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Age and build

elderly man

“my old brain is troubled” (The Tempest, part 8)

Face and hair

The book is silent here, so we keep this plain and neutral.

Dress

wears a magic garment

“pluck my magic garment from me” (The Tempest, part 2)

wears magic robes

“Prospero in his magic robes” (The Tempest, part 9)

Voice and speech

commanding and authoritative

“Obey, and be attentive” (The Tempest, part 2)

uses formal address with 'thee' and 'thou'

“I pray thee, mark me” (The Tempest, part 2)

Signature words

mark me

“I pray thee, mark me” (The Tempest, part 2)

spirit

“My brave spirit” (The Tempest, part 2)

slave

“Thou poisonous slave” (The Tempest, part 2)

art

“By my so potent art” (The Tempest, part 9)

project

“Now does my project gather to a head” (The Tempest, part 9)

Gait and mannerisms

walks to calm his troubled mind

“a turn or two I’ll walk, To still my beating mind” (The Tempest, part 8)

Strengths

master of magic and the liberal arts

“Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed In dignity, and for the liberal arts, Without a parallel” (The Tempest, part 2)

controls spirits through magic

“Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines call’d to enact My present fancies” (The Tempest, part 8)

strategic and patient planner

“Now does my project gather to a head: My charms crack not; my spirits obey” (The Tempest, part 9)

capable of forgiveness and mercy

“the rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance” (The Tempest, part 9)

Flaws

neglected his dukedom for studies

“I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated To closeness and the bettering of my mind” (The Tempest, part 2)

placed excessive trust in his brother

“my trust, Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood in its contrary as great As my trust was” (The Tempest, part 2)

harsh and cruel to Caliban

“For this, be sure, tonight thou shalt have cramps, Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up” (The Tempest, part 2)

prone to anger and vexation

“Sir, I am vex’d: Bear with my weakness” (The Tempest, part 8)

Traits

devoted father to Miranda

“No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter” (The Tempest, part 2)

values his library above his dukedom

“he furnish’d me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom” (The Tempest, part 2)

believes in divine providence

“By Providence divine” (The Tempest, part 2)

ultimately chooses virtue over vengeance

“they being penitent, The sole drift of my purpose doth extend Not a frown further” (The Tempest, part 9)

Lines in their own words

to Miranda, calming her fears

“Be collected: No more amazement: tell your piteous heart There’s no harm done” (The Tempest, part 2)

to Ariel, praising his work

“My brave spirit! Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil Would not infect his reason” (The Tempest, part 2)

to Ferdinand, accusing him of treachery

“Thou dost here usurp The name thou ow’st not; and hast put thyself Upon this island as a spy, to win it From me, the lord on ’t” (The Tempest, part 2)

on the transience of life and magic

“We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep” (The Tempest, part 8)

forgiving Antonio

“For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive Thy rankest fault, all of them” (The Tempest, part 9)