Examples Of Power In The Tempest

In the play, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, Caliban is an important character. Caliban is a character who plays as a victim to be pitied, as well as a villain to watch out for. In this essay, I will show clearly how Caliban is a victim and villain by exploring his relationship with Prospero, Miranda, and the island.

From these specific moments in the text, Shakespeare depicts Caliban as a kind, noble-hearted creature who used to be free but was enslaved by Prospero, despite his initial kindness and affection towards him. However, this perspective requires the omission of various critical pieces of evidence, which, when considered, force the reader to conclude that Caliban is truly a barbaric native that abused the care and parental-like mentorship offered to him by Prospero and now suffers a well-deserved punishment. Caliban himself describes how well Prospero treated him upon his arrival at the island. Prospero gave him “water with berries in’t,” taught him “how to name the bigger light and how the less,” and “strok’st [him] and made much of [him]”

The tone Caliban uses indicates his feeling of betrayal which Prospero’s misuse of a discovery result in. The degradation suffered by Caliban highlights Prospero’s new found power which he uses to create an imperialist society. The influence of Prospero’s magic is oppressive and portrays Prospero as a person who exploits others’ innocence.

I think that it was easy for Prospero to view himself as superior to Caliban because he saw the freakish man as being the Other. Seeing Caliban as a monster allowed Prospero to look down on Sycorax’s son. Once Caliban was viewed as lesser than Prospero, there was no need to see him as an equal. For instance, Shakespeare tells us that Prospero states, “Dull thing, I say so, he, that Caliban whom now I keep in service” (Shakespeare, pg. 12). Prospero is dismissive of Caliban’s intelligence because it cannot possibly be on par with that of the magician or his daughter. Although, clearly Caliban is an intelligent being or he would not have been able to learn the new language that Prospero taught him. Also, Caliban

In particular, Prospero’s fully straightforward anger is presented on when Caliban is in question (Sokol). Within this epiphany, Prospero has realized that he needs to take responsibility of what Caliban has become. He sees how his own actions have contributed to Caliban’s plot to assassinate him. “ Two of these fellows you must know and own; this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine” (Shakespeare 66). Prospero calls Caliban a “thing of darkness”, but he knows Caliban is only a thing of darkness because of what he has done to Caliban.

Prospero's relationship with Caliban differs from that of Prospero and Ariel's. Prospero does not view Caliban as a being who could be his equal. He is blinded by his prejudice against Caliban's appearance and manners. Caliban is portrayed in a negative light. He can be seen as the depiction of the victims of colonial expansion. Although Prospero seeks this righteousness, he both mistreats and insults Caliban, who ultimately attempts to kill Prospero.  In comparison to Ariel who acts only when commanded by Prospero, Caliban is wild. He refuses to be colonized and tamed. This can be taken as a reference by Shakespeare towards those who were

Caliban is a one of the main characters in William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. Being the sole habitant on the island of Prospero throughout a majority of the play, Caliban is illustrated as a human with monster-like characteristics. Caliban can be also be compared to the demigods of Greek Mythology since Caliban and the demigods are both complex, yet parallel, characters. Numerous times throughout The Tempest, Shakespeare uses the magic behind the island to show Caliban’s powers; likewise, demigod has godlike powers. Similar to demigods, Caliban is a half-human son with assumed powers, demands revenge by manipulating or persuasion, and both have emotional and physical vulnerabilities related to their human side. Rebellion is another feature these two share to an extent.

            Caliban turns hate and dislike into murderous and devious plans.  Caliban had a plan to plot out Prospero's death.  He informs the others that Prospero takes a nap, and that it would be best to kill him in his sleep.  We also learn here that he is similar to Miranda.  Miranda has never seen another man except her father, and Caliban has never seen another woman except his mother.  In some ways this is ironic. (Act 3, scene 2 line 75-89)

I must obey. His art is of such power it would control my dam's god, Setebos, and make a vassal of him.”(Act 1.2,447-450) This meaningful line represents both Prospero’s cruel manipulation and Caliban's unremorseful attitude regarding his attempt at raping Miranda. He does not acknowledge the fact that he did anything wrong and only serves Prospero because of the torture, not the belief that he is deserving of it.

