- Caliban interacts with all characters
- Portrayed as different, deformed and as other - Act 1 Scene 2 line 233
- Initially treated well - sort of like a pet
- Caliban instinctive and self centred
- Prospero rules through magic and threats
- Finds out that Stephano and Trinculo aren't equal with Prospero - Act 5 Scene 1 line 292-95
- Seen as a novelty or a monster in Shakespeare's time
- Seen as a primitive degenerate figure who is lustful and greedy - as imagined by Europeans to justify colonisation
- Implacable spirit - never totally subjugated (because of his implacable spirit)
- Noble savage - not as civilised but has indomitable spirit
- Complex
- Caliban is angry
- Often isn't logical - until later on when he becomes manipulative as he becomes civilised
Different style of language
- If language is power Caliban isn't equal
- Communicates in insults - Miranda calls it "gabble"
- Sometimes able to talk coherently like in the speech about sweet airs
- Shows his complexity
- Develops ability to think and speak intelligently
Caliban' place in society
- Fits into the hierarchical and patriarchal society
- Perhaps Caliban has the ability to move across all elements in the play because he is not in society
- Caliban discovers a lot from his interactions with other characters
- Discovers humanity?
- Doesn't find complete humanity - can't go back into a civilised world as Prospero does
- "this thing of darkness!" - contrasts to Miranda's white
- "Whelp" "Demi devil" "Poor credulous monster" "hag seed"
Sympathy
- Treatment from Prospero
- Interactions with the 'civilised' Stephano and Trinculo
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