Shakespeare’s used of flattery in Caliban’s lines shows the audience that there’s more than one character. Line 37 ‘I thank my noble lord’ Caliban says, displays his great respect towards Stephano as back in the Elizabethan era, ‘lord’ is meant for people of higher rank. Therefore, the audience knows Caliban is low on the hierarchy (because he is a utter fool!) Furthermore ‘She will become thy bed, I warrant…’(line 104) Caliban pleases Miranda will look lovely in bed if Stephano marries her because she is very attractive. In line 29, the audience get a glimpse of Caliban’s emotions despite his grotesque appearance. ‘Lo, how he mocks me wilt thou let him, my lord?’ Caliban shows himself a pitiful living creature and wishes for sympathy from Stephano.
Even so, Caliban is half man, half fish. He is a hostile character, and manipulative. Harsh in his language, Caliban calls Trinculo ‘thou jesting monkey’(line 44) and ‘thou scurvy patch’(line 63) to insult the jester’s outfit. Caliban’s conspiracy with Stephano and Trinculo to murder Prospero is perhaps the peak point of his violence. He speaks aggressively ‘Bite him to death’(line 33) and ‘batter his skull…or cut his wezand with thy knife’(line 90-91) both show the beastly uncivilised nature of Caliban and a strong hatred on his tormentor, Prospero. Hence, the audience’s approach to Caliban and his primitive behaviour is now inclined.
Despite his savage demeanor, Caliban has a moment in this scene where the tender and noble side of him can be seen, which Prospero and Miranda do not acknowledge. His excellent speech about his island home
‘The isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices,
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.’
shows sophisticated Caliban’s poetic and appreciate side with his vivid imagery. In the speech, Caliban reminds the audience of his close connection to his homeland and he has a right in being prejudiced about his enslavement.
William Shakespeare has effectively use various language to let the audience explore Caliban’s complex figure. In my opinion, language is powerful and Shakespeare successfully create the character of Caliban.
