The Tempest
How far do you agree that Caliban and Ariel represent two sides of Prospero’s character?
During "The Tempest by William Shakespeare," we see the previous Duke of Milan, Prospero, acting as the supreme leader, a God of the Island. Ariel and Caliban demonstrate parts of the two faced character of Prospero. Caliban is a "savage slave," who shows Prospero’s ruthless nature he has another side though, like Ariel, a loyal slave who has respect for his master after being saved from tree, "All hail! Great master," showing Prospero as a good Samaritan, giving hope to the people he will be returning to in Milan. Both show the varying characteristics of Prospero, he has loyalty and fairness, but struggles not to be savage and ruthless
The title of the play is a metaphor for all the disruptions and terror that happen at the beginning of the play. “The Tempest,” is a metaphor, showing allegorical meanings and tone. This text is filled with deeper meanings, visions into the character of Prospero through events carried out by the other characters such as Ariel and Caliban.
However, there is a definite class difference. Blank verse is spoken by higher class characters such as Prospero, but Caliban speaks in prose demonstrating a lower class. This shows a major difference between Prospero and Caliban. The use of riddles highlights the differences, between the higher classes Miranda and Prospero and the lower class Ariel, and Caliban. “What I desire to give, and much less take What I shall die to want,” a riddle that Miranda speaks to Ferdinand, both upper class characters.
Prospero’s character is ruthless, abusive and power hungry but he has another side, a parenting caring and loving side that enjoys the youthful love between his d...
... middle of paper ...
...ow his book of magic and his staff over the edge of the ship, this shows the end of a chapter in his life, leaving the slavery and exploitation of the two creatures on the island. This means that Prospero becomes a loving parent again returning to Milan. This will have been a great relief for Caliban and Ariel who also move to freedom in their minds as well as enjoying the island themselves.
So overall we see that Caliban and Ariel do demonstrate parts of Prospero, Caliban representing the harsh and ruthless side and Ariel representing the sly plans and incognito attitude, they both reflect parts of Prospero’s character. Their characters both give a deeper insight into Prospero’s , the planner and creator of the sly schemes and the harsh evictor that has no mercy to those who oppose him.
1,276 words
Bibliography
York Notes for GCSE The Tempest
The Tempest, by Wi
The Tempest by William Shakespeare is one of the most relevant and studied plays of the Elizabethan period among scholars, from both, ancient and actual times. One of the many readings that have prevailed suggests that the play’s protagonist, Prospero, and his two su-pernatural servants, Ariel and Caliban, can work as a single psychological unit is constantly discussed by the academics. This reading is not new; it has been considered for longer than the idea of The Tempest as an autobiographical allegory, being first proposed by Thomas Campbell in 1838 (Yachnin).
... have been felt between Prospero and Miranda, and instead accents a more symbolic father-son relationship. The coincidental assigning of gender roles to Miranda and Caliban and the lack of such on Ariel gives us a hint to either Shakespeare or Prospero's view of the male-female dichotomy. Shakespeare, through Prospero, may be trying to tell the reader that distinctions between male and female are useless and that the only reason the characterization of each "child" in the play is different is the way in which Prospero treats them, according to the same gender norms present in England at the time the play was written.
Early on in the play, the text strongly indicates that the relationship between Prospero and Caliban is far from loving o...
Prospero enslaved the spirit Ariel or other-worldly figure of sorts. And in-turn Ariel causes a violent storm that causes the shipwreck in the opening scene, due to Prospero's request, thus bringing those back that caused Prospero to lose his dukedom. After which Ariel asked for his freedom having done his deed for Prospero, but Prospero denied his request, saying to Ariel time must be served first. Prospero continues with something of a guilt-instilling speech, reminding Ariel that he had freed him and Ariel becomes submissive once again saying, “all hail, great master, grave sir, hail! I come to answer thy best pleasure; beat to fly, to Swim, to dive into the fire, to ride, on the curled of clouds”(1,2,189-190). This shows Ariel’s language is that of someone being oppressed imprisoned or enslaved and such is the relationship that of a slave and a master. Prospero does not only oppress Ariel but also enslaves Caliban the once ruler of the island simply because Prospero believed his new ideas were much better meaning slavery over freedom, which he did impose on Caliban by saying “Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban, Whom now I keep in my service.” (Act. I, Sc. II, Ln. 285-286). Furthermore Prospero makes it even clearer what he thinks of Caliban the native that had helped Prospero to survive on the Island has
Having been usurped and wrecked on an Island Prospero and his young daughter Miranda have to settle. It is here in Prospero's past that it first clear to see where any confusion about his character may appear. As a learned and powerful man Prospero is able to take direct control of the island, he frees a trapped and tortured spirit (Ariel) and befriends the inhabitants (Caliban). Prospero 'helps' Caliban, he tries to educate him and teaches him to communicate, in exchange Caliban helps Prospero to survive on the Island. But in taking power of the Island Prospero is committing the same act that happened to him as Duke of Milan, now Prospero himself has become the usurper. In this act of goodness Prospero has unknowingly shown his evil side.
