Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-3-caliban [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest.md) › Caliban # Caliban English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest, topic 8.1.3 ## Caliban Character Summary Caliban is son of the witch Sycorax, who ruled the island on which the play is set before Prospero colonised it. ### Enslaved ![Enslaved](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/398f5cdb-b71c-4e4f-807e-2b61a7bc56fa/Arrested-Capture-Handcuffs.jpg) - Caliban believes that he is being unfairly punished when he was a source of knowledge to the white Europeans. He knows the island’s many secrets and treasures because he is native to the land. - As a result, he resents his enslavement and wants to take revenge on Prospero. - How you interpret Caliban’s character might reflect the context in which you live. Some people read Caliban as either a victim of Prospero’s tyranny or villain to the innocent Miranda. ### Colonialism and Caliban ![Colonialism and Caliban](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/5bd2a382-d791-4ba4-9957-c181b8bb52d7/Colonisation-Map-UK-Empire.jpg) - Caliban told Prospero about the island’s unique qualities: __'And then I loved thee, / And showed thee al the qualities o’th’isle'__. In return, Prospero __'made much of me [Caliban]'__, and taught him __'language.'__ - The name __'Caliban'__ may be an anagram of the derogative __'cannibal’__ or could derive from ‘Cariban’ (British people heard tales of those from the Carib Islands, so he does not appreciate the power his knowledge of the English language has: __'my profit on’t / Is, I know how to curse.'__ ### Miranda and Caliban ![Miranda and Caliban](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/c86536ba-553a-4e7f-83ba-f4b5d0352ef8/Actor-Acting-Speech-Talk.jpg) - The characterisation of Miranda is such that she is presented as kind and gentle. So we sympathise with her most. - Her hatred of Caliban - __'a villain sir, / I do not love to look on'__ - biases the audience towards Miranda. - We hear of his attempted __'violat[ion]'__ of Miranda’s __'honour'__ and as a result, do not view Prospero as a villain when he subjects Caliban to torture. - Prospero uses his magic to __'rack thee with old cramps , / Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar.'__ ## Caliban Character Summary Caliban is son of the witch Sycorax, who ruled the island on which the play is set before Prospero colonised it. ### Turning on Miranda ![Turning on Miranda](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/5ca25ce4-75ab-4d4a-9fb1-eb3cb46949eb/Anger-Antagonist-Bully-Cartoon.jpg) - Physical punishment isn't the only thing used on Caliban. Language is also used to insult him. - He is referred to as __'hag-seed'__, __'tortoise'__, __'fish'__, __'beast'__,__'misshapen knave'__, __'freckled whelp'__ and __'monster'__. - These derogatory labels create a bias opinion from the audience, who will view Caliban as less than human because of his actions as well as his physical shape. - Caliban acknowledges that if he was successful in raping Miranda, he could have reinstated his position of power: __'would’t had been done! / Thou didst prevent me, I had peopled else / This isle with Calibans.'__ ### Caliban's intelligence ![Caliban's intelligence](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/9.1.3%20Common%20atmospheric%20pollutants%20and%20their%20sources/knowledge-1052010_640-min.jpg) - Caliban isn't as clueless as many of the characters make him out to be. In Act 4, Scene 1, Caliban is the only one who realises Ariel's illusion is fake: __'Leave it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.'__ - Whether Caliban is aware that this is an illusion conjured by Ariel is not clear. - Nonetheless, for a character who is meant to be below all from the civilised world, he certainly appears more knowledgeable and wise than Stephano and Trinculo. ## Key Quotations - Caliban Here are three key quotations that highlight aspects of Caliban's character: ### __'You taught me language,'__ ![__'You taught me language,'__](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/d02fc304-19d2-4611-a75e-08d788b5e2cd/letters-656514_960_720.png) - __'You taught me language, and my profit on 't / Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you / For learning me your language!'__ - Caliban resents the language Prospero taught him because it is part of how he has been oppressed and colonised by him. ### __'Beat him enough'__ ![__'Beat him enough'__](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/16e63fe9-4de6-49f2-9d01-6916a6161335/Punching-PunchBag-Fist-Fight.jpg) - __'Beat him enough. After a little time / I'll beat him too.'__ - Caliban shows no mercy because he has been treated poorly and does not have the ability to forgive in the way that Prospero does. ### __'I say by sorcery he got this isle;'__ ![__'I say by sorcery he got this isle;'__](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/15cfb548-0828-4e13-a17d-b7ed0f0bc4cc/Magic-Book-Open-Paper.jpg) - __'I say by sorcery he got this isle; / From me he got it. If thy greatness will, / Revenge it on him, for I know thou dar'st, / But this thing dare not.'__ - Caliban thinks that Prospero got the island illegally and illegitimately, and he wants to get revenge. ## Test yourself on Caliban - Who is Caliban's mother? - Whose illusion does Caliban see through in Act 4, Scene 1? - Key Quotation - Caliban Restoring Power - What is the correct version of this quotation from Caliban? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/3fdd21aa-11f2-4661-a082-f45ce382ab88/section/0def31f0-e34d-42cc-b188-bcdc5bbfcbf2/session) - Previous topic: [8.1.2 Miranda](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-2-miranda.md) - Next topic: [8.1.4 Ariel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-4-ariel.md) ## English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest contents ### 1 Key Words - 1.1 Key Words - [1.1.1 Key Words 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/1-1-1-key-words-1.md) - [1.1.2 Key Words 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/1-1-2-key-words-2.md) - [1.1.3 Key Words 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/1-1-3-key-words-3.md) - [1.1.4 Key Words 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/1-1-4-key-words-4.md) ### 2 Context & Overview - 2.1 Context & Overview - [2.1.1 Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/2-1-1-overview.md) - [2.1.2 Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/2-1-2-context.md) ### 3 Act 1 - 3.1 Act 1 Analysis - [3.1.1 Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/3-1-1-overview.md) - [3.1.2 Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/3-1-2-scene-1.md) - [3.1.3 Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/3-1-3-scene-2.md) ### 4 Act 2 - 4.1 Act 2 Analysis - [4.1.1 Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/4-1-1-overview.md) - [4.1.2 Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/4-1-2-scene-1.md) - [4.1.3 Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/4-1-3-scene-2.md) ### 5 Act 3 - 5.1 Act 3 Analysis - [5.1.1 Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/5-1-1-overview.md) - [5.1.2 Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/5-1-2-scene-1.md) - [5.1.3 Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/5-1-3-scene-2.md) - [5.1.4 Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/5-1-4-scene-3.md) ### 6 Act 4 - 6.1 Act 4 Analysis - [6.1.1 Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/6-1-1-overview.md) - [6.1.2 Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/6-1-2-scene-1.md) ### 7 Act 5 - 7.1 Act 5 Analysis - [7.1.1 Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/7-1-1-overview.md) - [7.1.2 Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/7-1-2-scene-1.md) - [7.1.3 The Epilogue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/7-1-3-the-epilogue.md) ### 8 Key Characters - 8.1 Major Characters - [8.1.1 Prospero](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-1-prospero.md) - [8.1.2 Miranda](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-2-miranda.md) - [8.1.3 Caliban](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-3-caliban.md) - [8.1.4 Ariel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-4-ariel.md) - [8.1.5 Ferdinand](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-5-ferdinand.md) - [8.1.6 Alonso](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-1-6-alonso.md) - 8.2 Minor Characters - [8.2.1 Antonio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-2-1-antonio.md) - [8.2.2 Stephano](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-2-2-stephano.md) - [8.2.3 Sebastian](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-2-3-sebastian.md) - [8.2.4 Gonzalo](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-2-4-gonzalo.md) - [8.2.5 Trinculo](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/8-2-5-trinculo.md) ### 9 Themes - 9.1 Major Themes - [9.1.1 Power](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/9-1-1-power.md) - [9.1.2 Magic](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/9-1-2-magic.md) - [9.1.3 Status, Race & Pronouns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/9-1-3-status-race-and-pronouns.md) - [9.1.4 Comedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/9-1-4-comedy.md) - [9.1.5 Freedom & Servitude](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/9-1-5-freedom-and-servitude.md) - [9.1.6 Revenge & Reconciliation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/9-1-6-revenge-and-reconciliation.md) ### 10 Authorial Method - 10.1 Authorial Method - [10.1.1 Genre & Time](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/10-1-1-genre-and-time.md) - [10.1.2 Music & Illusion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/10-1-2-music-and-illusion.md) ### 11 Recap: Main Quotes - 11.1 Characters Quotes - [11.1.1 Prospero - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-1-prospero-quotes.md) - [11.1.2 Miranda - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-2-miranda-quotes.md) - [11.1.3 Caliban - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-3-caliban-quotes.md) - [11.1.4 Ariel - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-4-ariel-quotes.md) - [11.1.5 Ferdinand - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-5-ferdinand-quotes.md) - [11.1.6 Alonso - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-6-alonso-quotes.md) - [11.1.7 Antonio - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-7-antonio-quotes.md) - [11.1.8 Stephano - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-8-stephano-quotes.md) - [11.1.9 Sebastian - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-9-sebastian-quotes.md) - [11.1.10 Gonzalo - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-10-gonzalo-quotes.md) - [11.1.11 Trinculo - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-1-11-trinculo-quotes.md) - 11.2 Text Structure - Quotes - [11.2.1 Power - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-2-1-power-quotes.md) - [11.2.2 Magic - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-2-2-magic-quotes.md) - [11.2.3 Race & Pronouns - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-2-3-race-and-pronouns-quotes.md) - [11.2.4 Comedy - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-2-4-comedy-quotes.md) - [11.2.5 Servitude - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-2-5-servitude-quotes.md) - [11.2.6 Reconciliation & Revenge - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/the-tempest/11-2-6-reconciliation-and-revenge-quotes.md)