Caliban

The name Caliban itself is worthy of attention because it draws parallels to the word cannibal, implying barbaric, inhumane, and savage behavior. Shakespeare continues with this negative portrayal of Caliban through the physical depiction as given by Prospero: “A freckled whelp, hag-born -not honored with A human shape.” (24) This initial description of Caliban creates an image in the mind of the reader of an animal like creature that is inferior and unworthy. The dehumanization of Caliban is…

entitlement drives him to act irrationally, somehow finding a way to justify his actions. Prospero also attempts to colonize the island, displaying that his entitlement leads him to try and capture Caliban and Ariel. Prospero seeks power in every facet of his life. He controls Miranda and keeps Caliban and Ariel as slaves to him. From this, one can argue that Prospero is evil. Yet in spite of everything done to him, Prospero becomes forgiving and merciful at the end of the play. In act V…

Prospero’s slave, Caliban. Caliban, in his pursuit of freedom, plots against his master. For instance, Caliban states, “with a log batter his skull, paunch him with a stake, cut his wezand with thy knife” (561, line 82-84). This demonstrates how he is finally fed up with living under Prospero’s ruthless rule and plans to murder him. However, in order to do so, Caliban goes to Stephano for help, “prithee, my king...do that good mischief which may make this island thine own...and I, thy…

servants with him. Both of his servants came from the witch Sycorax. Ariel had been trapped in a tree on the island by Sycorax and Prospero came to rescue, for ‘his’ salvation, Ariel owed Prospero his servitude until Prospero released him of his duties. Caliban, the “savage,” and Native American of the story, was the son of Sycorax. The Tempest, written by William Shakespeare,…

This submission started when Prospero set Ariel free from a tree where Sycorax, the witch who lived on the island, and mother to Caliban, had placed him. However, we can also appreciate, although differently, submission in Prospero's relationship with Caliban. The latter is considered a savage, a “devil”, as he was son to Sycorax, who was a witch, therefore meaning Caliban is the representation of an unrefined being who needs to be taught language and be nurtured, and whose wild nature does not…

both the colonizer and the colonized. “Dull thing, I say so. He, that Caliban Whom now I keep in service. Thou best…

In this quotation, we see that Caliban claims ownership over the isle that Prospero took from him, confines him only to a small piece of the land. Caliban claims to have loved Prospero, shown his fertile land and all the riches of the island to Prospero. This criticizes the colonial period of the western nation, in which they forcibly took over the lands and dominated over them, Shakespeare criticizes the colonialism by this quotation of Caliban, emphasizing on the mission of the western…

The same concept applies in The Tempest as well. A lot of times, people determine how others are by what they see without learning about them further, and that always leads them into wrong judgments; in Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, Stephano, Caliban, and Miranda all make wrong evaluations by simply trusting what they observe. Stephano shows how incorrect first judgements can be if he believes how things appear to be. When he first gets on the island, he is in shock because he sees there is a…

In The Tempest, the themes nature versus nurture and relationship between ruler and subject are expressed in the relationships between the characters. Shakespeare uses these themes to make connections to the real world and history. Nature versus nurture argues whether a person's behavior is based on their DNA or their life experiences and surroundings. Relationship between ruler and subject gives input on the opinions of the ruler on its subjects. Both of these themes are not only present in The…

Trinculo and Stefano. Stefano has come ashore in a wine cask, and soon Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano are drunk. They meet Caliban, and think of ways to make money by putting him on display as a monster from the uninhabited island. Caliban a plots to murder Prospero and has his two new acquaintances as accomplices. Little do they know Ariel is listening, and reports the scheme to Prospero before anything happens. Prospero punishes Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano with a run through a briar patch…