What type of character is Caliban?
Caliban, a feral, sullen, misshapen creature in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The son of the sorceress Sycorax, Caliban is the sole inhabitant of his island (excluding the imprisoned Ariel) until Prospero and his infant daughter Miranda are cast ashore.
What does Caliban’s character represent?
Caliban represents the black magic of his mother and initially appears bad, especially when judged by conventional civilized standards. Because Prospero has conquered him, Caliban plots to murder Prospero in revenge.
How is Caliban described in The Tempest?
Prospero’s dark, earthy slave, frequently referred to as a monster by the other characters, Caliban is the son of a witch-hag and the only real native of the island to appear in the play. He is an extremely complex figure, and he mirrors or parodies several other characters in the play.
How is Caliban presented in The Tempest essay?
At first, Caliban resembles a freak, whose greed, lust, and laziness contrast with the noble attributes of the humans around him. But as the story progresses, Caliban seems less a monster and more a kindred spirit to Antonio, Duke of Milan.
What impression do you make of Caliban?
In no particular order (because more than one impression is communicated at once), I get the impression of Caliban as weak-minded, as foolish, as cowardly, as servile, yet malicious and seeking power. For all that he claims he wants to be free, he seems born or designed for servitude.
Is Caliban good or evil?
Caliban: Man or Monster? At first, Caliban appears to be a bad person as well as a poor judge of character. Prospero has conquered him, so out of revenge, Caliban plots to murder Prospero. He accepts Stefano as a god and entrusts his two drunken and scheming collaborators with his murderous plot.
Why is Caliban a complex character?
Caliban is a very gullible creature. The audience would recognise this because he received a small amount of kindness and let his guard down. This is one of the complexities of Caliban’s character. As a result of his vulnerability his Island was taken from him.
How is Caliban presented as a victim?
Caliban could be considered a victim mainly because of his past. Prospero killed his mother and Caliban was alone from a very young age and had to self define. Even though he gives a murderous and disurbing streak, he is endowed with a string of sweetness who worships and enjoys listening to the island.
How does Caliban describe himself?
As far as Caliban’s outward appearance is concerned, he is referred to as a creature “legg’d like a man! And his fins like arms” by the jester Trinculo (II, ii, 32). Caliban describes himself as a creature with “long nails to dug pignuts” (II, ii, 162).
How is Caliban presented?
Caliban is usually seen as a monster and portrayed on the stage as something less than human. He is dangerous and untrustworthy. He is undisciplined and it is impossible to discipline him. He cannot be reasoned with and is in a state of perpetual rebellion.
Why is Miranda angry with Caliban?
In Act I, Scene 2, there is an exchange between Prospero and Caliban which explains why Miranda sees Caliban as a “villain” and why Prospero treats him with extreme cruelty. Caliban complains that the island used to belong to him and his mother.
Is Caliban a good person?
At first, Caliban appears to be a bad person as well as a poor judge of character. Prospero has conquered him, so out of revenge, Caliban plots to murder Prospero. He accepts Stefano as a god and entrusts his two drunken and scheming collaborators with his murderous plot.