FREE ESSAY ON CALIBAN IN THE TEMPEST BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

CALIBAN IN THE TEMPEST BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Mowat's essay emphasizes Caliban's significant role in The Tempest, by William
Shakespeare. Caliban's character, in relation to Prospero's, expresses the actual
relations between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries of settlers and natives,
Caliban being the native of the island, and Prospero, the settler. Miranda and Prospero
introduce Caliban to the reader as a "villain", "slave" and even a "tortoise". Caliban
and his mother, Sycorax, a witch, were the only inhabitants of the island. After
Sycorax's death, Prospero with Miranda settled on the island and enslaved Caliban.
Caliban offered them the knowledge of the island and in return, they taught him language.
Caliban is described as a "monster", "thing of darkness" and "a freckled whelp". He is
intended to represent the "savage" of the island by his appearance and language. Caliban
extremely resents Prospero's actions, as he says, "...and here you sty me In this hard
rock, whiles you do keep from me The rest o' th' island". Caliban shows remorse towards
Prospero as Prospero tries to explain his gift of language. In return, Caliban says,
"...The red plague rid you For learning me your language!" In translation, Caliban wishes
the plague destroyed Prospero for offering Caliban anything of his.
The issue of colonization is a very offensive and corrupt situation. The act of intruding
and conquering an inhabited area can lead to a very complex outcome. Such actions have
taken place in past colonization, such as the Americas, Africa and India. The Tempest is
a novel that portrays these occurrences. William Shakespeare uses two individuals whom
encounter a problematic condition. Caliban, the native and Prospero, the settler, both
face disagreeable circumstances that lead to the climax of colonization. Shakespeare uses
Caliban as a rugged appearance but is actually poetic, friendly and gullible. Caliban's
personality contradicts his appearance and therefore, symbolizes the hidden warped
appearance of Prospero. Prospero's act of colonizing the island is selfish and unjust
considering Caliban's situation.