Compare the presentation of Ariel and Caliban in the play

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Compare the presentation of Ariel and Caliban in the play

Ariel is an airy spirit that is bound to serve the magician Prospero, who rescued him from Sycorax, the witch who previously inhabited the island and controlled it. Sycorax imprisoned Ariel in a tree for 12 years for “refusing her grand hests”. Sycorax died leaving Ariel in the tree until he was saved by the only person that had stronger magic than her, Prospero. Prospero greets disobedience with a reminder that Ariel owes him his freedom. Ariel serves Prospero by using his magic. Ariel is Prospero's eyes and ears throughout the play using his magical abilities to foil other character's plots to bring down his master. He is the source of Prospero's magical powers, causing the tempest and many of the conspiracies in the play, and works for Prospero somewhat against his will. He is an intelligent, capable servant. Caliban is a deformed monster who is the slave of Prospero. While he is referred to as a mooncalf in the sub-plot, a freckled whelp, he is the only human inhabitant of the island, which is otherwise "not honored with a human form”. All who encounter Caliban regard him as sub-human, or reprehensible, because of his different looks and strange ways. Caliban is the son of the witch Sycorax, but who is father was is unknown, although according to Prospero his father was a devil. Sycorax was banished to the island by Algiers, left on the isle, pregnant with Caliban, and died before Prospero's arrival. Caliban serves Prospero by doing the physical jobs such as lifting and collecting wood. Ariel is said to enter “like a water nymph” compared to Caliban entering from “within”.

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       Ariel’s name has a different meaning compared to Caliban’s. Ariel is said to mean of the air and light, where as Caliban means of the earth. Looking further into Caliban’s name it may be related to "bruneteau and "Carib" Also Calibaun is a Romany word for black, suggesting he was black. Furthermore it could be an anagram of the word “cannibal”. It gives us the opinion from the start that Ariel has magic and Caliban doesn’t.

       Prospero treats Ariel different to Caliban throughout the play. Caliban's first speech emphasizes the conflict that arises ...

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