Caliban

Caliban

1. Identity

   • “poisonous slave, got by the devil himself”- Prospero
     • Derogatory language
   • “a thing most brutish”- Prospero
     • Derogatory language
   • “This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak’st from me” -Caliban
     • Pronoun 'mine' showing his entitlement to the island
   • "Hag-born"
     • Derogatory language
   • "Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments" -Caliban
     • Poetic and lyrical language
   • Caliban's intellect and sophistication is undermined through the dehumanisation of derogatory language.
   • Caliban's identity is constructed through the means of the island as he is consumed by its beauty and his connection with his late mother.

2. Imprisonment

   • “all the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats on Prosper fall, and make him by inch-meal a disease”- Caliban
     • The metaphor of Prospero's disease hightight the manipulated and constructed environment on the island, compelling Caliban to conform to these social constructs
   • "here you sty me In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me The rest o' th' island" - Caliban
     • The rock is a metaphor for Caliban's imprisonment to Prospero and the "rest o' th' island" is the freedom he is denied
   • "I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island."- Caliban
     • Asyndentic listing of negative nouns reiterates Caliban's hate for Prospero's tyrannical rule over his powerless self
   • "Deservedly confined into this rock, Who hadst deserved more than a prison." - Miranda to Caliban
     • Miranda is commenting on Caliban's unjustly attempt of rape to which she believes he is deserving of imprisonment
   • "Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself. Upon thy wicked dam, come forth"- Prospero to Caliban
     • Disease imagery and biblical allusions dehumanise Caliban and the forceful tone highlight Prospero's dominance over him
   • "Deservedly confined into this rock, Who hadst deserved more than a prison.:- Miranda to Caliban
     • Miranda believes Caliban has a right to be enslaved and therefore shows no remorse
   • The character of Caliban is unjustly imprisoned by Prospero and therefore a stigma arises portraying him as monsterous creature.

3. Power

   • “I must obey. His art is of such power.” - Caliban
     • Highlights his conformity.
   • “not love to look on”- Miranda
     • Represents his lack of power, even to Miranda.
   • “I will kneel to him”- Caliban to Trinculo
     • Caliban has only experienced a power imbalance and therefore must have someone to follow although he no longer associates himself with Prospero
   • “kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my god.”- Caliban to Stefano
     • The biblical reference shows that despite Caliban being submissive towards Stefano, he would prefer to be enslaved by any other person instead of Prospero
   • "You taught me language, and my profit on 't Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you For learning me your language!" - Caliban
     • He may use the language, but he can never forget his knowledge of this tongue comes from a place of destruction and oppression.
   • "For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps, Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up"- Prospero to Caliban
     • Symbolises his physical power over Caliban .
   • Prospero's hostile treatment of Caliban, leads to his severe lack of power and freedom, therefore becoming submissive to the requests of Stefano and Trinculo, as he views them as an opportunity for freedom.