His mother, Sycorax, was banished there by sailors for no known reason; “This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child / And here was left by th’ sailors” (I.II.322-323). Sycorax is an African with blue eyes which is unusual and so people thought she was magic because of it, hence the name she was referred to in the quote, ‘blue-eyed hag’. Trapping Ariel in the oak tree also emphasized the magic people thought she had. They assumed she used magic to do it; “By help of her more potent ministers / And in her most unmitigable rage, / Into a cloven pine, within which rift / Imprisoned thou didst painfully remain”(I.II.328-331). I chose this quote because it expressed how she trapped Ariel. Sycorax died soon after and her son was left alone on the island until Prospero found him. Since sycorax might have had power, then theoretically Caliban was also suspected to possess the same power. This could have threatened Prospero, so he belittled Caliban and turned him into a slave. Prospero would tell Ariel stories of how Caliban was not human, but a monster; “Then was this island / (Save for the son that she did litter here, / A freckled whelp, hag-born) not honored with / A human shape” (I.II.334-337). In this quote, Prospero is belittling Caliban in order to gain more control over him and Ariel. Caliban is mentally weak so he succumbs to Prospero, but he is physically strong and still poses a

Caliban’s concession of Prospero’s ultimate power as master evidences the way in which slavery has so effectively conditioned his thoughts and behavior into continually being those of a subordinate being. Caliban’s lifestyle has been one

When they met, Caliban was uneducated, and did not know how to communicate with Miranda and Prospero. Under the tutelage of both people, Caliban learned to differentiate between day and night. The "greater light" in the passage referring to the sun itself. On another level, however, Prospero taught Caliban the difference between what was good, and what was evil. The fact that Caliban turned out the way that he did, points to a possible reason why Prospero treats Caliban in such a strict fashion. Because Caliban was given the freedom to choose good over evil, Prospero blames himself for Caliban?s desire to rape his daughter. Because he did not teach Caliban well enough, the responsibility of taking care of Caliban fall directly on the person who initiated him into the civilized world--Prospero. At the end of the play, Prospero recognizes his responsibility for Caliban when he says,"...this thing of darkness I/ Acknowledge mine." (V. I. 275-6) Though he tells Ferdinand that Caliban is under his control (just as Stephano and Trinculo are under Alonso), Prospero claims more than leadership of Caliban. In this instance Caliban belongs to Prospero

Shakespeare uses apostrophes in this play as there is a considerable amount of information to convey, and this compacts the speech. However, this positive relationship ended when Caliban attempted to rape Miranda. Prospero then made Caliban his slave and now punishes him using his magic, often in the form of sprites which torment Caliban. Caliban has spent all of his life on this island and is a being who is uncontaminated by the effects of civilization and class. Yet, he easily is tempted by the worst that ‘civilisation’ can offer to the island, alcohol. When he meets Stefano and Trinculo, Caliban gets drunk with them and, in return, coaxes them to help plan to murder Prospero and Miranda and take over the Island. Some people suggest that Caliban’s plotting to kill Prospero is justified. However, Shakespeare does not ratify this vengeance. Prospero has made Caliban his slave, but he had just cause to, and he does not threaten Caliban with death at all. Prospero shows little or no forgiveness towards Caliban. The only slight hint of forgiveness is hidden in an order, “Go, sirrah, to my cell;/ Take with you your companions; as you look/ To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.” Prospero also announces to Caliban: “This thing of darkness, I/ Acknowledge as mine.” Prospero’s referral to Caliban as “This thing of darkness“ demonstrates how Prospero sees

It is evident from the above passage that Caliban was the sole owner of the island after the death of his mother. There were no restrictions on his movement and he enjoyed the fruits of freedom till the deposed Prospero arrives on the island. At the beginning, Prospero’s attitude to Caliban was like that of an authoritative teacher to a student. He makes all the efforts to reform Caliban by teaching him his language which made him aware of his pathetic condition. After this, Caliban does show his gratitude to Prospero but the problem arises when the teacher wants the unconditional allegiance from the pupil. Besides, Prospero does not accept him as a human. It appears that teaching him the civilized language is to train him to do his bidding in

The first mention of Caliban occurs before we meet the character, when Prospero tells Miranda the story of the “damned witch Sycorax,” a “blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child” (1.2.269). This hag’s child is Caliban, who Prospero highlights was “not honoured with / a human shape.” (1.2.283-4). Our primary knowledge of Caliban other than who his mother is is that he is subhuman, which instantly labels him as inferior. Having a “human shape” is an honor that Caliban was not given due to his parentage. The reader is automatically set up to agree with this opinion and it is uncontested throughout the play. When we do meet Caliban several lines later, he is addressed by Prospero as “slave” (1.2.345) and by Miranda as a “savage” (1.2.355). As a method of constantly and continually demeaning him, Caliban is never called by his