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In the play Prospero and Caliban have a sort of love/hate relationship after Prospero enslaves Caliban.. What do you think are the political or moral assumptions behind Prospero enslaving Caliban? Do you accept Prospero's justification behind this enslavement or do you question/reject? Posted by phantommiserables on Nov 26, 2008. |
The Tempest Group
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Prospero is somewhat justified in his enslavement morally, considering that Caliban tried to rape Miranda, which would have made her ineligible to marry Ferdinand later(although I don't know if he was that specific). I think their relationship has more hate in it than love. Prospero does not view Caliban as a being who could be his equal, you could say that he is blinded by his prejudice against Caliban's appearance and manners. Because of this, it is easy for Prospero to justify enslaving Caliban. There was a lot of separation. Caliban's attempted rape, and his reaction when Prospero brings it up in the play futher the impression that he is more beast than human, and therefore can be used as a slave, rather than equal. One theme of the Tempest is imperialism, and I think the treatment of Caliban is similar to the treatment that the inhabitants of the colonized islands received. Posted by eltraylo on Mar 18, 2009. |

