Preview

roman

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1163 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
roman
An Analysis of the relationship between Caliban and Prospero

Their relationship is very important as Prospero and Caliban represent different worlds, the civilised and the uncivilised world. Prospero being the educated civilised character who invades the native Caliban's island. Caliban is a disrespectful and is disobedient.

The immediate impression of the relationship between the, uncivilised Caliban and the authoritative Prospero is that it is one of aggression and hatred. Prospero directly insults Caliban with names such as, "abhorred slave" and "a thing most brutish." Prospero's language is very harsh and degrading towards Caliban as he describes Caliban an evil savage like animal. Prospero even insults Caliban's mother and father in his first speech to Caliban.

'Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam, come forth."

Prospero is not only saying that Caliban's father is the Devil himself, but he is also saying that his mother (the dam) is wicked and bad and the cruellest she could be. Even though Caliban frequently curses Prospero, his language is still not quite as offensive and malicious as he doesn’t directly insult Prospero Instead he wishes curses upon his master.
‘’All the charms of Sycorax toads, beetles, bats, light on you!’’
This curse in particular is one full of natural images, which suggests Caliban can relate to nature and his surroundings and this helps to emphasise that Caliban represents the native of the island. He relies on his mother for support and defence for his actions by saying “All the charms of Sycorax." He clings to the only security he has ever known. This shows he still acts like a child and doesn't have the power to stand up for himself. It also has connections with witchcraft, which is another insult in itself as it would be against Prospero's religion.

The language used in the curse doesn't quite equal Prospero's insults, which gives the impression that he is not as educated as

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Machiavelli The Tempest

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There is a lot of resentment from Prospero toward his peers in Milan because of…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Tempest Analysis

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages

    He begins by addressing to Gonzalo, praising him and referring to him as, “Holy Gonzalo, honourable man.” (line 30) Although Gonzalo had followed through with Antonio’s plan, Prospero still addresses him in a flattering manner and calls him, “My true preserver.” (line 37) However, Prospero is not so flattering to the others. He reminds Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian of the wrongs they committed stating, “Most cruelly didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter: thy brother was a furtherer in the act. Thou art pinch’d fort now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood, you, brother mine, that entertain’d ambition expell’d remorse and nature.” (lines 39-44) Though Prospero is still very displeased with the act they had committed against him, he chooses to forgive them. (lines…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Caliban in "The Tempest" was the son of Sycorax, and his character is a symbolic representation of indigenous or "savage" people. His character represents the stereotypes of indigenous or uncivilized people and a direct contradiction of his more "civilized" counterparts, most specifically Prospero who is seen as his conqueror or master, and how he is below that of Prospero and therefore the indigenous people of the Americas were below that of the European colonists. This can also be seen as a reflection of William Shakespeare's view of colonizing North America and what was imagined the American indigenous people were like.…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    1. Why has Calpurnia been unable to sleep? About what omens does Calpurnia tell Caesar?…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A Tempest Racism Quotes

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Davis Pilgrim of Ferris State University. This quote directly relates to how Prospero viewed Caliban. He seen Caliban: as a savage by accusing him of trying to rape his daughter, as animalistic because animals are known to attack prey and his daughter was considered to be the prey, as destructive because raping his daughter would have destroyed her in a certain sense and a criminal because rape is a crime. Caliban matched all of these characteristics according to Prospero, so to punish him he was put out of the house and ordered to sleep in a cave.…

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In his critical essay, Art vs. Nature, Frank Kermode discusses the ideas of art and nature that are seen in The Tempest, by William Shakespeare. According to Kermode, Caliban is a figure of nature because of his connection to the earth and negative treatment he receives from civilized people based on the fact that he is seen as un-human and savage. Prospero, on the other hand, is a figure of art because of his expansive knowledge and magic not to mention his noble birth. Because of the large difference that Kermode sets up between Prospero’s art and Caliban’s nature we see a class system develop where Prospero is the respected nobility and Caliban is the unwilling servant with no way of raising his status. But when the other characters inhabit the island they join the class system as well. Unable to gain Prospero’s approval Caliban flocks to the first human who shows him version of kindness, Stephano. Because Stephano’s status is lower than Prosperos Caliban has more of an opportunity, if not to improve his status, to at least be a human part of the class system on the island.…

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Symbolism in "The Storm"

    • 628 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The storm itself is very symbolic in this story. The storm is parallel to their tryst and also to the internal battle in Calixta. The storm sets the scene for their love affair and is full of intensity…

