It is believed that the Tempest reflects one of the themes of Shakespeare time: colonisation. Shakespeare uses Caliban to symbolise

Caliban completely detests Prospero, and hates doing work for him, but when he meets Stephano and Trinculo, when he tastes the "celestial liquor" he starts to adore them and see them as high standard gods, who could overthrow the "mighty" Prospero. This is however very dramatic, and quite sad, and shows irony to a certain extent since Caliban wants to serve and follow a butler and a jester, who individuals who serve as well. Caliban believes every word they say, and is absolutely amazed.

Likewise, it is also obvious that Caliban is drunk in the scene and is not sure what is saying. Shakespeare lets the audience feel pity for Caliban because of how he is used and treated. Caliban does not see that he is making the same mistake as he did twelve years ago when Prospero was stranded on the island.

The main theme of the quote however, is that Caliban feels free, and believes he is able to overthrow Prospero with a butler as his leader. With the quote: "Caliban, has a new master, get a new man" we can see that Caliban believes he is free from Prospero because he can chose his own master. Caliban however does not know the meaning of freedom. He is not capable of being king of the isle or even of himself. He always needs a leader.

Because Caliban has lived his whole life on the island he has no moral understanding about anything else but enslavement. Shakespeare shows this in Caliban's try attempted rape of Miranda just to populate the island. It is not for sure, if Caliban even knows that Stephano is a butler. In a way, Caliban is jus blinded by the addictive effect of the alcohol and is attracted to Stephano because of his distorted view.

From the story it is possible to distinguish that the alcohol has a similar effect on Caliban like the slavery. He can now not be without it any longer since he first was forced to take it.

It is possible to see Caliban in two perspectives. For example the attempted rape of Miranda can be seen as a following of his instinct, not just cold hatred in addition he does not know that Prospero sees it differently. As Caliban has never seen another female except his mother and Miranda, we could also assume that Caliban has fallen in love with Miranda. Miranda in a way is similar to Caliban, she too has never seen another man but Caliban and her father, and she too follows and obeys someone "new" to the island: Ferdinand. Caliban is blinded by the alcohol, and Miranda by love. They both are also slaves to Prospero.

The quote given represents how colonisation has affected Caliban and how he is used to serving. The quote shows that Caliban does no longer want to work for Prospero. This again reflects Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony. Behind Caliban's appearance and his mistakes, he has a kind core. This is shown in his dreams. These are hidden by daylight and can be found when one shuts their eyes if one does not look at the outer shell, but a t the core, if one leaves the sense of looking, but leaves the other senses to develop and use them to find out about Caliban.; this might be a way to find into his kind core.

Shakespeare has used different styles of speech for the different characters, for the higher-class characters like Prospero and Miranda and Gonzalo. However Caliban also speaks in iambic pentameter. This shows that Miranda had taught him how to speak, but it could also mean that Caliban is a higher-class character, only hidden by his "un-social" cover. There is evidence that Caliban is a higher-class character because the island actually belongs to him through his mother, he is king of the isle. This iambic pentameter has the effect on the audience, because, they believe Caliban is a brutish monster, whereas the language in verse contradicts that. The audience gain sympathy for Caliban and see him in a different point of view, as a fallen king, who is put into slavery, who has no fault in his appearance and his lifestyle is decorated with hate towards Prospero and Miranda.

The quote has contributed to the themes in the play as it reflects most of the Colonisation with its slavery and how Caliban feels free by being allowd to choose his master.

1062 words.

David Engelmann Page 1 18/12/2007