How Much Does Miranda Know?

My Tempest series continues…

I had read The Tempest many times before someone drew my attention to the fact that Miranda does not know Ariel exists! Prospero puts her to sleep every time Ariel appears.

But we know that Miranda is aware of her father’s magical powers, since the first time we see her she asks him whether he caused the storm, and to please make it stop.

Ok, so fine, the only magic she knows is what her father does, right?

When Ferdinand arrives, her first guess is, “Oh, he’s a sprite.  A very handsome sprite, but definitely a sprite.”  So….what, she’s cool with random sprites roaming around?

How about the music? Caliban has that great speech where he tells Stephano and Trinculo, “Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises…”  Does Miranda hear those noises as well?

Miranda has grown up on the island, the island is all she knows, I get that. I’m just trying to see the world through her eyes. She’s amazed at the brave new world of people, but she’s used to seeing sprites just randomly floating through the forest?

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