The Tempest

A detailed Summary of The Tempest


In the opening of "The Tempest" Act 2 and Scene 2, Caliban reveals many punishments and torments that follow him. He says that Prospero's spirit is near him - "His spirits hear me - " (Shakespeare 77, 3). He says the spirits are like monkeys "Sometimes like apes, they now and chatter at me / And after bite me;" (Shakespeare 77, 9-10). He also says they are like hedgehogs who poke him with their sharp spines. "then like hedgehogs, which / Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount / Their pricks at my footfall" (Shakespeare 77, 10-12). He goes on to say that snakes wind around him. "Sometimes am I / All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues / Do hiss me into madness" (Shakespeare 77, 12-14). So, Caliban is tormented by a variety of things, from apes to adders, and he feels this is punishment by Prospero's spirits who follow him to make him miserable. Not only do these torments make him fearful and distrustful, they also clearly indicate his "place" in society. He carries wood, and worries that he will be punished for "bringing wood in slowly" (Shakespeare 77, 16). It is clear he is used to being a servant, and used to being punished if he does not serve his master just so. He is used to torment, which is why he does


Trinculo and Stephano think if the capture Caliban, the "monster," they can tame him and sell him to some rich Englishman. "If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will not take too much for him. He shall pay for him that hath him, and that soundly" (Shakespeare 81, 78-80). He does not understand at first how the monster understands Italian, "Where the devil should he learn our language?" (Shakespeare 81, 67-68), and he thinks he would make a fine present for an Emperor or leader. "he's a present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's leather" (Shakespeare 81, 71-72.). So, Stephano believes Caliban is a monster, and that the English will spend money for anything, and good money at that. He seems to be saying that the English are shallow and covet things more than they covet anything else. Trinculo calls Caliban "a very shallow monster" (Shakespeare 85, 150-151), and he is not afraid of him. He is saying that he is not afraid of the English, who may bluster and boast about their powers, but they are really "shallow" and not to be feared. He also calls him "weak" "poor" and "credulous" (Shakespeare 85, 151-152), which shows his contempt of the English, and how he looks down on them. Their quic

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Approximate Word count = 816
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts

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