What Could Caliban represent in the Tempest?

What Could Caliban represent in the Tempest? Caliban is arguably the most interesting character in the Tempest, as he could represent a variety of different characteristics. He is an aggressive, volatile monster, "not honoured with human shape" (I.ii.283-4) and the son of the witch, Sycorax, who previously lived on the island. His interactions with all the characters are essential, and show us what Shakespeare was trying to imply through his character. By looking at Caliban's introductory sequence in Act 1 scene 2, we can see what Caliban could represent. When the audience sees Caliban for the first time, he is cursing. "As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed with raven's feather from unwholesome fen drop on you both!" (I.ii.321-3) Immediately we understand that Caliban is a hostile character, and possibly violent. The language he is using is harsh, but it also shows a perversion of nature. "Wicked dew," and "unwholesome fen" both express nature, but nature in a twisted and negative way. Caliban, like the language he uses, is a perversion of nature. He is a product of the island, but he is twisted and deformed. Caliban is Prospero's slave, forced into bondage after Caliban tried to rape Miranda. Caliban did this, he claims, "I had peopled else this isle with Calibans." (I.ii.350-1) This desire to repopulate the island is a very animal instinct, the simplest desire in

  • Word count: 831
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Trinculo and Stephano, though not major characters in William Shakespeare's The Tempest, serve a large role in the story itself.

Chase Swerdlick Ms. Barzun English 1 Honors 29 January 2013 Trinculo and Stephano Trinculo and Stephano, though not major characters in William Shakespeare's The Tempest, serve a large role in the story itself. They mainly serve as the story's comic relief and they also contribute to demonstrating to the audience how evil has no boundaries. Much of the play revolves around Prospero's contempt for everyone who betrayed him, and Prospero forces the conspirators to a remote island. Trinculo and Stephano had nothing to do with the plot against Prospero, but end up being dragged along with the conspirators. Their parts were small but were probably the most interesting in the story. Trinculo and Stephano were primarily used for comic relief. Comic relief is very important because the story must be able to keep the audience interested. What better to make someone laugh than a pair of drunken servants? During the duration of the story, their drunkenness causes them to do things that normally they would not do. They blindly attempt to take on Prospero, a powerful sorcerer and scheme how to defeat and kill him. This is quite amusing because it shows us how incredibly foolish we act when we are drunk. Of course their attempt to take on Prospero proves to be pointless, instead they play dress up with his cloaks. When Prospero finally shows up, Stephano and Trinculo run for their

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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This essay will show contrasts between the central character that appear in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Shakespeares play The Tempest.

Lord of the Flies & The Tempest contrast By Romaine Ubani This essay will show contrasts between the central character that appear in the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, and Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”. The main points that this essay will be covering lie within the characters names, appearance and body language, speech and actions, and also the context of the novel. In lord of the flies it is evident that Golding uses characters names to express features based around each characters persona. For instance Ralphs name conveys to the reader that his character is born and bred from traditional and upper-class roots. Ralph portrays the actions of a well put together acceptable , polite and well-mannered young man; these characteristics making him a perfect fit for leader once arriving on the abandoned island. Being that his name tells us that he from traditional and upper-class roots, Golding is attempting to demonstrates such values throughout the story as it is shown from early on that Ralph is confident, grammatically spoken and is still able to remain morale in spite of the whole situation. Alternatively Ralph’s peers on the island are not as distinguished as he, and this parallel is present throughout the whole story. In the first chapter of the novel we are introduced to not only Ralph but “Piggy” as well, Golding uses Piggy’s name as

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Tempest - analysis of themes in a speech by Ariel.

