Prospero is very protective over Miranda, having surveyed Ferdinand closely to make sure he was good enough for his Daughter. Prospero was very vicious towards Ferdinand saying things like: “I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together”. After he has successfully endured the testing of his love for Miranda to Prospero, he practically talks to him with open arms: “Then as a gift, and thine own acquisition Worthingly purchased, take my daughter”.
Prospero has a very close relationship with someone else on the Island, Ariel. Ariel is a servant to Prospero as he released him from the long imprisonment at the hands of the witch Sycorax. He carries out virtually every task that Prospero needs accomplished in the play. There is a lot of respect from Ariel towards Prospero: “All hail, great master, grave sir, hail! I come to answer thy best pleasure”. As soon as Ariel complained about his task in hand, Prospero rebukes him, accusing him of resentfulness and reminds him how he released him. Ariel answers: “Pardon, master. I will be correspondent to command”. This shows us that Ariel is fearful of Prospero’s magic and that Prospero does not take likely for people arguing with him.
At one point in the play, Ariel teaches remorse to Prospero, he learns to forgive and that revenge is not always the right answer. He describes the state that “the good old lord Gonzalo” is in, saying “his tears runs down his beard like winter’s drops”. Ariel changes Prospero’s mind on the situation by giving his opinion “that if you now beheld them, your affections would become tender” saying: “mine would sir, were I human”. Prospero sees Ariel’s point of view and replies: “And mine shall”. We know Prospero has learnt remorse as he goes on to say: “the rarer action is in virtue, then in vengeance” as he let the “prisoners” go from his “cell”.
Prospero has another servant on the Island, Caliban. As soon as we meet this character in the play, they are cursing each other dramatically, for example: “blister you all o’er!”, “thou shalt have cramps”. Prospero has no respect whatsoever for Caliban as he “didst seek to violate the honour of” Miranda. Before the attempted rape on his daughter, Prospero felt pity over Caliban, “took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour one thing or another”. Caliban is just an “abhorred slave” to Prospero.
Once again, just like Ariel, Caliban fears Prospero’s magic. Unlike Ariel, Caliban complains and curses but bows down to Prospero’s intimidation in the end. Prospero gives as good as he gets with Caliban cursing right back at him, although with Prospero’s magic, the curses he shouts are possible and Caliban knows it and obeys to the order in hand: “I must obey; his art is such of power”.
All in all, the relationship between Prospero and Caliban is terrible as Prospero has so much hatred for the “misshapen knave”. This hatred mainly comes from the attempted rape of his daughter who he cares dearly for. Towards the end of the play, Prospero finds out that the “demi-devil” “had plotted with them” (Stephano and Trinculo) “to take my life”. For this, Caliban begs for forgiveness, he is granted his wish: “as you look to have my pardon, trim it handsomely”.
Prospero’s relationship with the other Characters in the play, Antonio his brother, Gonzalo an honest old councillor, Alonso the King of Naples and Sebastian his brother are very different.
“The three men of sin”, Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio all are forgiven by Prospero in the end although he still feels hatred towards them. “For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother would even infect my mouth”. Prospero knew about the plot Antonio and Sebastian had to kill Alonso but does not say anything: “But you my brace of lords, I here could pluck his highness’ frown upon you and justify you traitors. At this time I will tell no tales.” This shows Prospero’s kind heart and forgiveness. Alonso is the first to ask for forgiveness making him the most like out of “the three men of sin” to Prospero: “Thy dukedom I resign and do entreat thou pardon my wrongs”.
Gonzalo is probably the only character Prospero shows respect to, he is the one that helped Miranda and Prospero out by giving “rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries” when they were sent from Naples. As soon as Prospero meets Gonzalo he says: “let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot be measured or confined.” Prospero calls him an “honourable man” and “my true preserver and a loyal sir”. As you can see there is a lot of respect shown for Gonzalo even though he was the one that did the deed and sent them from Naples staying with his Brother he shows so much hatred for.