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Okay, so it's fairly safe to assume Prospero was Shakespeare's incarnation of himself and his farewell to his craft. Does anyone think that any of the other characters in the play were meant to represent something? Like, Ariel was the next generation of writers and Prospero giving him his freedom meant Shakespeare was allowing the next generation to take over? And Miranda and Ferdinand are the rest of the world who can enjoy the fruits of Shakespeare's labor?

Just a thought. Let me know what you think.

There's actually a literary theory of a triad between Prospero, Miranda, and Caliban-

Miranda- the muse, Prospero-the artist, and Caliban-logic and science.

Now, I'd disagree with you there. ;3

Only because the teacher who took my group for The Tempest presented a ton of evidence in the contrary and disliked us using that as an argument.

The first point she gave was that we're not completely certain of the chronology of the plays; it would seem like The Tempest is the latest, but Shakespeare is also thought to have collaborated on several after it, if indeed it was even the last under his own authorship.

Secondly, some critics aren't even sure he wrote the epilogue (I can't remember precisely why... but there are said to be some differences in style, THEN you have the difficulties with having no original scripts penned in his own hand... they were copied, revised by others, etc... before they were put in the First Folio), which is generally taken to inspire this argument.

Thirdly, it's supposed to be common to Elizabethan/Jacobean plays for a epilogue to be given to encourage applause from the audience, it may not be so much a farewell as an appeal for congratulations.

Finally, it was an idea particularly popular to the Romantics, who've a reputation for their sentimentality and... tweeness. The notion appeals to them most of all, but these days it's generally discredited (or at least if you're studying the play at A-level).

As for Ariel, I've not heard that one. I've heard of him being seen (lets say in Freudian interpretation, but personally I'm not over fond of that either) as Prospero's superego, Caliban is id (generally Ariel and Caliban are compared/dueled). Or inspiration, spirit, and Caliban carnal instincts. Air, earth... etc... Servant and Slave are also interesting.

Miranda and Ferdinand... Oh golly gosh, let's see what I can remember... It's dynastic power relations and a "Brave New World". They're supposed to take over from Prospero/Antonio/Alonso (are those last two right... I can't remember) and link Milan and Naples for a golden age, the fights resolved. HOWEVER, Prospero seems pretty Maciavellian (SPELLING) in his manipulation of his daughter for his own intentions, even if they are for the greater good... Miranda is educated, can question men back, but even so she succumbs to Ferdinand and allows him to cheat at that Chess game! Chess typically signifies dynastic power transactions... the woman as a commodity, an item to be traded by MEN.

...But if I continue in this direction I'll end up in raving Feminist mode, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE SAID OF IT! >O