# Miranda — The Tempest character guide

> Miranda in The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Miranda More, Miranda Alack, Miranda O, Miranda Sir, Miranda Heavens

**First appearance:** 0000-the-tempest

## Snapshot

Raised on an island with only her father and Caliban for company, Miranda meets her first young man and speaks her heart without disguise.

## Who they are

Miranda has lived since age three in a cell with Prospero, knowing nothing of courts or dukedoms until he finally tells her who she is. Her compassion is immediate and unguarded, and when she sees Ferdinand she declares her love with a plainness that cuts through the island's deceptions: she would rather be his servant than lose him. Her willingness to offer herself without bashful cunning makes her the emotional center of the play's middle movement, and her father watches the match with approval he will not yet fully show.

## Relationships

### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ariel)

_social_

Ariel serves Prospero and interacts with Miranda only indirectly as part of Prospero's magical plans.

### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/sebastian)

_social_

Miranda has no direct relationship with Sebastian, only knowing him as a stranger shipwrecked on the island.

### [Ferdinand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ferdinand)

_romantic_

Ferdinand and Miranda fall instantly in love, representing pure, youthful romance blessed by Prospero.

### [Ceres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ceres)

_professional_

Ceres is a goddess in Prospero's masque, blessing Miranda's union with Ferdinand as a symbolic figure.

### [Gonzalo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/gonzalo)

_social_

Gonzalo remembers Miranda as a child from Milan and shows her kindness after the shipwreck.

### [Alonso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/alonso)

_family_

Alonso is Miranda's uncle, though she does not recognize him until the final revelation.

### [Antonio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/antonio)

_family_

Antonio is Miranda's uncle who usurped her father, making their relationship one of estranged betrayal.

### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ariel)

_social_

Ariel serves Prospero and interacts with Miranda only indirectly as part of Prospero's magical plans.

### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/sebastian)

_social_

Miranda has no direct relationship with Sebastian, only knowing him as a stranger shipwrecked on the island.

### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ariel)

_social_

Ariel serves Prospero and interacts with Miranda only indirectly as part of Prospero's magical plans.

### [Antonio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/antonio)

_family_

Antonio is Miranda's uncle who usurped her father, making their relationship one of estranged betrayal.

### [Antonio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/antonio)

_family_

Antonio is Miranda's uncle who usurped her father, making their relationship one of estranged betrayal.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Shows compassion for the shipwreck victims and learns of her noble lineage and the usurpation.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Offers to help Ferdinand with the logs and boldly proposes marriage, defying her father's instructions.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Present as Prospero blesses her union with Ferdinand; observes Prospero's sudden anger.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Sees the shipwrecked nobles and exclaims 'O brave new world'.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/miranda
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters