Caliban in The Tempest - Essay Example

? Caliban in ‘The Tempest’ The Shakespearean Drama “The Tempest” involves some ever relevant concepts and characteristics. This play would remain pointless without the distinctive character Caliban who represents the victims of colonization, precisely the natives. Caliban is portrayed as someone who undergoes suffering for no reason in his own region which is captured by a foreigner Prospero. Coupled with certain circumstances and inefficiency, Caliban falls into the bondage of slavery. Significantly, the sufferings of Caliban no matter physical or mental greatly resemble the suffering natives in captured regions. In the play, Caliban is merely a savage or uncivilized ‘half-human, half-monster’ creature whom Prospero dominates and tries to civilize by imposing different tasks on him. Arguably, this was how the so called ‘Prosperos’ perceived their captives. Caliban may have his own reasons for showing unwillingness to accept a foreign culture. Hence, being a slave, Caliban intends to finish Prospero who is mighty and highly ambitious. But Caliban fails in the attempt to kill Prospero even though he is assisted by Trinculo and Stephano. Bloom and Heims put this relation in this way; “Caliban, very much concerned with revenge, also takes on taint anality through the words of Trinculo and Stephano” (227). This is an attempt to regain the island which belongs to him as hereditary property or possession. This resistance clearly illustrates the unsuccessful movements evolved in certain captured regions after the realization of belongingness. Often these revolutions and revolts were emerged once they were fed up with ill-treatment and domination. And it was reasonable that they sought aid from others to wipe out the illegally invaded outsiders. Hence, it is essential to make a comparison between Prospero and Caliban in this context. Prospero realizes his target, makes preparations and waits for the opportunity to avenge his foes whereas, Caliban too realizes his target but fails to make preparations accordingly to execute the plan in a right manner. Therefore, Caliban’s failure is a clear outcome of one’s emotional reaction against a crisis without realizing one’s own potential and weakness. Caliban as a post colonialism representative should have improved his own potential to resist the occupation of Prospero on the island rather than being foolish to seek external assistance. Knowing the past has greater influence in understanding the present better. Therefore, Shakespeare clearly analyzes the past of Caliban who is a resident of this particular island. The drama indicates that Caliban being the son of the witch Sycorax undergoes a tragic experience that continues with the arrival of Prospero into the island. The most significant change takes place with the departure of Sycorax. The death of Sycorax makes Prospero more powerful that even Caliban is enslaved by him. This entire concept can be interpreted by interconnecting the invading role of different powerful kingdoms to many underdeveloped and uncivilized regions across the world and their ill-treatment to the nationalities. This enslavement completely consumes the hope of freedom and liberty. Since Caliban being the servant is made to perform every action for the benefit of the master Prospero. However, it indirectly assists the progress of the natives although it is not deliberate. One such act is pointed by Lazarus as “it is something commonplace in postcolonial literary studies that, like Shakespeare’s Caliban colonized people were able to appreciate a language that was imposed on them and use it to their own ends” (144). It is the similar case witnessed in many captured regions as they are compelled to fulfill the ambition of the mighty, powerful rulers who captured them. Specifically, speaking upon the career of Caliban is demanding as he is the prime sufferer of the play. Moreover, the revolt and dissatisfaction begin from the very moment when Caliban is captured and enslaved. Apart from this, different activities entrusted upon him accelerated the anger and fire in him. And these problems remained throughout the journey of Caliban’s life. Undoubtedly, one can say that it is his inability that forced him to be a victim of slavery. Whereas, Caliban thinks later in life that he deserves the land as he is the real owner of the land and undertakes activities which go in vain. But it is evident that such difficult situations have contributed a lot for the empowerment of Caliban. More clearly, such tragedies in life have shaped his life, motivating him to confront even challenges although it is a belated realization. Referring to Caliban one can say that success depends on the discovery of one’s talents and skills and their modification through complete effort, dedication, and rational thinking. Motivation is nothing but an inspiration that pushes one to confront challenges in life. More precisely, it is the strength that results in ardent desire of success. The character Caliban himself is being motivated to encounter his master Prospero in order to possess the island. Ultimately, the motivation turns into an action of attempt to