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.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.