Chained in Slavery:
Slavery has by far been the most demeaning act humans have exercised upon themselves. The influence that slavery had created weak-natured characters like Caliban. In the novel The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, slavery is a subject that is expressed through the character Caliban. He encounters characters like Prospero and Stephano who impose authority over him. His reaction to being a subject of slavery differs depending on what other characters offer him. This explains his weak self-nature as well as his acts of hypocrisy. Caliban will always be a victim of slavery due to his hypocritical nature, his lack of self-control and his savage like behavior.
Caliban first shows hints of his hypocritical nature when he …show more content…
After heavily drinking, Caliban finds himself drifting away from freedom. Instead of denying slavery to Stephano, he joins them in a plot to kill Prospero and his daughter Miranda. He thinks he can use them to wipe out his first nemesis. Caliban is being dragged around causing more trouble than he already put himself into. All this is done for some alcohol. He even lowers his dignity when he attempts licking Stephano’s shoes. He says, “I’ll kiss thy foot” (Act II, Scene 2, 1239). He is desperate to release himself from all the ‘tormenting’ he endures because of the spirits Prospero transmits. Caliban says, “The spirit torments me; Oh!” (Act II, Scene 2, 1155). This is another factor that proves he has no self-control. He could fight these spirits by fighting Prospero himself. He chooses alcohol instead to flee his worries. It is ironic that a butler and a court jester are more superior than a native inhabitant of the …show more content…
At the time, a savage was an educated and non-religious person That person would most likely be of African origin, and that is portrayed through Caliban. This is primarily proven when he attempts to rape Prospero’s daughter, Miranda. Despite his ‘repulsive’ physical nature, talking to Miranda and developing a relationship would have potentially created something for him. Raping her only increased Prospero’s wrath upon him. For doing so, Prospero consistently cusses Caliban. Fernando on the other hand was able to speak with her and charm her at first sight. This does infuriate Caliban and helps him prove a point towards Prospero’s dominancy. Caliban says, “I know how to curse the red plague rid you for learning me your language” (Act I, Scene 2, 366). Saying so is again hypocritical when even Stephano and Trinculo call him a monster on multiple occasions. When Caliban asks Stephano whether or not he is afraid of confronting Prospero, Stephano says, “No, monster, not I!” (Act II, Scene 2, 1530). By referring to him as a monster, Stephano makes it obvious that he thinks of Caliban as a savage, not even worthy of himself or Trinculo. Caliban’s nature of birth does not justify his case either. He is the product of an old witch and the devil. Therefore, he is referred to as an animal or monster—a savage. Love does not exist either in Caliban’s character. At first, Caliban was attracted to
Slavery has by far been the most demeaning act humans have exercised upon themselves. The influence that slavery had created weak-natured characters like Caliban. In the novel The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, slavery is a subject that is expressed through the character Caliban. He encounters characters like Prospero and Stephano who impose authority over him. His reaction to being a subject of slavery differs depending on what other characters offer him. This explains his weak self-nature as well as his acts of hypocrisy. Caliban will always be a victim of slavery due to his hypocritical nature, his lack of self-control and his savage like behavior.
Caliban first shows hints of his hypocritical nature when he …show more content…
After heavily drinking, Caliban finds himself drifting away from freedom. Instead of denying slavery to Stephano, he joins them in a plot to kill Prospero and his daughter Miranda. He thinks he can use them to wipe out his first nemesis. Caliban is being dragged around causing more trouble than he already put himself into. All this is done for some alcohol. He even lowers his dignity when he attempts licking Stephano’s shoes. He says, “I’ll kiss thy foot” (Act II, Scene 2, 1239). He is desperate to release himself from all the ‘tormenting’ he endures because of the spirits Prospero transmits. Caliban says, “The spirit torments me; Oh!” (Act II, Scene 2, 1155). This is another factor that proves he has no self-control. He could fight these spirits by fighting Prospero himself. He chooses alcohol instead to flee his worries. It is ironic that a butler and a court jester are more superior than a native inhabitant of the …show more content…
At the time, a savage was an educated and non-religious person That person would most likely be of African origin, and that is portrayed through Caliban. This is primarily proven when he attempts to rape Prospero’s daughter, Miranda. Despite his ‘repulsive’ physical nature, talking to Miranda and developing a relationship would have potentially created something for him. Raping her only increased Prospero’s wrath upon him. For doing so, Prospero consistently cusses Caliban. Fernando on the other hand was able to speak with her and charm her at first sight. This does infuriate Caliban and helps him prove a point towards Prospero’s dominancy. Caliban says, “I know how to curse the red plague rid you for learning me your language” (Act I, Scene 2, 366). Saying so is again hypocritical when even Stephano and Trinculo call him a monster on multiple occasions. When Caliban asks Stephano whether or not he is afraid of confronting Prospero, Stephano says, “No, monster, not I!” (Act II, Scene 2, 1530). By referring to him as a monster, Stephano makes it obvious that he thinks of Caliban as a savage, not even worthy of himself or Trinculo. Caliban’s nature of birth does not justify his case either. He is the product of an old witch and the devil. Therefore, he is referred to as an animal or monster—a savage. Love does not exist either in Caliban’s character. At first, Caliban was attracted to