The Tempest

“You taught me language” This is Caliban speaking to Miranda and Prospero. It shows the relationship between the colonized and the colonizer. The colonizer felt it was their duty to educate the natives and show them the true divine , shown in Caliban as he is seen as a pagan( Setebos).
“My library/Was Dukedom large enough” Here Prospero is saying that his books were enough to keep him occupied, and were all that he needed. He shows a huge interest in magic , so instead of ruling his kingdom efficiently he chose to read. For this reason Prospero can allude Rudolf the II of the holy Roman empire , who too was nicknamed the ‘magician’ , and liked too read magical books , the audience would have noticed this similarity.
“I am your wife , if you will marry me. If not , ill die your maid” This shows Annabella submissive and sensitive nature. She remains infatuated with Ferdinand, and remains as stereotype of the Jacobean women as innocent.
“Full fathom five thy father lies/Of his bones are coral made” This speech is aimed at Ferdinand to make believe that his father has perished in the shipwreck. Use of poetic language from Ariel who always speaks in Blank verse. The alliteration adds emphasis onto the lyrics ‘coral made’ is sea imagery.
“Not honoured with human shape’ and Stephano ‘Moon-calf’ Not certain visual description of Caliban, which leaves his dramatic presentation up for interpretation. His visual image sets him apart form the other characters within the play. Caliban lacks human shape , which fits the ideology of the renaissance monster of monsters lacking something. Moon calf means deformities , this also makes him more undesirable and prone to slavery and torture.Link to the two interptations.
“Ill break my staff/ Bury it in certain fathoms in the earth…..Ill drown my book” Prospero destroying his magical items can be viewed as reconciliation , he will now live without absolute power , also humanises him as he is now does not posse magical powers. Prospero uses personification of the book, and the staff is a phallic symbol used to show male dominance.
“Fowl weather?” , “Very foul” The two symbiotically speak , finishing each others sentences, almost talking as a pair rather than individual. The use of Homonyms create a comedic effect of punning.
“The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead/And makes my labours pleasures” Even though Ferdinand is from a background of nobility he still agrees to the manual labour which is commanded of him, by Prospero. Prospero may do this to see if Ferdinand is a worthy husband. Ferdinand’s language also shows his chivalrous-like personality.
“Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises , sounds, sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not” Caliban can be seen as a savage, however this poetic speech gives evidence that he is not. Its widely considered the most poetic verse within the play, which surprisingly comes from a native , and apparently uncivilised slave. Caliban describes nature with sensory imagery, and shows sensitivity in conjuncture with nature.
“Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake” This quote shows Caliban’s savage nature , along with his attempted rape of Miranda. He uses violent tone , and imagery showing no remorse at his outburst. A contemporary view is Freud phycho-sexual development theory , as Caliban displays the ideology of the ‘id’. He is primitive , gluttonous “I must eat my dinner” and hedonistic , all attributes of a strong ‘Id’ , Yet his sensitive through nature, which shows his ego , whist he doesn’t show guilt(the superego) he is changed person at the in the denouement, when he is given control the isle once more (As it his by birth right “This isles mine , by Sycorax my mother” .
“O brave new world , That has such people in’t” Shows Miranda’s innate Goodness, shows kindness , and values human life as she doesn’t even know the Men aboard , yet still cares for there safety.
William Hazlitt “Shakespeare has described the brutal mind of Caliban in contrast with the pure an original forms of nature. O’Toole “What is natural is synonymous with what is good” Can be linked again too Sigmund Freud’s ‘Id’. Whilst, Caliban is violent in some parts of the play , e.g. attempted rape of Miranda and his plot to kill Prospero. He is very sensitive when expressing his feelings about nature. His animalistic imagery and nature imagery, with his poetic verse reinforces the critics view further. Links to Montaigne essay ‘Of cannibals’ the natural way of living is better than the modernised way, the cannibals as Montaigne refers to them as our said to represent the ‘golden age’ , which can Caliban can seen as an oppressed sensitive native.
Michael Billington “Prospero has the God-like power of the instinctive colonist” Prospero’s magical powers can replicate that of a God , oversees or causes the whole plot , omniscient-like. Even Ariel who posses equal or greater magical power is controlled by Prospero. Can be seen as an Old testament God.
Coleridge “Shakespearean villains are unpleasant and critical due to their own insecurities” Antonio may be insecure of the way he gained power through usurping. As a Machiavellian villain Antonio “Would rather be feared than loved”. This is shown at the denouement, when Prosper forgives Antonio, he simply stands in silence, this alludes Iago’s silence in ‘Othello’ can be used to create dramatic effect doesn’t resolve the plot. Prospero can be seen as insecure by the way in which he controls all the characters within the play, However he seems to seem resolved by the denouement , as he discards all of his magical items ” Ill break my staff and bury it in certain fathoms in the earth…… Ill drown my book”.
Jessica Slights “Miranda is merely an unwitting pawn in a game of political intrigue” Miranda’s marriage can be seen as ‘arranged’. Prospero her father monitors the marriage and cleverly picks Ferdinand for her to marry , the future king of Naples. So this can be seen as a political marriage , to secure Prospero’s power. The is emphasised in the masque , which was implemented by Shakespeare to celebrate the marriage of James 1st daughter Elizabeth to Frederic a German prince , this was too a political marriage which was common tradition for monarchs.
Montaigne’s essay ‘Of cannibals’ A important essay links to nature , refers to the natives as the ‘golden age’ , natural way of living is better than the modernised way.
Emerich “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” Links to power and corruption.
Taylor recognises that Prospero “He moves his friends and foes about like pawn pieces upon a chessboard Links to the image of the chessboard in the denouement , links to the structure of the Tempest like being a game of chess which Prospero controls.
The Tempest’ and ‘The Comedy of errors” they both conform to the neo-classical structure. Links to structure.
1890’s production of ‘The Tempest’ saw Benson’s Caliban Links interpretation of Caliban.
July 12, 2019