In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the role of Caliban is a monster that is controlled by Prospero who later plots a revolt against him. Through the character of Caliban, Shakespeare addresses the acts of British Imperialism in Africa. Throughout the play we see Prospero overpower Caliban with his orders and magic. Caliban is constantly put into an inferior position. One of the key tools to Caliban’s inferior stature is his ability to understand the language of the Europeans’ which Prospero had taught him. Prospero uses his magic negatively against Caliban, which forces fear and obedience from Caliban. This magic is similar to the British being much more advanced in weapon technology than the natives in Africa. Caliban curses his master Prospero and finds comfort in being a new slave of Trinculo and Stephano, two Europeans who were shipwrecked due to a tempest and found refuge on the island. The scenes that involve Caliban all have ties to slavery and England’s rule in Africa.

Caliban was once a native of the island where he roamed free. He was the son of Sycorax, a witch who ruled the island before Prospero. When

Caliban shows that although he was free as a native of the island before Prospero, he has now learned to succumb to power that he does not understand. When the Europeans first come across Caliban, they are afraid of his monstrous appearance. Through Caliban’s fear of men like Prospero he put himself in an inferior position. After hearing Caliban fearfully speak, the Europeans soon realized that they were able to control the monster after he put himself in an inferior position and called Trinculo and Stephano master. They get Caliban drunk and he believes it is magic. Caliban shows no attempt to change his enslaved standing because he sees no difference between Trinculo and Stephano, and Prospero. The African natives responded to Europeans with fear and being susceptible to an inferior position much like Caliban. They too only understood that their purpose was to be controlled by the British.

Prospero’s use of magic imposed physical pain on Caliban. When pain was inflicted Caliban resisted to attack in fear of being in more pain. In fact Caliban was unable to attack due to the crippling pain that was inflicted on him. Being technologically advanced in the area of weaponry, the British were automatically superior over the enslaved African. Just as physical pain was inflicted on Caliban when he was defiant, slaves of British imperialism were whipped and beaten when they were disobedient in order to sustain a controlling position over the slaves.

Prospero arrived at the island he defe

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