* Son of Sycorax, the witch banished by Prospero
* A deformed slave to Prospero
* Symbolizes the brute force of nature
Miranda
* Daughter of Prospero
* Raised on the island with no other human contact
* Symbolizes innocence and purity
Ariel
* A spirit of the air who serves Prospero
* Used to carry out Prospero's magic
* Symbolizes freedom and imagination
Prospero
* The exiled Duke of Milan who lives on the island with his daughter Miranda
* A powerful sorcerer who uses his magic to control the other characters
* Symbolizes the power of art and creativity
Antonio
* Prospero's brother who betrayed him and usurped his dukedom
* A cruel and selfish man who is only interested in power
* Symbolizes ambition and greed
Sebastion
* Antonio's brother and a fellow conspirator
* A weak and foolish man who is easily swayed by Antonio
* Symbolizes gullibility and weakness
Gonzalo
* A kind and honest counselor to Prospero who was banished with him
* Symbolizes loyalty and friendship
Trinculo
* A jester who is stranded on the island with the other characters
* A drunkard and a fool who provides comic relief
* Symbolizes the follies of humanity
Stephano
* A butler who is also stranded on the island
* A drunken and lecherous man who is easily fooled by Trinculo
* Symbolizes the baser instincts of humanity