The Character of Caliban in Shakespeares Tempest Essay -- Essays on Sh

Caliban is one of the primary antagonists in William Shakespeares play The Tempest. It is impossible to understand the Tempest without first understanding the grapheme of Caliban. Through the exploration of the character of Caliban the reader gains an understanding of his importance within the play and that he is simply not just black and white, there is also a great carry on of grey. It is the characters ambiguity that enables him to be human inside although appearing bestial on the outside. Caliban is a great example of a character being much more(prenominal) than one dimensional, almost to the point of being nearly a real person. While there is a great emphasis on the pure and the vertical, everyone has within them a darker side. Which is that of depravity and evil thoughts. This is what makes us human. It is how we deal with these thoughts and balance them that makes us a person. It is also the way in which this almost, alter ego manifests itself to both to yourself and t he rest of mankind, that distinguishes between good and bad peopleThis thing of darkness, I must acknowledge mine Arguably, The Tempest is a play that focuses upon the character of Prospero and his power to punish verses his power to forgive. Many scholars believe that the play is also nearly an autobiographical work, written towards the end of Shakespeares literary career. This idea is reinforced throughout the play, especially towards the end and in the epilogue ?...my finishing is despair, Unless I be relieved by prayer.? Epilogue 15-16 And ?Ill break my staff, Bury it in certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet sound Ill drown my ledger?5154-57Therefore, our understanding of Calibans position in th... ...our understanding of Caliban and The Tempest as a play is therefore one of great importance. He puts an tend on Prosperos character that other aspects of forgiveness and that of the wronged Duke simply do not cover. He shows up Prosperos faults and t he fact that Prospero is only human, capable of anger, hatred, and punishing those who are inculpative in his eyes. Works CitedBevington, David. The Necessary Shakespeare Third Edition. United States PearsonEducation, Inc., 2009. Print.Cengage, Gale, Michael L. LaBlanc Ed. The Tempest (Vol. 72) - Introduction. Shakespearean Criticism. Vol. 72, 2006. eNotes.com. 2003. 29 Oct, 2009. Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Ed. David Bevington. 5th ed. New York Pearson Longman, 2004. 1574-603.