After Caliban’s opening soliloquy in act two scene one, you think of him slightly more as a human than a monster as he shows human emotion, for example, ‘Fright me’, when the spirits taunt him. You also get a sense of sympathy for him when he talks about how Prospero’s spirits taunt and tease him, although he is saying a curse on Prospero at the time. The curse is ironic because he is using language that Prospero and Miranda taught him to curse with. Shakespeare gives Caliban this soliloquy because it is a good opening to a scene and it shows Caliban’s more human side and Prospero in a more tyrannical light.
This scene shows the audience that Caliban isn’t happy in servitude and is bitter and aggressive towards Prospero. This may explain why he acts in the animalistic way he does, as an act of rebellion. In act one scene two Caliban quotes, ‘When thou camest first, thou strok’dst me and made much of me; would’st give me, water with berries in’t; and teach me how, to name the bigger light, and how the less, that burn by day and night.’ This shows that Prospero and Miranda tried to nurture Caliban, but then when he tried to rape Miranda he threw away all their work. This is similar to how Stephano and Trinculo are treating Caliban in act two scene two, but substituting berries with liquor. It also gives an indication that Stephano and Trinculo will end up abusing Caliban and turning him into their slave, as Prospero did.
Caliban reacts so willingly to Stephano being his master (unlike Prospero) because Stephano offers comfort in a friend, a new life and liquor. Stephano also plots to kill Prospero, which Caliban has thought about for years but it was never realisable to him.
Stephano and Trinculo aren’t likely to be better masters than Prospero because although they are treating him well and giving him liquor in act two scene two, when it gets to act four scene one, Stephano threatens to, ‘turn him out of his kingdom’. The audience gets the impression that Stephano will be an untrustworthy master because he only likes Caliban because he is going to lead him to a prize in the end (Miranda and the island). On the other hand Prospero, although on occasion petty and harsh, is a fair master and rewards Caliban’s good behaviour.
We learn a lot about Caliban from act two scene two. It alters your first impressions of Caliban because his opening soliloquy is spoken well, in quite a poetic, remorseful way which makes you think that there is more to Caliban than meets the eye. It is also ironic because he is cursing Prospero with language that Prospero taught to him. Act two scene two also changes your opinion of Caliban because you start to feel sorry for him when he describes how Prospero’s spirits tease and taunt him, i.e. ‘But they’ll nor pinch me, fright me with urchin shows, pitch me I’ the mire’. This scene also reinforces the opinion that Caliban is stupid and childish because he thinks that if he hides under his coat and lies flat on the ground, Prospero’s spirits wouldn’t be able to find him. From this scene we also learn that there is a certain naivety and vulnerability to Caliban and he is not just an evil monster.
I think that although Caliban is base and cannot control his animal urges, he is not evil, therefore he is not to be hated, although Prospero and Miranda have reason to do so. I think he is simply an unintelligent creature who doesn’t know better than his animal urges. Caliban needs a leader whether to worship or rebel against. Caliban’s nature makes it difficult for him to live in society and is evidence towards his ruling nature and inability to be nurtured.
A director would, in this scene, use Caliban to bring humour to the play. To maximise his humour potential, a director could make him a caricature of himself and larger than life. In this way, when he thinks Stephano is a spirit sent by Prospero he could wail, ‘. . .here comes a spirit to torment me, for bringing wood in slowly, I’ll fall flat, perchance he will not mind me’, while trembling at the knees, then throw himself on the floor under his coat dramatically.
Magic is a strong theme throughout the play and it has particular mention in this scene. Caliban curses Prospero on his first line. Caliban’s curses could be based on the experiences he had when he was young and heard his mother, Sycorax the witch, curse others. For example, she imprisoned Ariel in a tree, which Caliban could have been present for. His curses could also be based on hearing Prospero say spells or when he is trying to curse Caliban.
At the end of act two scene two Caliban is in a good mood, the best we see him in throughout the play, because he is inebriated and has got the promise of new masters and a better life. Caliban is hopeful for the future because he believes that he has escaped Prospero’s ‘tyrannical’ mastery. He has become loud, obnoxious and childish in his inebriated state. A director could show Caliban’s good humour by having him singing and dancing about and being full of energy.
From act three scene two we learn new things about Caliban. Caliban’s character also develops in this scene, because of the liquor. The liquor makes Caliban an extrovert rather than an introvert, good humoured compared to his previous black mood and it makes him open with his emotions. He tells Stephano everything about Prospero and Miranda without a second thought.
Caliban’s loyalty is to Stephano and not Trinculo because Stephano is the one with the liquor, which is the real reason that Caliban is following them. Also Stephano is kinder to Caliban than Trinculo and calls him his ‘poor monster’ whereas Trinculo mocks him and calls him a ‘very weak monster’. Stephano also tells him how he will give him more liquor and he can be his lieutenant. He also beats Trinculo when he mocks Caliban.
Caliban has lacked female company by being one of the only inhabitants of the island. He has only ever seen two women in his life, Sycorax, his mother (a disfigured hag) and Miranda. This explains why he is so impressed with Miranda’s beauty, ‘but that to be most deeply considered is the beauty of his daughter. He himself calls her a nonpareil...’ To some extent this explains why he tried to rape Miranda, but it is also because he cannot control his nature (animal urges).
