Essay on The Character of Caliban in Shakespeares Tempest

Caliban is one of the primary antagonists in William Shakespeares play The Tempest. It is impossible to understand the Tempest without first understanding the character of Caliban. Through the exploration of the character of Caliban the reader gains an understanding of his importance within the play and that he is simply not just black and white, there is also a great deal of grey. It is the characters ambiguity that enables him to be human inside although appearing bestial on the outside. Caliban is a great example of a character being much more than one dimensional, almost to the point of being nearly a real person. While there is a great emphasis on the pure and the good, everyone has within them a darker side. Which is that†¦show more content†¦Either way, his presence and basic character must be understood if we are to understand that of Prospero. Caliban is the only character to whom Prospero is deliberately, and often unnecessarily antagonistic. Therefore the question of whether Calibans wickedness is pure evil or mischief is necessary in the ultimate judgement of the play. If the character of Caliban is to be seen as a poor misguided soul, twisted into the creature that he has become, through cruelty shown to him by foreign invaders, then maybe he is not so evil after all. If this is the case, then his actions can be blamed on natural instinct and a tormented mind. In the second scene of Act one, Caliban attempts, with some success, to plead his case as the hard done by innocent. Upon their arrival on the island, he apparently treated them very well: ?...I loved thee, And showed thee all the qualities othisle, The fresh springs, brine pits, barren place and fertile 1:2:337 While Miranda and Prospero took him in as their own. This situation continued, while Miranda took pains to make him speak until Caliban attempted to violate the honour of Miranda. This could be seen as an act of pure instinct rather than malice: a wish to populate this isle with Calibans is natural. His lack of remorse however, is obvious. This act only served him in being shut in aShow MoreRelated The Character of Caliban in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay1786 Words   |  8 PagesThe Character of Caliban in The Tempest       This thing of darkness, I must acknowledge mine It is impossible to understand The Tempest without first understanding the character of Caliban. Despite numerous novels and poems praising the virtuous, the pure and the good, everyone has within them a darker side of depravity and evil thoughts. This makes us human. What distinguishes between good and bad people, though, is the way in which this alter ego manifests itself to both the rest of mankindRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Tempest1229 Words   |  5 Pagesplay, The Tempest. 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