Caliban characterisation - The Tempest

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Caliban                          

As the embodiment of the Jacobean view of foreigners as “savage”, due to 18th century xenophobia, Caliban is depicted as being elemental, debased and an “unthinking bundle of primitive instinct”-suggesting his incapacity to make measured decisions as he has been isolated from western civilisation and society. His name can be seen as an anagram of “cannibal” which once again suggests his uncivilised and survivalist nature.

As the legitimate ruler of the island the modern audience can realise the exploitation of the indigenous “monster of the isle” - a beast-like, unfeeling native. Caliban is usurped from his inherited rule, much like Prospero is overthrown by Alonso. Shakespeare uses a noun as a verb as Caliban says “sty me” to emphasise that he has been kept like an animal, an image constructed by the imperialist and omnipotent author. The uneven relationship between the coloniser and the wild native is explored by the playwright’s repetitive use of the language of colonial exploitation and images of incarceration as Caliban is “confined”, with his own island as his “prison”. The power relations are highlighted by Miranda calling Caliban an “Abhorréd slave”, the accentuated adjective emphasising the hateful, loathing tone towards the subordinate, uncouth “thing”.

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Caliban’s attempted rape of Miranda when he did “seek to violate/ The honour of my child” hints that Caliban brings about his own problems due to his acts of debasement, part of the nature of his unevolved, “vile race”. The socio-biological explanation explores his primitive, ethiological and basic need to satisfy his appetite albeit rapacious and lacking reason and rationality. His actions invite the romantic views of Rousseau of the “noble savage” who’s only sin was not being inculcated by society’s ideologies.

Caliban is often referred to with biblical imagery and is associated to being “got by the ...

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