Ariel that you three From Milan did supplant good Prospero, Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it, Him and his innocent child. For which foul deed The powers—delaying, not forgetting—have Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures, 5 Against your peace.—Thee of thy son, Alonso, They have bereft, and do pronounce by me Lingering perdition, worse than any death Can be at once, shall step by step attend You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from— Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls Upon your heads—is nothing but hearts' sorrow And a clear life ensuing. Register: The register that Shakespeare uses in this extract is of archaic English which uses a different sentence structure and different words. The word ‘isle’, for example, in place of the word ‘island’ shows the type of English used. The words ‘unto’, ‘hath’, ‘yea’ and ‘thy’ also add to the authenticity of the play by using language that is very fitting with the setting. The plot of the Tempest revolves around Prospero’s scheme for revenge on the nobles who usurped him, for justice, for power and for reconciliation. Act 3 Sc iii is the climax of the play where Ariel reveals the reason behind their landing on the Island - punishment for their sins. Shakespeare uses language, stage directions as literary devices to bring

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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To err is human, to forgive divine.Write a 600- 1000 word essay on this question in relation to Act 5 Scene 1

‘To err is human, to forgive divine”. What does this saying mean to you? Write 600-1000 word essay on this question in relation to Act 5 Scene 1 “To err is human, to forgive for divine” is a quote which I indeed hold close to heart. It is human nature to make mistakes and although admittedly apologizing can be difficult process at times, it takes a bigger person to be able to forgive and move on. The ability to forgive, is one ultimately God does best in his divine mercy, and people with said ability to forgive wholeheartedly are people who are said to have this Godlike, divine ability. Every person commits mistakes, some believe this is due to our power of reasoning which is said to be very limited, hence resulting in mistakes being committed. In ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare, there are many various situations that illustrate the flaws in human nature when mistakes are committed by characters in the play. For example, Prospero takes his magic away for good when he feels guilty for Alonso and his crew :- By my so potent art. But this rough magic /I here abjure, and, when I have required /Some heavenly music, which even now I do, To work mine end upon their senses that /This airy charm is for/ I'll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth/And deeper than did ever plummet sound /'ll drown my book. (Act V Sc 1 50-57). He chose to forgive

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How is the theme of magic presented in Act 1 Scene 2 of The Tempest and Act 5 Scene 1. What was the Elizabethan attitude to magic at the time?

How is the theme of magic presented in Act 1 Scene 2 of The Tempest and Act 5 Scene 1. What was the Elizabethan attitude to magic at the time? In this essay I will analyze the theme of magic in Act 1 Scene 2 and in Act 5 Scene 1 of the Tempest, and I will also look at Elizabethan attitude to magic at the time. The theme of magic was very important in the 1600s in the Elizabethan age. James I believed in the Divine Rights of Kings, he thought that he was God's voice on Earth. He thought that if God was represented on Earth, then so was evil. People believed that witches contained evil, women were dunked/stoned/hung if they were found out to be a witch, as it was seen as ridding the world of evil, England was religious:- good v evil. This all relates to the Tempest because the Tempest is all about magic, it is set on a magic island and the main character(Prospero) uses magic spells to achieve his intensions. Also the Tempest meant in Shakespeare's days a very angry stormy temper, it also meant a magical process changing things into gold. The play the Tempest is about Prospero the Duke of Milan & his daughter(Miranda), they were one day chucked onto a boat, they were meant to drown, but Gonzalo a dear friend of Prospero supplied them with food, drink & books on the boat, Antonio, Prospero's brother and Alonso the King ordered them to be put onto the boat. They then

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Tempest - How does Shakespeare maintain dramatic interest in Act 1 Scene 2.

How does Shakespeare maintain dramatic interest in Act 1 Scene 2? The relative calm of Act 1 Scene 2 provides a sharp contrast with disorderly melodrama of the previous scene. The second scene of act one recounts the story of how Prospero and Miranda came to be on the island, introduces Ariel and Caliban and shows Ferdinand come ashore and fall in love at first sight. The scene begins with Miranda expressing her alarm that her father has caused the 'wild waters' with his 'art'. Despite the immediately evident slower moving pace of the scene, created by the longer and more ordered speech of the characters, Shakespeare still creates dramatic interest with this line by altering the audience's perceptions of what has happened in the previous scene. The Tempest is a play where things seem to happen, yet often do not. The storm in the previous scene seems to be natural, yet Miranda's revelation it makes irony of the boatswain's line 'What care these roarers for the name of the king?', again transforming the audience's perceptions. The 'roarers' are merely the work of Prospero who knows well the king. Prospero's declaration that 'There's no harm done' when in the previous scene it seemed as if everyone aboard the ship had perished also radically alters the audience's set perception of Scene 1. Miranda's reference to the 'god of power' also makes Prospero seem even more powerful

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Tempest - Prospero character analysis - How do his actions and the attitude of the characters to him relate to the events and thinking of Shakespeare's day?

