Term Papers on Caliban

Term Paper Title	Caliban
# of Words	660
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	2.64

Caliban

October 3, 2002

Caliban, a savage and deformed slave to Prospero, plays a very important role in The Tempest.  Caliban represents a being of "pure nature."  He is referred to as a monster by the other characters on the island. He is a very complex character and he mirrors other characters in the play.  Throughout the play he makes several speeches about his island to Prospero.

The first speech that Caliban makes is to Prospero.  He insists that Prospero and Miranda stole the island from him.  Throughout this speech Caliban suggests that his situation is the same as Prospero's, whose brother Antonio, sent him and his niece out to sea when she was three so he could take over his position as the duke of Milan. While on the island Prospero teaches Caliban how to be civilized and how to speak. He also tries to educate him and treats him kindly despite the fact that he is a "monster."

"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!"(I.ii.366-368) Basically Prospero is trying to colonize Caliban.  After a while though, Caliban is refusing to learn manners and a proper way of living.  The more that Prospero tries to "civilize" Caliban, the more he rebels.

Caliban both compares and contrasts to Prospero's other servant Ariel.  While Ariel is an "airy spirit", Caliban is an "earthy spirit."  His speeches turning to "springs, brine pits" (I.ii.341), "bogs, fens, flats" (II.ii.2), or crabapples and pignuts (II.ii.159-160).  While Ariel maintains his freedom and dignity by serving Prospero willingly, Caliban achieves his dignity differently by refusing to bow before Prospero's intimidation.

Caliban also compares and contrasts with another character, Ferdinand.  They both have a very strong interest in untying Miranda's  "virgin knot".  Ferdinand plans on marrying Miranda, while Caliban tried to rape her.

In Caliban's first speech to Prospero, he regretfully rem...

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