Water
Because of the setting of the play, water is a central image that appears throughout the five acts: first as a storm conjured by Prospero, and later as a mysterious and transformative power that leads to both loss and recovery. Water is seen as a force that is at once cleansing, beautifying, and dangerous, and its complex portrayal in the play is what leads characters to confusion and misinterpretation throughout.
Caliban's Speech
When Caliban describes the wonder and mystery of the island, he uses imagery that is enchanting and visceral. This speech has long been regarded as one of the best that Shakespeare ever wrote, as it showcases Caliban's intimate knowledge of his native island as well as his mastery of a language that has been imposed on him by Prospero and Miranda.
Hands
Hands are an important image throughout the play, as they represent mending (bringing the hands of Ferdinand and Miranda together), long-established love (Prospero clasps Miranda's hands in his before telling her what happened to him), and finally, enthusiasm and support (Prospero asks the audience to clap for him at the end of the play). The hand imagery in the play illuminates a number of important filial relationships – between spouses, parent and child, etc. – and ultimately compares these relationships to that between the audience and the playwright.
Caliban's Antagonism
There are many instances throughout the play when Caliban expresses murderous or harmful intentions toward Prospero and Miranda. At one point, he instructs other characters to bash Prospero's skull in after seizing his books. None of these impulses ever come to fruition, of course, but they serve as examples of Caliban's ambivalent nature within his complex circumstances. A native of the island, Caliban detests Prospero for power and fantasizes about harming him. At the same time, however, Caliban is capable of thinking and speaking with gentleness and delicateness, his connection with the island often inspiring eloquent speeches (in what would be his second language) about the wonder and beauty that surrounds him.