The Tempest essay Consider the character of Prospero and show how he used his position to control many of the characters in the play and how his actions contribute to the dramatic effectiveness. How do his actions and the attitude of the characters to him relate to the events and thinking of Shakespeare's day? In the Tempest, the character of Prospero is the protagonist. Prospero is the father of Miranda and has spent twelve years on the island since he was usurped from being the Duke of Milan. Prospero is a powerful man, which makes him a good leader. He is very knowledgeable because of the books he read. He also has control, because he can be harsh and firm but also virtuous towards others. Prospero would also seem a cruel character to a modern day audience because of sense of control and harshness he has over the other characters. However this would have been accepted, as the traits of a good leader because in Shakespeare's day being a good leader would entail being harsh and cruel towards others so therefore Prospero was looked upon as a good leader. This connects to James the first (the King at the time Shakespeare wrote this play) because Shakespeare is suggesting that James the first has these qualities, (harshness, cruel, firm) because he is a King just like Prospero in the play. In Shakespeare's time it would have be expected that a good leader should be harsh and

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How effective is the ending of Shakespeare's play the tempest?

How effective is the ending of Shakespeare's play the tempest? The Tempest is a magical play written by Shakespeare in the final stages of his career and is allegedly the last play he wrote independently. The play has a very basic storyline of someone trying to gain revenge using magical powers, but the play involves many characters building up suspense and enhancing the storyline. The play was written between 1606 and 1611 and is set on an island. The story begins with a huge shipwreck caused by a tempest, which is created by Prospero's magical powers and this allows him to gain revenge on his brother, Antonio who usurped him as Duke of Milan. During the play Prospero plays around with the characters involved in the shipwreck, which sets the plot up for an exciting ending with Prospero taking revenge on all the people who have acted against him. But the ending is much less profiled and Prospero forgives all those have done him wrong without reaping revenge. This ending is a clear shock to the audience as the play is set up for a very exciting and explosive ending. During the essay I will the answer the question of how effective the ending of the play is, the impact it has on the audience and whether the ending is a suitable for the play. The ending of the play is very unexpected because of several reasons found throughout the play. The main reason is that

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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[Act 1 Scene 2, Prospero: "be collected."... Prospero: "A prince of power".] Consider the means by which Shakespeare reveals character in the episode.

[Act 1 Scene 2, Prospero: "be collected."... Prospero: "A prince of power".] Consider the means by which Shakespeare reveals character in the episode. In the second act of "The Tempest" Shakespeare takes the opportunity to develop the characters of Prospero and Miranda to the audience. Prospero is set out to the audience as some kind of supreme power, after the audience learn just before this extract that it was his magic, and not simply a hostile nature tat raised the storm in scene 1. The Tempest is a play about power as we observed in the previous scene, when the power of the storm disrupted the power relations between nobles and servants and Prospero is set out as the central force controlling and manipulating events throughout the play. During this extract Shakespeare informs the audience or Prospero's power but also of his wisdom and love for his daughter, he states "I have doe nothing but in care of thee" to Miranda alerting the audience to the fact that in spite of the fact that prospero has just caused a shipwreck he is a moral man presumably acting for his own reasons. This may be done to prevent the audience immediately labelling Prospero as a villain, Prospero's compassion is further enforced which he informs Miranda of the fact that he has insured that he has prevented any of the people aboard the wreck to come to any kind of harm. This also creates

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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