Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been trapped on an island together for almost her entire life. He is the only man, or even person, she can remember. Only the spirit Ariel and the creature Caliban live with them. Prospero has kept his past a secret from Miranda, who questioned him for many years about her mother. He eventually reveals to her that he was a duke. Prospero’s brother Antonio usurped him and put him and the young Miranda on a dilapidated boat. Miranda is shocked at this news. Prospero has attempted to shelter her from their wonderful and terrible past. In spite of his harshness, he says that she gave him strength to survive after his banishment: “O, a cherubim / Thou wast that did preserve me.”
Miranda is gentle in comparison to her seasoned and sometimes bitter father. Prospero has Ariel create the titular tempest in order to bring those who betrayed him to the island. Miranda cries to see the storm assault the boat: “O, I have suffered / With those that I saw suffer.” When she sees Ferdinand, Prospero hopes that the two will fall in love. However, he makes their courting difficult because he wants them to truly value their relationship: “but this swift business / I must uneasy make, lest too light winning / Make the prize light.” Miranda is unaware of her father’s designs.
Prospero is a controlling father who leaves Miranda out of his plans and sometimes influences with magic. However, he also loves and attempts to protect her. She knows very little of the world and relies on him. Perhaps at the end, when he abjures his magic and allows Miranda and Ferdinand to be together, he is finally ready to let her go.
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