Caliban has also lacked social education, therefore doesn’t have the social skills to know what to do around Prospero and Miranda. He has also lacked friendship and respect because he cannot control his animal urges, so isn’t fit to be around people such as Prospero and Miranda who are educated and sophisticated.
The speech of Caliban’s starting; ‘Be not afeared . . .’ shows that Caliban can be sensitive and poetic. It also shows that he is not completely averse to being nurtured, because he has learnt Miranda and Prospero’s language. It also makes you pity Caliban, that his reality is so terrible that he ‘cries to dream again’. It reveals that Caliban is not totally base and animalistic, if he notices the flora and fauna of the island, i.e. ‘sounds and sweet airs that delight and hurt not.’ The speech shows Caliban’s more human side because it reveals that he does take in the environment around him and can so be nurtured.
As a director, I would have Caliban deliver these lines almost as a soliloquy at the front of the stage. He would speak softly unlike his normal growl and perhaps have his hands clasped together in front of him almost like praying to the loveliness of the island. He could also be looking up to the sky in a dream world.
This speech reveals a lot about Caliban. It is written in poetry rather than prose, which shows that he has been nurtured to the extent of learning Prospero and Miranda’s language. Dreams seem like the only way that Caliban can escape from his everyday servitude, which is a childish way of thinking. This scene changes your attitude towards Caliban because it shows his more human side as it is a typical human trait; to daydream.
Caliban and Antonio’s plots, although similar, are different because although they are both treacherous plots against their masters, Caliban’s is a base plot to kill Prospero with no real thought behind it. Antonio’s plot, on the other hand, is pre-conceived and vitriolic. Also, Caliban’s is not likely to be realisable, whereas Antonio’s could have easily succeeded if Ariel hadn’t intervened. When Caliban is plotting against Prospero it is very savage and desperate, as he has nothing to lose. When Antonio is plotting, he already has a lot to lose, so needs to be wily and careful. This plot could be used as evidence that Caliban is not able to be nurtured and is ruled by his nature because even though Prospero has looked after him (even after he mis-treated his daughter) for many years he still wants to kill him. He also worships his new master almost at once, totally forgetting that Prospero and Miranda exist.
Caliban’s plot is more reasonable, whereas Antonio’s is pure evil, but on both accounts there is a distinct lack of guilt. Caliban cannot help this as he is just obeying his natural instincts. On the other hand, Antonio feels no guilt for an entirely different reason – he is evil. Another difference between the two plots is that Caliban wants what he thinks is rightfully his, whereas Antonio is simply greedy. We know that Caliban is disillusioned with his new master because he says things like ‘How fine my master is . . .’ and does anything he tells him. The real reason that Caliban likes his new master is that he gives him liquor and has said that he will kill Prospero (who Caliban sees as a tyrant). He is seeing what he wants to see as the alcohol that Stephano has given him has disillusioned him.
I think that Caliban says, ‘I’ll be wise hereafter’ because he has been stupid in the past and used by other and that he isn’t going to let anyone take advantage of him again.
The major themes of the play that relate to Caliban are; slaves and masters – Caliban is Prospero’s slave, as Antonio is ‘slave’ to the Duke of Milan, as Ariel is slave to Prospero, as Trinculo is inferior to Stephano. Treachery – Caliban betrays Sycorax by becoming Prospero’s friend and then slave. He then betrays Prospero by taking a new master and plotting to kill him. Magic – Caliban emphasises the magical air of the island in his speech. Caliban’s mother, Sycorax, was a witch and Prospero uses his magic to control Caliban by causing him to ‘be pinched . . . each pinch as stinging as the bees that made ‘em’. Prospero does this by sending his spirits to torture Caliban and to tell him (Prospero) when he has betrayed him or done something wrong. The last and most important them of the play is nature/nurture. Caliban didn’t want to be nurtured as he never sounds sorry for his wrong actions. Prospero may have been unsuccessful in nurturing Caliban because the nurture was intended to control him, not educate or free him.
Magic is used kindly when Prospero sets up the plot with Miranda and Ferdinand, but is used to cause harm when Prospero conjures the ‘Tempest’ to shipwreck the other characters on the island. Sycorax never uses magic kindly, for example, she imprisoned Ariel in a tree. Prospero attempts to nurture Caliban failed because the nurture was intended to control him not free him. For example, Prospero taught Caliban his language so he could tell him what to do and he would understand. Another example is that they (Prospero and Miranda) were nice to Caliban so that he would show them around and teach them how to survive on the island. Caliban is possibly the only character in ‘The Tempest’ that truly appreciates the nature of the island because he lived there for so long alone after Sycorax died. After she died Caliban had no choice but to explore the island and find out everything he could about it.
Prospero generally uses his power wisely but he sometimes uses it to control people too much, for example, Caliban. He makes Caliban into his slave by controlling him through his power. People like Caliban are always looking for a leader because although Caliban complains about Prospero (and even plots to kill him) he still likes the comfort of having a leader who will look after him. Although Caliban rebels against Prospero he still stays with him because that is better than having to fend for himself.
I think that Caliban is possibly the most important character (excluding Prospero) because he is so different from the other characters. He offers a light hearted contrast to the vitriolic nature of characters such as Antonio. Rather than fear of hate Caliban, the audience should consider him a naïve creature that needs to be led. Caliban shows a side to human nature that some would want to disown, and so call him a monster, but I think that he is a faintly frightening part of the human mind-set that cannot be avoided.