to preserve life and hope.

Questions related to the Character of Gonzalo

Q1. Describe Gonzalo’s character.
Q2. Why does Gonzalo weep

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