    • 628 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, whilst Creon is away from the palace, his wife hears of their son’s untimely demise. As the messenger states, “Two bodies lie together (Haemon and Antigone), wedded in death, their bridal sleep a witness to the world how great calamity can come to man through man’s perversity” (Sophocles 159). When the messenger mentions that this calamity came from “man’s perversity”, he is trying to make the specific statement that this misfortune was brought upon Creon by his own stubbornness, hence the use of the word, “perversity”. He also mentions that the couple were, “wedded in death”, which is a hint to the fact that if not for Creon’s actions, the two would have been a happy couple. Unfortunately, Antigone passes away, causing Haemon to feel nothing but grief for his lost love, and contempt towards his father. As much as Haemon suffers from his father’s stubbornness, another person suffers as well. As Creon states, “The sin, the sin of the erring soul drives hard unto death. Behold the slayer, the slain, the father, the son, O the curse of my stubborn will! Son, newly cut off in the newness of youth, dead for my fault, not yours” (160). Indeed, the person that suffers from this strong will is Creon himself. When Creon mentions, “the slayer, the slain, the father…”, he is implying that he is not only responsible for his son’s demise, but he is also defeated by the gods for…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Calliban’s character in ‘The Tempest’ is portrayed as a violent and rebellious beast. The name ‘Caliban’ is an evident anagram of cannibal as Shakespeare tries to make out that he is no normal human but more animal like. He is half witch and half devil making him a particularly bold and rough character partly because he doesn’t understand the rules of civilisation. As well as being seen as a discourteous character, we also find that he has a more gentle side to him. Summarily to Miranda, Caliban is naïve and vulnerable “Be not afeared, 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 sometimes voices,/ That if I then had waked after long sleep,/ Will make me sleep again”. This is quite a big change is Caliban’s character as this shows Caliban’s natural side.…

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prospero holds authority over Caliban, a hideous, deformed monster that resides on the island, but Prospero’s malicious rule causes a lack of respect from his captive servant. Prospero and his young daughter, Miranda, were banished to a remote island in a power struggle with his brother, Alonso, more than a decade ago. With his magical powers, Prospero is able to thrive on the island along with Miranda and his two slaves, Arial and Caliban. Recently, using his power, Prospero shipwrecked his brother and his men onto the island.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Decuis Vs Calphurnia Essay

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Calphurnia, begins her argument by warning Caesar of bad omens and trying to frighten him. She starts her argument by creating ethos she did not previously believe in omens, “yet now they fright her.”…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the end, all of Prospero’s guest die and it’s due to his own pride and selfishness, page 88 “And darkness and decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.” This quote explains the overall outcome of the story, when everyone is consumed by the ‘death’. He learns that his selfishness tended to consume his pride and mask him the villain.…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    calpurnia and portia

    • 125 Words
    • 1 Page

    Calpurnia is very superstitious and and Portia is not. It says “Is Brutus sick, and is he physical…

    • 125 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his judging, punishing, forgiving, and in many other ways, he is godlike compare to the rest of the characters in the play. Thanks to Ariel, he is also knows everything as well. Like a god, he punishes the guilty, but with grace he shows mercy and gives second chances. After Caliban attempts to rape Miranda, Prospero does not get rid of him. If I were Prospero, I would have a severe monthly payment punishment-plan installed for Caliban. Near the end of the play, after Properso reveals the conspiracies of all those against him, there is no harsh punishment as one would imagine. He basically just demands repentance. Forgiveness is one of the themes in this play, and here Prospero demonstrates it. Even though Caliban conspires with Stephano and Trinculo to kill him, he refrains from punishing Caliban (“Go, sirrah, to my cell;/Take with you your companions. As you look/To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.” 5.ii.291-293).…

    • 927 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, a lioness gives birth in the streets and the dead cry from their graves. In addition to all of the unfortunate happenings, Calpurnia dreams of her husband's statue gushing with blood. The people of Rome then come to soak their hands in his blood. She knew something bad was going to happen. Calpurnia doesn't show interested in believing in bad omens or even superstition, but as others did before, she tries warning caesar. ‘“You shall not stir out of your house today’” (2.2.10). Like usual, Caesar shuts her down, he adds that whatever threatens him always runs away in fear when they confront him. Decius, one of the conspirators, re-interprets this dream so that Caesar will be persuaded to go to the senate with him. As motivation, Decius informs Caesar that the Senate has intentions to crown him this day. Intrigued by what Decius has proposed, Caesar ignores Calpurnia's warnings, ‘“How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia’”…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays