Discuss the character of Caliban and his relationship with Prospero
Discuss the character of Caliban and his relationship with Prospero Introduction The relationship between Caliban and Prospero has been very fragile since Caliban tried to rape Miranda. Miranda is Prospero's daughter. However, when Prospero first arrived on the island their relationship was much stronger. Caliban was like a teacher's pet and student of humanity to Prospero and Prospero was like the parent Caliban has been deprived of for so long. Caliban showed no remorse after his attempt to violate Miranda and this made Prospero detest him even more. Prospero cannot forgive Caliban and they have a new hatred for each other. From this moment, as punishment for Caliban, Prospero has blown all of Caliban's mistakes out of proportion and punished him accordingly. For this Caliban has plotted to kill Prospero with the aid of Stephano and Trinculo. He has bribed them to help him. Caliban Caliban is neither a man nor an animal. Many people cannot decide if he is a monster or not because of his parents. His mother was Sycorax; she was a known witch who was banished to the island. His father was Setabos, a devil. Caliban's parents clearly have a huge effect on his life even though they are not around any more. Sycorax was found guilty of "mischief manifold" and "sorceries terrible" and was banished to this island. She was pregnant at this time, which was why she was not
Examine how Act 2 underlines the difficulties faced by a ruler such as Prospero?
Claire Gittoes Examine how Act 2 underlines the difficulties faced by a ruler such as Prospero? Ruler's in general face many problems, as is the nature of having power and authority. However ruler's like Prospero face even more difficulties, as Prospero has the ultimate power of magic and can control and manipulate people and their actions, more so than a natural ruler. The first difficulty presented is an issue, which is dealt with throughout the play: the idea of how much or how little to intervene? From the beginning of the play we are told of how and why Prospero is usurped from his dukedom, "I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated/ To closeness, and the bettering of my mind/ With that which, but by being so retired, O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother." Namely because he did not get involved in running the country and possibly felt that his job was not to intervene but to be a figure-head for the country and leave the country to run itself, a 'laissez faire' attitude to ruling. This short speech by Prospero raises the idea that perhaps we should remember that being a ruler involves both rights and responsibilities; Prospero wanted the former but not the latter. The idea of intervention and responsibility is presented in Act 2, Scene 1, where Prospero intervenes telling Ariel to wake Gonzalo before Antonio and Sebastian draw their swords and kill
Presentation of Prospero in the Tempest
WHAT DO YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OF PROSPERO IN THE TEMPEST? The Tempest is a play about a shipwreck, which was orchestrated by Prospero. His intention was to get revenge on his brother Antonio, who cast Prospero and Miranda out on a ship several years ago. In an act of revenge, Prospero is able to use his power through Ariel to bring his enemies to the island, carrying out a series of acts that play a significant part in determining the outcome at the end of the play. Prospero is clearly the protagonist of the play as he is key to many situations and plays an integral part in the relationships between everyone on the island. Shakespeare presents several aspects of his character through the roles and trials he undergoes throughout different situations in the play. We are aware that Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan, immediately revealing his powerful and authoritarian position. "Thy father was the Duke of Milan and A prince of power." Through this, Shakespeare is able to bring out several of Prospero's characteristics, including his authoritarianism and power. As a powerful figure, it is clear how Prospero has been able to take control over the island, just like he was in control whilst he was Duke of Milan. Prospero symbolizes colonial power in the play, as by treating the island as a colony, he takes over the native Caliban and becomes ruler
Explore the roles of Ariel and Caliban in The Tempest.
Explore the roles of Ariel and Caliban in The Tempest The Tempest is a play written by William Shakespeare and is based on an event that actually happened in 1609. A great storm engulfed the flagship of nine ships that had set out to establish the colony of Virginia. This ship was driven against Bermuda and everyone mourned over the loss of one hundred and fifty people. However the colonists survived and the following year the ships reached Virginia. Ariel is Prospero's willing servant. Ariel uses magic to perform tasks and hence is believed by people to be a part of Prospero's imagination. Although Caliban is similar to Ariel by the fact he is slave, his roles vary greatly from completing physical tasks for his master to being a victim of colonization. Rebellion occurred on the island just like in the play: Caliban: ' Having first seized his books, or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake', This sub-plot of the play expresses Caliban's role in The Tempest of how he up sets the normal balance of power. Caliban tries to upset the 'master-slave' relationship he has with Prospero, as he believes the island was stolen from him. However by breaking his relationship with Prospero he creates a new one with Triculo, and hence is still a slave. The Tempest is a tragicomedy, because there is lots of potential for tragedy. This is important for the theme of
Explore Shakespeare’s Presentation of Caliban; a product of nature or nurture?
