Character in The Tempest
Prospero ♂ male
695Lines Spoken
1.2First Scene
5.1Last Scene
30.5%Of Play Dialogue
Prospero is the #1 largest role in The Tempest, speaking 695 lines (30.5% of the play) across 5 scenes from Act 1 through Act 5. Below: scene-by-scene line counts, who Prospero shares the stage with most, and key speech examples.
Prospero’s position in the full cast
| # | Role | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prospero (this role) | 695 | 30.5% |
| 2 | Caliban | 175 | 7.7% |
| 3 | Ariel | 168 | 7.4% |
| 4 | Stephano | 163 | 7.2% |
| 5 | Gonzalo | 161 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Antonio | 148 | 6.5% |
| 7 | Ferdinand | 148 | 6.5% |
| 8 | Miranda | 142 | 6.2% |
| 9 | Sebastian | 120 | 5.3% |
| 10 | Alonso | 109 | 4.8% |
How Prospero’s dialogue distributes across the play
Prospero’s dramatic peak falls in Act 1 with 355 lines — the act where the role carries the most weight on stage.
Voice signature
Opening line (Act 1, Scene 2): “No more amazement: tell your piteous heart”
Representative speech (Act 5, Scene 1): “[Aside to ARIEL] Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free.”
Who Prospero shares the stage with
| Scene partner | Shared scenes |
|---|---|
| Ariel | 4 |
| Miranda | 4 |
| Ferdinand | 4 |
| Caliban | 3 |
| Stephano | 2 |
| Gonzalo | 2 |
| Antonio | 2 |
| Sebastian | 2 |
| Trinculo | 2 |
| Alonso | 2 |
Questions about Prospero
Is Prospero the lead role in The Tempest?
Prospero is ranked #1 by line count among 19 speaking characters in The Tempest — a major role carrying 30.5% of the play’s dialogue.
What is Prospero’s longest scene?
Act 1 Scene 2, where Prospero speaks 355 lines.
Who does Prospero speak to the most?
Prospero shares the most scenes with Ariel — 4 scenes together across The Tempest.