Caliban in The Tempest by William Shakespeare Essay

Caliban in The Tempest by William Shakespeare Caliban is very important to The Tempest. He is as a prominent link between the audience and play. Elizabethan theatre was more like a football match that theatre, as we know it today. There were raucous crowds who would have particularly liked having a monster they could jeer at. Therefore Caliban would have been a central character to the lower class character, as they could feel superior to him in a very class determined society. This would have added to the visual element of the play. Shakespeare has created the character of Caliban with depth. He has done this by giving him two possible sides to interpret. In some ways he is a puzzle for the†¦show more content†¦This is because the violent power would have been very popular in these times. Although in another production Caliban was shown as human with values and feelings. This had a positive effect on the atmosphere of the play and therefore my view. The power of Shakespeares writing is that it has relevance to us today. In this respect Caliban has been shown in a more humane light as a creature pitied and modern productions seem to leave you feeling sorry for him and therefore forgiving him for his bad behaviour such as the attempted rape of Miranda because of the way he is poorly treated. Today we are very aware of people who commit anti-social acts are often abused and emotionally damaged. This concept makes it easier for us to forgive them. Consequently as an audience we are more likely to sympathise with Caliban than perhaps an Elizabethan audience who may have preferred the violent, beastly portrayal. Caliban is a great theatrical device. Shakespeare uses him to inject humour into the play. In the scene in which he meets Stephano and Trinculo we have a classic drunk scene, which is almost, slap stick comedy. It provides a comic relief from the main action of the play. Shakespeare has used similar devices in his other plays. Caliban however is slightly different and more vital to the play as a whole. Although similarities can be drawn between him andShow MoreRelatedCaliban in William Shakespeare ´s The Tempest: The Victim Undercover as a Villain525 Words   |  3 PagesIn the play, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, Caliban is an important character. Caliban is a character who plays as a victim to be pitied, as well as a villain to watch out for. In this essay, I will show clearly how Caliban is a victim and villain by exploring his relationship with Prospero, Miranda, and the island. Caliban has been a victim of mistreatment for many reasons. 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