Tempest

A detailed Summary of Tempest


In Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest," an underlying theme of barbarism versus civilization appears. Shakespeare creates characters that exemplify symbols of nature or nurture. The symbolism of the characters is derived from their actions. These actions show Shakespeare's view of the uncivilized and the civilized, as well as help the reader develop his own opinion of each side.

In this whimsical play, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, after being supplanted of his dukedom by his brother, arrives on an island. He frees a spirit named Ariel from a spell and in turn makes the spirit his slave. He also enslaves a native monster named Caliban. These two slaves, Caliban and Ariel, symbolize the theme of nature versus nurture. Caliban is regarded as the representation of the wild; the side that is usually looked down upon. Although from his repulsive behavior, Caliban can be viewed as a detestable beast of nature, it can be reasonably inferred that Shakespeare's intent was to make Caliban a sympathetic character.

During the first encounter, Caliban comes across very bestial and immoral. While approaching Caliban's cave, Prospero derogatorily says, "...[he] never/Yields us kind answer," meaning Caliban never answers respectfully. W


Shakespeare portrays Caliban as a very ugly and crude looking beast, which is how people of nature are pictured by citizens of society. Caliban's appearance exemplifies the degenerate animal nature within him. However, Caliban has, what no man of society has, purity and innocence. Caliban acts not to please others but to make himself happy. He has an intuitive understanding of the natural world that brings out a sensitivity higher than that of the civilized. Shakespeare gives Caliban some of the finest poetry in the play, "...Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not./Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments..." showing that nature can be as eloquent as society. Caliban might be portrayed as evil, but he is not as callous as Antonio, Prospero's brother. Antonio is from the civilized world, yet he produces corruption and deformity far worse than that of Caliban's nature.

Until Prospero arrived on the island, Caliban was his own king. The island was left to him by his mother, Sycorax. Nevertheless, Prospero took charge of the isle and eventually enslaved Caliban. "...Thou strok'st me...I loved thee..." is part of a quote that illustrates Caliban's relationship with Prospero before he was his slave. Prospero comforted Caliban and gave him

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Approximate Word count = 848
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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