The Tempest Act III, Scene ii, lines 70-144. How does this dialogue develop your response to Caliban?
Act III, Scene ii, lines 70-144. How does this dialogue develop your response to Caliban?
Caliban is described in the character list as “a savage and deformed slave,” he is the son of Sycorax, an evil witch who has since died but who once held power over the island, now ruled by Prospero. Early commentators were often drawn to Caliban. In 1679 John Dryden cited him as an example of Shakespeare's genius for creating “distinctive and consistent characters”, he remarked on the creatures “malice, ignorance, and sinful nature.” Dryden's emphasis on Caliban's negative qualities was not all he had to say, however, and later criticism has demonstrated the complexity of his character. In our first onstage meeting of the native on Act I, Scene ii, we note that he is regarded as a “beast” and a “poisonous slave” by Prospero. Also accusing him of being “got by the devil himself' upon Sycorax, Prospero has forced Caliban into servitude. By contrast, Caliban considers himself mistreated and overworked. In his speech in the opening Act, he bitterly accuses Prospero of befriending him in order to take advantage of his gratitude and rob him of the island which he considers his birthright, “This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother…” Caliban is nostalgic when talking of his early days with Prospero, it is revealed to us that Prospero wished to educate him, in exchange, Caliban shares the “qualities o’th’isle” the relationship between the two characters is not unlike that of a parent and child. We feel pathos towards Caliban at this point, as he seems to regret at the breakdown of the relationship with Prospero, “Thou strok’st me and made much of me…then I loved thee.” The speech presents to us Shakespeare’s fascination with the politics of the time, as Caliban is portrayed as the dispossessed native; his resentment to Prospero could be translated into that of an oppressed people. For an audience of the time, talk of colonization in the “new world” would be common place. The Tempest's representation of Caliban relates him to the black man, because Caliban, like African Americans of early times, is conquered and forced into slavery against his will. Shakespeare may have intended Caliban to be a representative of the colonized man. Critics have pointed out that because of the Caribbean like location of the play; this device seems to be a reasonable suggestion. The critic Felicity Currie argues that Prospero is the “imperialist tyrant” and Caliban an “oppressed slave”, considering that he is treated with malice, Currie defends Caliban and considers that he aught to be free. Felicity’s argument becomes an inconsistent one when we learn of Calibans attempted rape of Miranda. “Thou didst seek to violate the honor of my child…” The native isn’t in the least bit repentant, his cry of “O ho, O ho!” suggests that he is almost proud. David Lindley points out that this exclamation was often used to characterize “a villain or mischief maker, and especially Satan himself.” By the end of the first act, we see Caliban in his full light, not as an entirely innocent and unknowing native, nor as an evil beast. It seems at this point that he is merely a childlike figure who is ruled by his animal desires and instincts.