Q.

COMPARE THE WAY PROSPERO TALK ABOUT ARIEL TO THE WAY HE

TALKS ABOUT CALIBAN.
R. Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan,is a complex personality, He is shown as a
beneficent person who would never harm or injure anyone, not even his enemies. On
the other hand, his attitude towards Ariel and Caliban is considered as cruel and
callous. The theme of freedom and confinement is shown through the examples of
Prospero’s slaves, Ariel and Caliban.

Ariel was the spirit of the air, who came on the island, as a servant with Sycorax, an
evil witch. Sycorax had “And in her most unmitigable rage,Into a cloven pine;
imprisoned him in a pine tree for a long time because he refused to accept her evil
orders. Prospero freed Ariel with his magic from the pine tree and turned him into his
slave and promised Ariel if he completed his tasks with all his heart and would not
grumble/argue he would set him free. Even though Ariel was free from Sycrorax’s
curse he was still not completely free because he was serving Prospero.

Ariel was an air spirit who wanted freedom more than anything. He was in gratitude
of Prospero. Similarly, Prospero too kept praising him, “My brave spirit!” if he
completed his orders well. Prospero has higher regards towards Ariel because he
knows Ariel can perform and carry out the actions Prospero demands. But if Ariel
even mentions Prospero’s promise to set him free, Prospero becomes angry and
threatens to return Ariel to the suffering he had come from if he does not fulfill his
duties. According to Prospero, “Dost thou forget from what a torment I did free
thee”. He kept reminding the favours that he had done for Ariel and kept delaying his
promise to set Ariel free.

Caliban was a beastly half-human son of Sycorax and the Devil. He was unaware of
any language or human customs and behaviour. He was the rightful owner of the
island, according to him, “This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother”. When
Prospero came on the island he treated Caliban affectionately, Miranda taught him
how to talk. In return Caliban also showed him the intricacies of the forest, its berries
and fresh water sources. But when he tried to attack Miranda, Prospero imprisoned
him and made him a slave.

Prospero treated Caliban differently than Ariel. He imprisoned him with his magic
and treat him cruelly. According to Prospero, “Fill all thy bones with aches, make
thee roar”. He used his magic to physically abuse him. Prospero thought that Caliban
deserved the punishment because he was an evil creature. Unlike Ariel, Caliban
knows he does not have any promising future of freedom therefore leading him
towards an attitude of hatred and rebellion. He cursed Prospero all the time and even
planned to kill Prospero with Stephano and Trinculo but failed in it. 

So, even though Prospero has a more kind-hearted attitude towards Ariel, he still
makes it clear that he is the master. His relationship with both of them is that of a
master and slave or servant. At the end of the play however, Prospero showed his
mercy and freed Ariel and left the island to Caliban.