Q.

Caliban a Villain or a Victim:

R. The play, ‘The Tempest’ is written by ‘William Shakespeare’. It is set
on an enchanted island, during the Elizabethan era. Caliban was the
beastly half human, half demon creature who lived on the island since his
birth. He was the son of Sycorax, an evil witch, who had died when
Caliban was young. When Prospero, former Duke of Milan, came to the
island with his daughter, he treated Caliban with kindness and taught
him language. In return Caliban showed them fresh water and food
sources of the island. But, Caliban tried to attack Miranda, so Prospero
enslaved him.

Caliban can be perceived as a victim as his mother died when he was

quite young. He had lived alone for most of his life before Prospero came
to the island. He had no knowledge of language or human customs and
laws. He attacked Miranda because maybe he did not understand the
implications of right and wrong. Prospero in retaliation/ return enslaved
him and treated him cruelly. According to the text, “Fill all thy bones
with aches, make thee roar”. Prospero took his freedom, put him in a
small part of the island, tortured him and called him “Abhorred slave”,
“Hag-seed” and “Devil spawn”. Instead of realizing his mistake,
Caliban in such mistreatment, started to hate Prospero and plotted to get
rid of him in any way he could.

Caliban was the native of the island. He had a deep connection to the
nature which lacked in everyone whether it was Prospero, Gonzalo or
Stephano. They wanted to change the island in their own way, while
Caliban appreciated the island in its raw natural form. It is evident in his
speech, “ the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give
delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears”
Caliban’s speech showed a soft side of him, when everyone called him a
monster. He was the real owner of the island according to him, “This
island's mine, by Sycorax my mother”. Prospero took away not his
freedom but also his birthright. It made him resent Prospero.

However, Caliban can also be considered as a villain. Prospero and

Miranda showed him kindness, according to Prospero, “Took pains to
make thee speak, taught thee each hour”. Caliban could not even speak
and they taught him language. But still he attacked Prospero’s only
daughter Miranda. He was not even ashamed at what he had done. He
said that if he got the chance he would do it again.

Similarly, Caliban wanted freedom from Prospero and his island back.
But when he met Stephano he bowed down and offered himself to be a
slave, according to him, “I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true
subject”. Because he Stephano offered Caliban wine which was
according to Caliban, “Celestial Liquor” and “the liquor is not earthly”.
He even made Stephano to be a god. Caliban hated being a slave but the
first chance he got he became a slave to another because he had
something that Caliban had never seen before. He planned to kill
Prospero with Stephinano and Trinculo, he even brought Miranda into
his scheme by telling Stephano about her beauty.

In my opinion Caliban was a villain, I agree that he had a soft side as

well, but his devilish nature overcame his human emotions. Prospero
treated him with kindness and he repaid him by attacking his daughter.
Prospero did wrong by treating him cruelly but he only wanted his
daughter safe from him. Secondly, Caliban wanted his freedom and
island back from Prospero, but gave everything to Stephano willingly. He
plotted to kill Prospero without any guilt and even told Stephano to
marry Miranda, when Miranda was an innocent in everything.