Caliban: Man or Monster?

One of the greatest dilemmas in creating the role of Caliban in The Tempest is deciding on a balance between the character’s manhood and bestiality. This must be carefully considered as Caliban, though not the pivotal character of the play, is certainly one of the most noticeable and individual. In addition, we are meant to find a certain amount of sympathy with the exiled Prospero, and the way we view Caliban’s character affects how we let ourselves view his master.
Prospero first speaks of Caliban as “not honored with a human shape.� (i.ii.285-6) We learn that he is a beast of burden for Prospero and Miranda, performing menial chores and labor. He is referred to by many animal titles – “beast”, “freckled whelp”, “puppy-headed monster� – in order to assure us that none of the other characters find him human. He is mistaken for a beast by Trinculo, a



	Caliban in the Tempest .... In many ways it is apparent that Caliban is a wild .... and monster by his actions, but he can sometimes show some other emotions. "Be not afeard. .... (988 4 )

	From the Monster to the Oppressed: The Odyssey of Caliban .... on Caliban still treated him as a monster, but they .... people in that day firmly believed .... as a .... can and should control his baser passions, Caliban, the epitome .... (2429 10 )

	From the Monster to the Oppres .... on Caliban still treated him as a monster, but they .... people in that day firmly believed .... as a .... can and should control his baser passions, Caliban, the epitome .... (2369 9 )

	Caliban VS Prospero .... Prospero is the type of .... who likes to indulge in .... The main difference that is seen in Caliban to Prospero is .... Since he is a monster he is not respected by .... (730 3 )

	Animals in Shakespeare .... point, the jester, Trinculo, says "he were a brave monster indeed, if .... if Shakespeare did not desire the actor who played Caliban to possess .... A .... or a fish? .... (1600 6 )

There are, however, other factors which affect how we are to envision Caliban’s character. Many people who study The Tempest concur that the character of Caliban is a reference to the “savage” people found by explorers in the New World. Shakespeare wrote his plays at the height of the Age of Exploration, and accounts of the primitive races living in North and South America often bordered on the monstrous and animalistic. Reading The Tempest nowadays with this theme in mind may prompt us to imagine Caliban as simply an aboriginal human, smaller and darker than Europeans, with different facial features and dress.

and constantly called a monster by him and Stephano. And although the epithets abound, we never receive a clear picture of Caliban’s true appearance. If one portrays Caliban as a beast, monstrous in appearance like an ape or bear, one can justify th

Some topics in this essay:
Moons Of Uranus, The Tempest, Caliban, Psychology, Prospero, Ariel, Miranda, Shakespeare, South America, Trinculo,

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PROFESSIONAL ESSAYS:

The Tempest, Frankenstein & Cloud Nine .... her to be and Joshua, the black servant, is played by a white .... because he wants to be what people want him to be. Unlike the monster and Caliban, Joshua and .... (1230 5 )

The Tempest .... him, as well as Caliban, the monster born of .... addition, Stephano and Trinculo befriend Caliban (who thinks .... who are disrespectful, considering this .... has their .... (1410 6 )

Use of Speech in The Tempest .... him, as well as Caliban, the monster born of .... addition, Stephano and Trinculo befriend Caliban (who thinks .... who are disrespectful, considering this .... has their .... (1411 6 )

Into the Wild .... He was an educated and intelligent young .... who abandoned .... Frankenstein, we see that the monster is treated .... In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Caliban is treated by .... (2665 11 )

Into the Wild: Christopher McCandless .... He was an educated and intelligent young .... who abandoned .... Frankenstein, we see that the monster is treated .... In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Caliban is treated by .... (2665 11 )

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