Prospero's Behavior Toward Caliban example essay topic

In the play The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, Prospero, the protagonist, is a difficult character whose life has largely been spent on a distant island following the unjust usurpation of his dukedom in Milan. The entire play is set on this island, where we learn implicitly the traits of our protagonist, Prospero. Despite his despotic and manipulative nature, expressed early in the play, Prospero evolves into a much more sympathetic character as his disposition lightens and is mostly very forgiving to those who wronged him. Prospero's vindictive nature is explicitly revealed in his behavior toward his servant Caliban. In the first act, Prospero introduces Caliban for the first time with total disparagement.

Prospero immediately regards Caliban as a most uncivilized beast and a "poisonous slave" (I. ii. 379). Remarks made by Prospero and others are so callous, that readers get the sense that Caliban may not even be human. Prospero's punishments against Caliban are cruel, as he orders Caliban to be "pinch'd, As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging, Than bees that made 'em" (I. ii. 388). We discover soon thereafter that Caliban's rebellious nature originates from fifteen years ago when Prospero supposedly stole the land so familiar to Caliban: This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou takes from me.

When thou came st first, Thou stroked st me and modest much of me, wouldst give me Water with berries in't, and teach me how To name the bigger light, and how the less, That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle, The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile: Cursed be I that did so! All the charms Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! For I am all the subjects that you have, Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me The rest o' the island. (II. i. 391) At this point in the play, Prospero's behavior toward Caliban appears to be unprecedented and unjust. Prospero's ill manner only seem to encourage an inharmonious relationship between himself and Caliban.

In the same way, Prospero rules over Ariel with a heavy hand. Though Ariel is quite a difficult character to deal with, he has nevertheless complied with all the wishes of Prospero, and is always the vehicle by which Prospero carries out his schemes. Ariel is responsible for creating the tempest in Act I, and is also responsible for the assembly of all the characters in Act V, both of which are critical moments in the play. In spite of this, when Ariel reminds Prospero of his agreement to shorten his "term of service" by a year under the condition that Ariel performed his given task, Prospero retorts with many overexcited lines about how Ariel was saved from his previous wretch of a master, to which Ariel only responds by saying "Pardon, master; I will be correspondent to command, And do my spiriting gently" (I. ii. 348). Despite Ariel's submissiveness, Prospero nevertheless treats him heartlessly.

In Act V, when Ariel has assembled all of the characters before Prospero's cell at last, Prospero becomes much more calm and forgiving; he almost seems sedated in comparison to previous speeches to Ariel. Ariel reminds Prospero that it has become "the sixth hour; at which time, [Prospero], [he] said [their] work should cease" (V. i. 4). Rather than replying with fury, as in Act I, Prospero says that Ariel "shalt have freedom" and that he will "miss [him]" (V. i. 94). The relationship between Prospero and Ariel now seems to have evolved into somewhat of a friendship.

By the end of the play, Prospero's behavior toward Caliban has not in fact changed. However, Prospero's contempt toward Caliban is now quite just, as he had taken on Stephan o as his new master and was plotting the murder of Prospero with his new master and fellow conspirator, Trin culo. Prospero's contempt toward Caliban has now evolved to become more reasonable. The evolution of Prospero's character is revealed when Prospero forgives his former enemies for their actions, although he still holds them responsible for their actions.

He welcomes the lords into his home for the night, after which they will celebrate the union of Ferdinand's and Miranda's union in Naples, after which Prospero will return to his former home, Milan. In the epilogue, Prospero tells the audience that "Now [his] charms are all o'erthrown, And what strength [he has is his] own, Which is most faint: now, 'tis true" confirming that he has at last abandoned his practice of magic, his one source of great power (V. epilogue. 1). Prospero's abandonment of his magic indicates a turning point in his life, as he no longer needs his magical powers to achieve a goal; Prospero has now reclaimed his dukedom.

Prospero has ultimately evolved from a cruel despot into a sympathetic reasonable character throughout The Tempest, as he finally gains closure with his former enemies.