Caliban in The Tempest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Caliban in The Tempest - Essay ExampleThe Shakespearean Drama The Tempest involves around ever relevant concepts and characteristics. This play would remain pointless without the distinctive character Caliban who represents the victims of colonization, precisely the natives. Caliban is portrayed as someone who undergoes suffering for no reason in his own region which is captured by a foreigner Prospero. Coupled with certain circumstances and inefficiency, Caliban falls into the bondage of slavery. Significantly, the sufferings of Caliban no matter physical or psychogenic greatly resemble the suffering natives in captured regions. In the play, Caliban is merely a savage or uncivilized half-human, half-monster creature whom Prospero dominates and tries to civilize by imposing divers(prenominal) tasks on him. Arguably, this was how the so called Prosperos perceived their captives. Caliban may have his own reasons for showing unwillingness to accept a foreign culture. Hence, being a s lave, Caliban intends to finish Prospero who is justly and highly ambitious. But Caliban fails in the attempt to kill Prospero even though he is assisted by Trinculo and Stephano. Bloom and Heims put this relation in this instruction Caliban, very much concerned with revenge, also takes on taint anality through the words of Trinculo and Stephano (227). This is an attempt to regain the island which belongs to him as hereditary property or possession. This electric resistance clearly illustrates the unsuccessful movements evolved in certain captured regions after the realization of belongingness. Often these revolutions and revolts were emerged once they were fed up with ill-treatment and domination. And it was reasonable that they sought aid from others to purify out the illegally invaded outsiders. Hence, it is essential to make a comparison between Prospero and Caliban in this context. Prospero realizes his target, makes preparations and waits for the opportunity to avenge his foes whereas, Caliban too realizes his target but fails to make preparations hence to execute the plan in a right manner. Therefore, Calibans failure is a clear outcome of ones emotional reaction against a crisis without realizing ones own potential and weakness. Caliban as a post colonialism representative should have improved his own potential to resist the occupation of Prospero on the island rather than being foolish to seek external assistance. Knowing the past has greater influence in understanding the present better. Therefore, Shakespeare clearly analyzes the past of Caliban who is a resident of this particular island. The drama indicates that Caliban being the son of the witch Sycorax undergoes a tragic experience that continues with the arrival of Prospero into the island. The most significant change takes place with the difference of Sycorax. The death of Sycorax makes Prospero more powerful that even Caliban is enslaved by him. This entire concept can be interpreted b y interconnecting the invading role of different powerful kingdoms to umteen underdeveloped and uncivilized regions across the world and their ill-treatment to the nationalities. This enslavement completely consumes the hope of freedom and liberty. Since Caliban being the servant is made to perform all(prenominal) action for the benefit of the master Prospero. However, it indirectly assists the progress of the natives although it is not deliberate. One such act is pointed by Lazarus as it is something commonplace in postcolonial literary studies that, wish Shakespeares Caliban colonized people were able to appreciate a language that was imposed on them and use it to their own ends (144). It is the similar case witnessed in many captured regions as they are compelled to fulfill the ambition of the mighty, powerful rulers who captured them. Specifically, speaking upon the career of Caliban is demanding as he is the prime sufferer of the play. Moreover, the revolt and dissatisfactio n begin from the very event when Caliban is captured and enslaved. Apart from