Shakespeare presents Caliban’s appearance to us through Prospero’s words, before we are introduced to him, were he is described as “a freckled whelp hag-born - not honoured with/a human shape”, which gives us the impression that Caliban is an ugly character and not meant to be seen as human by us or the other characters. Shakespeare also hints to us that Caliban is seen as animal-like as his birth is described as him being “litter”ed - a word used to describe as young animals.
The first time we hear Caliban he is shouting back at Prospero from the far side of a cave, “There 's wood enough within!”, Shakespeare is showing us that Caliban is quite a rude slave to Prospero as it is not common that a slave will shout to their master, therefore, …show more content…
We learn that Prospero and Miranda taught Caliban how to speak, although Caliban hates them for it he takes it as an advantage as he now knows how to curse them:
“You taught me language - and my profit on’t
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!”
Shakespeare is showing us that Caliban feels a strong hatred for the two, despite how much they taught him, this highlights his unpleasant nature as he shows his ungratefulness for his learnings in an extreme manor.
This can make us see Caliban as a repulsive character as more of his unpleasant nature is showing through now and here Shakespeare wants us to see Caliban as filth because he is being ungrateful and aggressive to Prospero after he taught him so many things.
In Act 2, Shakespeare shows us that Prospero’s magic not only harms Caliban physically but mentally too as he fears what Prospero can do to him:
“Sometime am I
All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness-
Lo, now lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment
The first time we hear Caliban he is shouting back at Prospero from the far side of a cave, “There 's wood enough within!”, Shakespeare is showing us that Caliban is quite a rude slave to Prospero as it is not common that a slave will shout to their master, therefore, …show more content…
We learn that Prospero and Miranda taught Caliban how to speak, although Caliban hates them for it he takes it as an advantage as he now knows how to curse them:
“You taught me language - and my profit on’t
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!”
Shakespeare is showing us that Caliban feels a strong hatred for the two, despite how much they taught him, this highlights his unpleasant nature as he shows his ungratefulness for his learnings in an extreme manor.
This can make us see Caliban as a repulsive character as more of his unpleasant nature is showing through now and here Shakespeare wants us to see Caliban as filth because he is being ungrateful and aggressive to Prospero after he taught him so many things.
In Act 2, Shakespeare shows us that Prospero’s magic not only harms Caliban physically but mentally too as he fears what Prospero can do to him:
“Sometime am I
All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness-
Lo, now lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment