The Tempest Group

Question:

cuteeasian76
cuteeasian76
Student
High School - 12th Grade

How is Caliban introduced and what has soured Prospero and Miranda against him?

Rate question:

Posted by cuteeasian76 on Monday January 12, 2009 at 8:42 PM and tagged with caliban, introduction, miranda, prospero, shakespeare, souring, tempest, the tempest.

Answers:


  1. robertwilliam

    eNotes Editor

    Caliban, summoned by Prospero, enters cursing his master:

    As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed
    With raven's feather from unwholesome fen
    Drop on you both! A south-west blow on ye
    And blister you all o'er!

    Prospero then threatens him with cramps if he doesn't behave himself, and Caliban then makes his famous claim of sovereignty over the island:

    This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,
    Which thou tak'st from me.

    What has soured Prospero and Miranda against him? It seems they treated him very well, until he tried to rape Miranda, as Prospero says:

    I have used thee,
    Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee
    In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
    The honour of my child.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/tempest-text/act-i-scene-ii?start=3
    http://www.enotes.com/tempest/caliban-character-analysis

    Rate answer:

    Posted by robertwilliam on Tuesday January 13, 2009 at 3:28 AM