Tea Ilic
Mrs. Gailey
English 200
The Tempest
Final Paper
Caliban the Mystery, Even to This Day. Many times, Shakespeare refers to Caliban from The Tempest as “a natural man”. What did that mean to him, to be a natural man? There are many reasons why Shakespeare would have called him that, including the fact that he just looked completely different than the rest of the characters in The Tempest. He was black and dirty, he looked like a savage. Far more different then the other characters. By the end of the play, Caliban’s character seems a lot less important. Even though his role as a character starts to fade, he had a purpose in the play. He raised many questions in the play, Caliban made us see what we were blatantly ignoring. As stated
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Caliban was portrayed as such a repulsive man that he’s overlooked for the true meaning of himself. Many readers would just assume he is a savage and nothing more. Shakespeare does an excellent job of making us understand the characters and relate to them, he shows us Caliban from a negative perspective, that’s actually most times misinterpreted. Caliban’s character also reveals the social hierarchy of The Tempest and the ongoing situations in Shakespeare’s era. This set up was derived from long traditions that have been carried from Shakespeare’s time. Caliban was seen as a ‘natural man’ which could have meant the bottom of the bottom, lowest of the low. Any of these. He was the mystery of the play. Many people weren’t sure if Caliban was either a monster or a victim of colonialism. Even though he had much fewer lines then Prospero, Caliban was the focus of many readers interest, often with an importance far better than his actual presence in the play. Caliban was often referred as the “monster”, many great critics say that Caliban’s name is an anagram or at least a play on the word, “Cannibal”. A term derived from “carib” which became a European term used to describe flesh-eaters. If this was the case, then Caliban’s name can be associated with the kinds of “savage” man-eaters that Europeans were reading about in travel literature when Shakespeare wrote this play. It is also possible that Caliban’s name may be a play on the
He humanizes Cyrano and detaches him from the near mythic qualities and legacy he wishes to attain. Though a static character himself, Le Bret reveals the depth of Cyrano’s character, putting his development as a Romantic hero in perspective of reality.
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.
Caliban’s character in A Tempest is more outspoken and vocal about Prospero’s maltreatment of him. In Act I, Caliban’s entrance into the play is depicted very differently between The Tempest and A Tempest. In The Tempest Caliban succumbs to Prospero’s wishes much more willingly than in A Tempest. In The Tempest, Caliban’s first lines are answering to Prospero: “There’s wood enough within” (1.2.315). He follows Prospero’s orders willingly and does as he is told. In the context of the civil rights movement, this can be interpreted as he accepts the social injustice without much defiance, because it is the social norm. However, in A Tempest, his first line in the play is “Uhuru!” (pg 11). Caliban directly disobeys Prospero here, as “Uhuru” means “freedom” in his native language (Swahili). This change is very significant, especially in the time of the civil rights movement. I think that Cesaire makes this change as a statement for the need for self-advocacy and defiance of discrimination and segregation in the 1960s. It encourages minorities to accept Caliban’s role in the real world take a stand against the social injustices that plagued the
Caliban’s strong emotional attachment to the island in The Tempest motivates him to actively respect nature. During Caliban 's first interaction with Prospero in the play, he states, “This Island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother.” This assertion of dominion by Caliban sparks a desire for him to protect the nature on the island. As a result, he values nature like it is an extension of himself and strives to maintain harmony with it. Caliban follows this up by reminding Prospero, “And then I loved thee and show 'd thee all the
On one level, it seems that Caliban is an evil character but on another level, Shakespeare tries to depict Caliban as a part of Prospero's character. This is shown when Prospero accepts responsibility for Caliban. Prospero understands that Caliban is the baser side of himself, even the baser side of humanity's baser instincts. Caliban shows many
One of the essential themes of The Tempest is the duality between nature and society. This is made evident through the character of Caliban: the disfigured fish-like creature that inhabits the island upon which the play takes place. Caliban lacks civility because he was born on the island deprived of any social or spiritual morality other than nature and instinct. He is literally man untamed. Caliban is not monstrous simply for the sake of being frightening; his ghastly appearance is intended to literally depict the essential differences between civilization and natural instinct.
Caliban, immediately introduced as "poisonous slave," "savage," "hag-seed," is a character often likened to the African- American slave. The ease and matter-of-factness with which Prospero and Miranda dismiss him is painfully obvious even before he enters the scene (Act 1, Scene 3). Through no fault of his own, Caliban is dehumanized by the authority of his day and dismissed by the important members of his society. He looks much different from the others on the island, so he is not seen as a true human being; in fact, his only redemption lies in the fact that he is able to learn the language in order to serve the master.
The Tempest is a classic example of Shakespeare’s dichotomized notions of right and wrong within the context of racial inherencies, a social commentary of the colonialism of the New World. An important theme in the play is the racial differentiation between Caliban and the other antagonists, primarily, Prospero, who comes to the island and enslaves Caliban to enforce his own rule. This relationship, as portrayed through the play, is a reflection of the historical social and racial tensions that existed between the colonizers of New Europe and the Native Americans and is illustrated through the language employed by Shakespeare and the interactions that take place between the characters. The Tempest
Understanding Caliban In William Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest” (concentrate on his human side), Virgil Suárez’s poem, “En el Jardín de los Espejos Quebrados” both contain a variety of similarities and differences. Both Suarez’s poem and play portray Caliban as a character that desires human connection. In the play Caliban would hardly stand up on his two feet like the rest of the characters. He would go around walking on all four.
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 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)
Prospero's Judgment of Caliban in Shakespeare's The Tempest “A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
If Shakespeare's play does comment upon European exploration and colonization in the Western Hemisphere, however, The Tempest does not contain a critique of exploitation, but, instead, an apology for it. Caliban was initially treated as an ignorant child and only put under wraps after he attempted to force himself upon the completely innocent Miranda. The charge of "rape" is made more credible in having Miranda pass judgment upon Caliban whom she calls an "Abhorr'd slave" (I, ii., l.352). Unlike our current understanding of European colonialism, Prospero puts Caliban in chains because he has earned the status of
Throughout William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Caliban, as the native, is treated as an inferior by Prospero and Stephano, the colonists. However, comparing The Tempest to European colonialist attitudes in the Elizabethan era provokes a 21st century audience to re-examine why Caliban is perceived as a monster. Caliban’s addiction to alcohol, his worship of Stephano, and his plot to kill Prospero are perceived as savage, yet upon further examination, are merely a way of coping with his fate, rather than a display of his intrinsically primitive nature. Parallels between Elizabethan colonialism and Caliban’s relationship with Prospero and Stephano make evident the fact that Caliban is inherently noble and the true victim of The Tempest.
Within The Tempest, characters such as Prospero and Caliban share an intimate connection. Without some kind of malevolent force motivating the action of the play, none of the major characters would come into contact with each other. A violent storm, formed by Prospero's magic, subjects the foreign characters to the might of his mysterious power. Issues of control become a central part of The Tempest. One way in which this is highlighted is through the relationship between Prospero and Caliban, his bestial servant. Their relationship does not utilize the conventional imagery of those who hold power versus those who do not. Rather, Caliban comes to symbolize a physical