finish even the master. Through this play Shakespeare identifies the real motivation of Caliban who undergoes tragedies repeatedly. The mere reason why he engages in revolt with the master is to attain liberation from bounded activities. The mesmerizing fact is that all these circumstances occur due to an absence of preparedness or prior thinking. This later realization of belongingness further motivates Caliban to emerge in an act of reaction. The reactions are evident in different expressions, dealings, plans and activities. One of the remarkable activities is the collaboration with Trinculo and Stephano which results in ultimate failure. This failure points out his weakness in planning and execution. Apart from this, often his speech and behavior seem coarse and brutal which might have added to his inability. Hence, there is no doubt that these actions are indirectly motivated by the immense desire for liberation and freedom. But it is not negligible that Caliban is the real resemblance of the natives who underwent troubles in course of foreign invasion. To what extent his motivation influenced his action or reaction toward the aimed destination counts a lot. Therefore, this motivation cannot be justified as it has not brought any fruitful result to the substantiated characters. So, it is imperative that motivation needs to be accompanied by certain appropriate actions. And, Caliban himself is an example that unless rational thinking and right preparations follow, the outcome is going to be utter failure. A disturbed mind never functions properly. In such a troubled situation one can hardly take any right decision in life. In the play, Caliban is the prime victim, for his land is encroached by Prospero an outsider. Moreover, Caliban’s interactions with whom he relates seem peculiar. The perception of Caliban is strange that he desperately wants the island which belongs to him from the very beginning. His intensive desire for the island is clearly exhibited in following words of Hansens, “Caliban the slave and servant claims to be the rightful ruler of the land” (10). He is unwilling to digest with the fact that he is ruled and supervised by master Prospero who does injustice to him. He shows an uncontrollable anger towards the mater through different behaviors. But Caliban is too conscious and careful about the exceptional power Prospero’s another servant Ariel who can use her power to punish him even further. On the other side, Shakespeare depicts the lives of the natives and their behaviors to the capturers as well. Therefore, this drama attains its perfection only when one interconnects the life of Caliban to the natives who are captured and persecuted by the foreigners. Apart from this, the conspiracy and plans made in collaboration with Trinculo and Stephano to vanish or wipeout Prospero from the face of the earth also did not witness any success. It clearly shows the improper utilization of power and skill and a factor of fear which results in hesitation to move forward courageously. Hence, the relationship of Caliban with others reflects a kind of uniqueness as he is neither found happy and cheerful nor hopeful in spite of being accompanied by others. Also, as McGinn and McGlinn point out, Caliban is too late to realize that Prospero is a true master; not the drunken Stephano” (5). So, Shakespeare explains the real character of a captive and how he interacts with others in different circumstances and situations in life. In conclusion, the play “The Tempest” is believed to be written when the concept of post colonialism was a bone of contention. Analyzing its entire concept and theme, one would realize the fact that the natives are the real sufferers of international political strategies. And these natives are reflected in the character of Caliban who undergoes such heinous life with the advent of the powerful foreigner no matter how good he is. Precisely, it demonstrates a category of people who had not experienced any external intervention until the colonization. However, over the time this fragile group is dominated by the efficient and wise ones. Without the role of Caliban the idea of post colonialism is too vague and irrelevant. But Shakespeare instills the people with an innovative idea of hidden potentials in everyone. Further he encourages and motivates the victims to realize the real gift of capacity and convinces not to relinquish in times of dangers and crisis in life. Finally, he points that recovery of freedom demands grater effort accompanied by the power of reasoning and dedication. Works Cited Bloom, Harold and Heims, Neil. Bloom’s Shakespeare through the ages. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2008. Print. Hansens, Julia. Caliban - his representation in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and three film versions. Seminar papers. GRIN Verlag, 2004. Web. 8 Aug 2013. Google Books. Lazarus, Neil. The Cambridge Companion to Postcolonial Literary Studies. Cambridge UK: University Press, 2004. Print. McGinn, James E and McGlinn, Jeanne M. “A teachers guide to the Signet classic edition William Shakespeare’s The Tempest”. 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