'...this thing of darkness I

Authors Avatar

‘…this thing of darkness I

Acknowledge mine’.

Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of the relationship between Prospero and Caliban in ‘The Tempest’ and how it is presented in one or more productions you have seen.

Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ is set on a small island between Tunis and Naples. The play is initially based around Prospero; once Duke of Milan, a loving father to Miranda and inhabitant of the island for the past twelve years, after being usurped by his scheming brother Antonio. When exploring the relationship between Prospero and Caliban, a ‘whelp hag-born’ living on the island when Prospero and Miranda first arrive, we must consider a number of aspects of Prospero and Caliban’s relationship. It is important to look at the following points; Prospero’s treatment of Caliban when first arriving on the island and his treatment during the play, Caliban’s constant struggle for acknowledgement from both Prospero and Miranda, Caliban’s plan to overthrow Prospero with Trinculo and Stephano and finally, Ariel; another creature living on the island who is also enslaved to Prospero-but in an entirely different way to Caliban.

         When Caliban first enters during Act 1 Scene 2, Prospero instantly uses much abusive language towards Caliban and describes him as a ‘poisonous slave, got by the devil himself’. In Caliban’s first speech, he immediately curses Prospero. However, in return, Prospero curses Caliban with ‘cramps and side-stitches’. It is also during this scene that we are informed of how Caliban was treated when Prospero first arrived on the island, which seems to have been with respect and admiration. Caliban begins to use emotional blackmail when he talks of how Prospero ‘stroks’t’ him and states how he loved Prospero and showed him all the ‘qualities o’th’isle’. However, when Caliban ‘did violate the honour’ of Miranda, Prospero treated Caliban as a slave and showed only hatred and resentment towards him. Caliban admits to attempting rape on Miranda and states he would have ‘peopled else this isle with Caliban’s’. It is in this scene we learn how Caliban attempted to ‘violate’ Miranda and in return, he is now enslaved to Prospero completing menial tasks around the island.

Join now!

         It is also clear to see that Caliban has a desperate need to be acknowledged. When we first meet Caliban in Act 1 Scene 2, he not only curses Prospero but bickers with Miranda also. It is because of these two characters that we see Caliban’s struggle for acknowledgement at the beginning of that play. As the production progresses however, it becomes apparent that Caliban also seeks-and to some extent finds-acknowledgement from Trinculo and Stephano. I feel he discovers this when he is able to lead them around the island and take command. We see a role reversal for Caliban ...

This is a preview of the whole essay