I think this play was probably one of the more humorous comedies we've read this semester, and yet, it still ends with a bit of uneasiness that ran throughout the play. While reading, I found myself always feeling sorry for Caliban and, at the end, wondering what was going to come of him.
Prospero seemed to trick Caliban by teaching him the English (or maybe Italian language since Prospero is Italian) and taking care of Caliban (picking him berries, etc.) only to usurp all the land from Caliban and then enslave him. It's just like the Spanish did when they invaded Central and South America. They enslaved the Native groups after they were taught how to work the land. When they knew enough, they killed many and forced the remaining natives to work extremely hard for them (probably also resulting and death and coming with horrible punishments). I'd probably be as angry as Caliban was, too, and try to find a way to ruin Prospero. While it is true that Caliban planned to rape Miranda so he could have strength in numbers, I still found myself hoping that something good would happen for him. Prospero constantly mistreated Caliban - always threatening him with horrible curses that would pinch him, sting him, cause cramps or aches of the bones. The treatment of Caliban is no better than the was in which slaves were treated in the United States later and how the natives were treated by Spanish explorers (and I'm sure other explorers attempting to conquer other countries).
I think part of the reason I find myself feeling sympathetic toward Caliban is because he has this childlike naivety in parts of the play. He was so willing to help Prospero because he only knew the people who previously lived on the island. He never thought that Prospero would take advantage of him and take over the island. Caliban is once again portrayed as being innocent when he meets Trinculo and Stephano. At first he is afraid that Prospero has sent a spirit after him, but when he realizes that isn't so, he believes the men to be Gods (just like the natives are said to have done in Central/South America when explorers came on their ships). Caliban, knowing what evil is already on the island, is only looking for a little bit of hope and help to rid him from the chains that Prospero has him in. He begs these men to help free him; he is even willing to lick their feet/kiss their feet, and says he will serve them as long as they free him from the tyrant, Prospero. You would expect Caliban to know better, but is he so desperate that he is willing to trust in complete strangers? Is he only trusting in them because they got him drunk (like the settlers did to the Indians?). His naivety once again seems to pose a problem for Caliban. He plans to kill Prospero with Trinculo and Stephano, but that plot fails and Prospero is extremely angry. But what will Prospero do to Caliban? The play doesn't really make it clear. Will he take Caliban back to Milan with him and keep him as a slave/servant? Will he leave him in peace, finally? Is Caliban finally going to get his land back, or is Prospero going to run it from far away (much like the idea that Claribel would need to rule Naples from Africa if Ferdinand was dead)? I guess we will never know.
4 comments:
I completely understand your uneasiness over Caliban! It was difficult reading parts of his passages in the play, despite the comedic quality he may have added to the play. As you mentioned, there really is a naive childlike quality about him, he seems to really only want someone that will support him. On one side I feel bad for Caliban and all that he endures in the play, but on the other side I still can't disregard the fact that he tried to rape Miranda. Like Malvolio, the future of Caliban is uncertain, and the lack of closure left me with a distintly uncomfortable feeling at the end of the play.
I think the text encourages us to feel sympathy for Caliban: it gives him an agency tat the other characters lack. He is especially sympathetic to our 21st century minds, illustrated by how many post-colonialist critiques of the play there are. It's difficult not to relate him to the natives of the Americas, what with his enslavement and initial naivete towards Prospero. As a comedy the play does end in marriage and re-establishment of the status quo, but for Caliban, Ariel, and maybe even Antonio it simply means a continuation of Prosper's use of power over them.
I agree with you that there are times in the play when I feel sympathy for Caliban, as well. As you have pointed out, he has childlike qualities and I feel that he acts out of desperation. Although he tries to rape Miranda, I don't think that he is fully capable of understanding exactly what he is doing wrong. I believe that he is acting more out of base, animal instinct than out of intention evil. However, this does not mean that I condone or encourage his behavior either. I just feel that it is important for us to remember that just because Prospero teaches him to speak the English language does not mean that he is completely civilized or Europeanized. Before Prospero and Miranda came around, Caliban was just a creature on the island.
I think you are completely right. At the end of this play we are left with that sad remorse for him. It's unfortunate that in the creation of a comedy like "The Tempest" and "Twelfth Night" that as the audience we are not left with that feeling of laughter in regards to certain characters. Your post makes me wonder why Shakespeare does this and how he viewed it function? Are we meant to just accept the fact that not everyone ends up happy? I'm not sure I completely enjoy that idea.
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