In the comedic, yet thrilling play, The Tempest, William Shakespeare uses characters such as Caliban, Alonso, and Ariel to show Prospero’s immense cruelness and pure monstrosity. Moreover, these Shakespearean characters are also used to highlight Prospero’s change in character into a kinder and more forgiving person. Prospero starts the play out as a vengeful monster, after an illuminating moment however, his persona transforms into his true identity of a compassionate man.
Tempest is Shakespeare’s last play written in 1610. Prospero is The Tempest main protagonist. He is exile to an isolated island after his brother (Antonio) conspires to kill him for the desire of taking his position as a duke of Milan. Prospero manages to escape with his three-year-old daughter to the island. The play starts after 12 years of Prospero’s living in the Isle. The play is more like a test for Prospero to discover his wickedness and find a typical way to adjust them. In the beginning, Prospero has two servants: Ariel, who has a godlike power and serves him in fulfilling his magical plan, and Caliban, half human half beast, supports him in fetching wood and water. Later on in the play,
Through The Tempest play, William Shakespeare weaves together a tale that is characterized by anti-colonialist sentiments. Prospero - the deposed Milan Duke - adopts a colonialist mentality by treating his colleagues as slaves who have no rights. Characters who suffer mistreatment under Prospero include: Ariel - the spirit creature; Ferdinand - the Naples Prince; and Caliban - Sycorax’s son. Prospero possesses much magical power which he uses to oppress his compatriots. Consequently, Prospero is portrayed as a colonial tyrant who abuses his immense power. Anti-colonialism feelings are especially evident through the actions, utterances and disposition and of Caliban, Miranda, Ferdinand and Ariel. To illustrate, Caliban berates Prospero for the former’s forced labor. Likewise, Ariel protests Prospero’s reluctance to release the former as earlier agreed. Miranda also expresses her dissatisfaction with Prospero’s unfair imprisonment of Ferdinand. Similarly, Ferdinand appears to challenge Prospero’s authority by briefly stopping dragging timber so as to flirt and chat with Miranda. The foregoing four characters exhibit conduct that highlights their displeasure with Prospero’s colonial-style authority over them. From the preceding expose, it can thus be concluded that Shakespeare’s The Tempest play is about anti-colonialism based on its depiction of Caliban, Miranda, Ferdinand and Ariel’s opposition to Prospero’s oppressive authority.
He frees Ariel, pardons Caliban, and plans to return to Milan where Miranda and Ferdinand will be married. Prospero gets everything he wants—his dukedom, a powerful son-in-law, and a return to society. Works Cited and Consulted Corfield, Cosmo. "Why Does Prospero Abjure His 'Rough Magic,'" Shakespeare Quarterly. 36 (1985): 31-4 8.
Prospero is a god. He mirrors the "Bible's personification of a God who commands the elements and the angels, who teases his offspring mercilessly, and who fabricated nature and people out of words"(2 Marx). Both gods rely heavily upon the use of words to maintain their kingdom. Caliban sees Prospero's power hailing from the magic books. The reader learns this as Caliban is speaking to Stephano about usurping Prospero's place on the island:
In this whimsical play, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, after being supplanted of his dukedom by his brother, arrives on an island. He frees a spirit named Ariel from a spell and in turn makes the spirit his slave. He also enslaves a native monster named Caliban. These two slaves, Caliban and Ariel, symbolize the theme of nature versus nurture. Caliban is regarded as the representation of the wild; the side that is usually looked down upon. Although from his repulsive behavior, Caliban can be viewed as a detestable beast of nature, it can be reasonably inferred that Shakespeare’s intent was to make Caliban a sympathetic character.
The nucleus of the plot in Shakespeare's The Tempest revolves around Prospero enacting his revenge on various characters who have wronged him in different ways. Interestingly enough, he uses the spirit of Ariel to deliver the punishments while Prospero delegates the action. Prospero is such a character that can concoct methods of revenge but hesitates to have direct involvement with disillusioning his foes. In essence, Prospero sends Ariel to do his dirty work while hiding his involvement in shipwrecking his brother, Antonio, from his daughter, Miranda.
Prospero appears to be a ruthless tyrant that strikes fear into Caliban to make him work but further on in the text we learn that this is not the case. Caliban's foul-mouthed insults,
Ariel and Caliban are both servants but this doesn’t mean that they wont have any differences. The most major difference between them is their relationship and attitude towards Prospero. Also they have different characteristics, and in the book they represent two different and opposite things. These differences between the two servants may affect people’s thoughts and feelings about the two characters.
Overall, the two characters Caliban and Ariel both play major parts in The Tempest. However, they could not be more unalike. They are treated in completely different ways by their master Prospero, they are required to take on different types of tasks, and the only similarity that seems to link the two of them together is the fact that the both desire to gain their freedom from his rule. Also the personalities of the two characters differ greatly. While Ariel seems to be more naïve, Caliban seems to realize the true intentions of Prospero and his quest for power over the island during the play.