Student Question

Does Caliban's lack of a mother in The Tempest affect him?

Quick answer:

Caliban's lack of a mother in The Tempest affects him by fueling his anger towards Prospero. Caliban's mother, Sycorax, was killed by Prospero, who then enslaved Caliban. This act disrupts the island's natural balance, intensifying Caliban's resentment. His anger is not solely about missing his mother, but about Prospero's usurpation and domination, which he sees as a violation of the island's natural order.

Expert Answers

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In The Tempest, Caliban seems to be angry that he no longer has a mother.  Caliban was born to Sycorax, the witch who resided on the island before Prospero arrived.  Once on the island, Prospero despised the witch and killed her, taking Caliban as his slave.  Caliban does not let Prospero forget the wrongs done to his mother, and he says that Prospero has upset the natural balance of the island by killing his mother.  So, Caliban does not seem to upset that he is missing his mother per se--he is angry because Prospero has killed a natural part of the island only to take over the island and exert his dominance over everyone and everything that was there already.

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