How Effectively Does Shakespeare Present Caliban in the Tempest? Explore the Presentation on Calibanã¢Â‚¬Â„¢S Character and How It Contrasts with That of the Civilised Characters.

The audience are given an impression of Caliban based on the civilised characters’ description of him before he even appears on stage. He is described as being ‘savage’ and ‘brutal’ which portrays the difference between him and the other characters on the island who are more civilised in comparison to him. Throughout The Tempest Caliban is contrasted with the civilised characters in various situations, allowing the audience to judge Shakespeare’s presentation of him.

One way in which Caliban’s character is shown is through his ungratefulness towards Prospero for trying to educate him. Prospero has taught both Miranda and Caliban and yet their respective responses to their education are very different. Miranda obeys Prospero and is thankful to him whereas Caliban doesn’t appreciate Prospero’s teachings. Prospero calls him “a born devil, on whose nature nurture can never stick”. The paradox ‘nature nurture’ presents a contrast between Caliban and Miranda in this case, because Caliban is a natural man and can therefore not appreciate Prospero’s nurturing. Even though Miranda and Caliban have both been educated by Prospero there is still a difference between them and the way they conduct themselves. As well as talking about Caliban as ‘a devil’, Prospero could also be referring to Sycorax, Caliban’s mother,who was a witch, so that is why he’s a ‘born-devil’. Not only does this emphasise Caliban’s nature and how he’s considered to be evil and bad, as this is suggested through the word ‘devil’ but it also draws attention to Caliban’s physical appearance which could be another reason for why he’s not civilised as the other characters on the island. Conversely judging Caliban like this could be considered unjust because he’s the ‘natural’ man of the island, who hasn’t lived in a society amongst ‘civilised’ characters and is therefore unaware of the norms of society. The word ‘stick’ suggests that Prospero’s education is not natural to Caliban and Caliban can not be changed inherently. ‘Stick’ could also bear reference to Prospero’s harsh treatment of Caliban; Caliban being beaten with a stick. This could be the reason why Caliban rejects his education and Miranda does not, as she’s treated with more respect than Caliban. This could be the reason why Caliban and Mirada are very different in nature even though they have been living on the same island with Prospero. Some may argue, therefore, that it is not reasonable for Prospero to expect Caliban to respond to his education when he’s treated differently compared to Miranda and the other characters on the island.

Another way in which Caliban’s character is presented is through showing the difference in Caliban and Ferdinand’s attitude towards the log-bearing task that they have to do for Prospero. Ferdinand does the job with patience, whereas Caliban begrudges Prospero and he resents Prospero who “that by his cunning hath cheated (him)”. The word ‘cheated’ emphasises the fact that Caliban feels wronged and deceived by Prospero. On the other hand some may argue that, Caliban’s feelings of hatred is understandable because he has been doing the same thing for years without any reward whereas Ferdinand knows he will only be doing it for a finite amount of time until he earns Miranda as his reward. This highlights the difference between Caliban and the ‘civilised’ characters on the island. Caliban is treated unfairly compared to the other characters. However some may argue that Caliban’s behaviour does not warrant a reward and Prospero’s treatment of him is justified.

Caliban’s character is further presented to the audience by comparing his approach to Miranda with Ferdinand’s. Ferdinand tries to win Miranda’s heart by earning her affections whereas Caliban tries to rape her and shows no remorse for it:
“O ho, O ho! Would’t had been done!
Thou didst prevent me. I had peopled else
This isle with Calibans.”
The exclamatory phrase “Oh ho! Oh ho!” implies a cheerful tone of voice emphasising on the fact that Caliban has no remorse. Exclamation marks suggest that he is singing and therefore happy with what he did. The word “peopled” suggests that Caliban sees himself as human even if no one else does, he does not refer to any of the harsh words that he is called by the other civilised character instead he shows his self respect by referring to himself as ‘human’. Caliban admits to trying to rape Miranda and yet shows no guilt for it. Although some may disagree and argue that Caliban can’t be blamed for attempting to rape Miranda because being the natural man of the island it’s natural for Caliban to follow his natural urges.

Caliban’s character is also revealed through his attitude towards Prospero and his teachings. According to Prospero, educating Caliban was useless, as Caliban doesn’t show any appreciation for Prospero’s attempts to civilise him. In response to Prospero’s efforts to civilise him, Caliban feels “all wound with adders, who with cloven tongues do hiss (him) into madness.” ‘All wound with adders’ suggests that Caliban is being tortured. The word ‘madness’ emphasises Caliban’s state of mind, and the sibilance in this line further reflects the fact that he might actually be going mad. However, some may argue that ‘madness’ in this instance may refer to Caliban’s anger about the way Prospero treats him. It could be suggested that Caliban has the right to be angry as he is the natural man of the island and should not be expected to comply with civilised norms.

Another way in which Caliban’s character is presented is when Trinculo and Stephano are conversing about the duke’s royal clothing and Caliban shows no interest in it, “Let it alone, thou fools! It is but trash.” This contrasts Caliban as a natural man with the civilised characters. Material objects aren’t important to him. His freedom and the natural world around him is more valuable to him. This idea of Caliban appreciating natural things to material things portrays his innocence, it emphasises on the point that even though he’s given the image of being ‘savage’ and ‘brutal’ he still has the ability to appreciate the island and the environment around him. It is here when Caliban’s inner character is portrayed. We see that Caliban doesn’t share the same values as the other characters on the island, and therefore can not conform to their norms. Furthermore, the fact that Caliban refers to the clothing as ‘trash’ could suggest his intense dislike of Prospero which could be another reason for why he shows no interest in the clothing. However, Caliban calling Stephano and Triculo ‘fools’ suggests that the royal clothing was a trick played by Prospero which is why Caliban does not react to it, unlike Stephano and Trinculo who were impressed by the royal robes and fall for Prospero’s trick.

In conclusion Shakespeare presents Caliban by contrasting him with the other civilised characters on the island. Although he is introduced as ‘brutal’, the complexities of his character are revealed as the play progresses, presenting us with a character of great depth of feeling and who perhaps feels wronged.