Aaron Jackson 12ES English coursework Explore Shakespeare's Presentation of Caliban; a product of nature or nurture? In Shakespeare's "The Tempest " the character of Caliban is portrayed in a puzzling and thought-provoking manner. He is a complex character as at times he displays savage like qualities and at others he displays an appreciation for nature and expresses his love for his habitat using poetic devices. Through Caliban Shakespeare explores the themes of nature and nurture. The question raised is, whether Caliban is the product of inheritance and is innately savage or whether his characteristics are a result of his social environment and the cruelty channelled towards him by the islands newer inhabitants. Within this essay I will be exploring the two opinions, the first one being that Caliban was born bad because of his parents also being bad, and the second being whether he appears bad because he does not fit into the mould of a civilised being which was created by his islands new arrivals. The name Caliban is an anagram of "cannibal" which was often spelt with one "n" in William Shakespeare's day, or it may derive from "Cariban" since Shakespeare would have been familiar with stories regarding savage "Carib Indians". Either way the name's origin would immediately provide the audience of the time with the expectation of baseness. Caliban was born as the son of
Explore the ways Shakespeare presents ideas of society in 'The Tempest'
Explore the ways Shakespeare presents ideas of society in 'The Tempest' 'The Tempest' was Shakespeare's last play written alone. He used it to express his thoughts on the structure of society, albeit through using certain characters as a mouthpiece. These characters include Gonzalo and Prospero. To begin with, the society on the island consists only of Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and the spirits, which only appear to Prospero. One theme in the play is the idea of usurpation, which is shown several times throughout. One of Caliban's reasons for hating Prospero is his idea that Prospero usurped him as ruler of the island. This is made clear as early as Act 1 Scene 2, when Caliban says "This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak'st from me". Antonio also usurped Prospero as Duke of Milan, Stephano wishes to be "king of th' isle" and Sebastian plots to kill Alonso to become King of Naples. On the island, it seems that all social restraints are removed. Antonio and Sebastian would never have dared to plot to murder Alonso back in Italy. The anonymity of the island means that the characters' genuine feelings are shown, rather than hidden. This is shown by Antonio and Sebastian's conversation. "Draw thy sword: one stroke Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest/And I the king shall love thee.". And also by Gonzalo's speech. I think that the play also has
Caliban characterisation - The Tempest
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". Caliban's attempted rape of Miranda when he did "seek to violate/ The
HOW DOES SHAKESPEARE INTRODUCE ARIEL?
HOW DOES SHAKESPEARE INTRODUCE ARIEL? LOOK CLOSELY AT LANGUAGE AND COMMENT ON WHAT THE PASSAGE SUGGESTS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROSPERO AND ARIEL IN THE PLAY. Ariel is a spirit of the air who, because he refused to serve the witch, Sycorax, was imprisoned in a tree until rescued by Prospero. Ariel willingly carries out Prospero's wishes because he is eager to be free. Although he wants his freedom in exchange, Ariel approaches his tasks with enthusiasm, quickly doing what is asked and promptly reporting any activities that he observes. Early in the play, Ariel reports the plot to murder Prospero, and later, he assists in punishing Prospero's enemies. Ariel's obedience is an important symbol of Prospero's humanity, because he improves Prospero's role on the island and humanizes the action that Prospero takes against his old opponents. Finally, Ariel's willing obedience of Prospero's wishes stands in stark contrast to Caliban's cursing and plotting against the same master. Ariel and Caliban can both be viewed as the "colonized subjects" of Prospero, and the differing attitudes of these subjects towards their master is suggestive of the differing ways in which human nature responds to modern civilization. Both Ariel and Caliban are individuals oppressed by Prospero, yet each develops a different relationship to their master, based on their natural character as well as
Discuss the presentation and significance of Caliban in 'The Tempest'
Discuss the presentation and significance of Caliban in The Tempest Caliban is a significant character throughout 'The Tempest' contributing to the themes and dramatic effects, such as slavery, power, nature and colonialism. Caliban has many influences on the other characters in the play as well as contributing to the way Caliban and the other characters in the play are perceived by the reader/audience. The use of language also affects how Caliban is perceived by the audience. Many of Caliban's actions add a variety of themes to The Tempest, and the way Caliban is portrayed can also be related to historical context during Shakespeare's time. Caliban is introduced to the audience as a slave to Prospero the protagonist "Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself... come forth" (Act 1, Scene 2, L320) Thus immediately the audience is presented with an image of Caliban as being an evil slave. Prospero's introduction tells us much about Caliban from the very start. The reader will question why Caliban is a slave to Prospero and why is he using such aggressive language against Caliban. The audience will also feel slight sympathy for Caliban from the way Prospero is treating him even at such an early stage in the play. As the play develops it becomes clear that Caliban wasn't originally a slave to Prospero. Prospero only made Caliban his slave as punishment for his attempted
The Tempest - Character analysis of Prospero.
Prospero Prospero's magical powers allow him to single-handedly take control of a situation of slowly developing chaos, caused by his eviction from Milan, and turn the plot of The Tempest towards comedy by sheer force. That he has powers over his surroundings, far greater than those of an ordinary mortal, is inconceivable, as is the fact that he uses them for good in the course of the play. However, it remains to be asked whether Prospero combines his magic with power over the self, and whether Shakespeare actually presents him as an ideal ruler. Although we hear the story of Prospero's eviction from Milan from him, the manner in which he tells his history suggests distrust -- Prospero is pompous, self-pitying and apparently unforgiving. The nature of Prospero's rule as revealed by Act I is not pleasant. When duke of Milan, he trusted his brother Antonio too much, and consequently nearly lost his life, as well as his dukedom. On the island, he befriended Caliban, brought him into his house and treated him as a member of the family -- and repeated the pattern of trust, which was again betrayed, when Caliban attempted to rape Miranda. Although Prospero learns from this second betrayal, he goes to the other extreme. Prospero's apparently cruel stance is revealed in his exile and verbal abuse of Caliban, as well as his outbursts and threats to imprison Ariel again "till / Thou
