Caliban is certainly one of the most complex and contradictory characters in Shakespeare's "The Tempest", embodying at different points the poetic, the absurd, the pathetic and the wildly evil . For this reason he is also one of Shakespeare's most interesting and discussed characters. It is difficult to imagine how Shakespeare intended Elizabethan audiences to respond to the character of Caliban. It was undoubtedly very popular, as it was created during a period of increasing exploration, an era during which stories of monsters and strange new worlds began to return to England. However, there is much more to Caliban than his monstrous appearance, and although the play was written primarily for entertainment purposes, Caliban's role surpasses that of the "evil creature" of the island. Indeed, the question of Caliban's importance is still debated hundreds of years after his birth: is he the wild, inherently evil beast that Prospero considers him to be, or is there more to Caliban than first impressions would suggest? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Caliban is certainly not a pleasant or polite character. He has the appearance of a "freckled puppy born to a witch, not honored with a human form" and "smells very old and fish-like." These descriptions encourage public disgust at Caliban's monstrous appearance. There is also reason to think that Caliban is rather stupid: Prospero calls him a "tedious thing", and his loyalty to Stephen on the basis of "heavenly liquor" is so reckless as to be absurd. As the conspirators carry out their ridiculous plot against Prospero, Shakespeare turns the trio into ridiculous characters, presenting Caliban as a comic character incapable of formulating or carrying out a plan. However, it is Caliban's insolence and ingratitude that inspires Prospero and Miranda's antipathy. Caliban himself tells us that when they first arrived on the island "they caressed him and thought highly of him... and then [he] loved them," but Prospero immediately points out that Caliban then "tried to violate the honor of [his] son,” and shows no remorse for the fact. Through this exchange, Shakespeare highlights Caliban's apparent ingratitude: in Elizabethan times, a father would have had every right to treat his daughter's attacker much more harshly. Caliban's abuse of language is also significant in highlighting his abuse of Prospero's kindness. Indeed, he is a "savage" who would "babble like a very brutal thing," before Prospero "took the trouble to make him speak" and "endowed [his] purposes with words that would make them known." However, Caliban has taken language, with its infinite possibilities and advantages, and says that "my only profit is that I know how to swear." The fact that Caliban demeans such a useful tool that, we imagine, he was laboriously taught highlights once again Caliban's lack of appreciation for the efforts of others. Many people find Caliban to be more than simply unpleasant: there is reason to find him intrinsically evil. "Caliban's natural propensity is for evil. His instinct is to satisfy appetite and avoid discomfort, and to do these things he will lie, betray kindness, cheat, and humiliate himself to any degree."1 This idea is certainly shared by Prospero, and indeed Shakespeare does not seem to want us to form a high opinion of this character. Prospero, whose opinions have authority with the audience, calls Caliban "the son who [Sycorax] threw waste here", suggesting that he is not only ugly, butinhuman. We also learn early about Caliban and his mother's past: "This damned witch Sycorax" with "terrible sorceries to enter human hearing." Caliban's parents support the idea that he is inherently evil, as he has deep roots in the black arts, even if he displays no powers of his own. Prosperosi also refers to Caliban as "Abhorred slave / Who no stamp of goodness will take / Being capable of all evil!" According to Prospero, Caliban's evil nature cannot be changed by acts of good: he has already tried, to no avail. Instead, he believes Caliban to be a slave "who can move stripes, not kindness." It seems that the only thing Caliban will fully respond to is physical punishment, as he does not appreciate the acts of kindness bestowed by Prospero and Miranda. There are, however, other sides to Caliban: although rarely shown, they add considerable depth and complexity to his character. There are several moments in the play where Shakespeare evokes the audience's sympathy for him, such as when he meets Trinculo and Stephano. The plot that these three hatch is the "plot of the play", but Caliban displays some interesting characteristics, such as his servile nature. Although he claims to bitterly resent Prospero's authority over him, rather than becoming his own master, his adoption of a new "brave god" who "brings celestial liquor" can be interpreted as a combination of naivety and servility. Personally, I can't help but feel a little pity for Caliban as he vows to "kiss [Stephen's] foot; [he will] swear to be [himself's] subjects"; Shakespeare seems to use Caliban's melodramatic adoration of Stephano to show the audience a more innocent side of the character. Although it is obvious that this relationship will quickly deteriorate, Caliban remains devoted to Stephen for some time before realizing the error of his ways. Caliban's plot to kill Prospero, ironically, highlights some of his best qualities. Although his loyalty to Stephano is foolish and their subsequent plan ridiculous, Caliban is nevertheless able to formulate a conceivable plan even under the dulled influence of alcohol. He also shows some skill in persuading Stephano to join his plot, telling him of Miranda, "a peerless one" who "will become [his] bed... and bring [him] to light a brave brood." These persuasive techniques, although crude, are effective and Shakespeare allows us to see that Caliban has a certain degree of intelligence. This also provides a parallel to Antony, whose persuasive techniques are revealed in a plot to kill his master. When the plot is carried out, it is Caliban who has the good sense to tell the others to "go slow" and to "speak softly" so as not to jeopardize their plans. He is the only one of the three not to be distracted by Prospero's gaudy clothes, telling the others to "Leave him alone, you fool; he's nothing but rubbish." Here we see Caliban leading two men, establishing priorities and giving orders, once again suggesting that the character has some intelligence. Caliban is also the only character who shows any real appreciation for the beauty of the island and the natural world. He is certainly the character most in tune with nature; he has lived there all his life, and it is he who shows Prospero "all the qualities of the island". Indeed, it is Caliban who delivers a particularly poignant speech on the island: Be not afraid; the island is full of noise. Sounds and sweet airs, which give joy and do not hurt. Sometimes a thousand tinkling instruments buzz around my ears; and sometimes voices, which, if I then woke up after a long sleep, would make me sleep again. And then, in the dream, the clouds seemed to open and showriches ready to fall on me; that, when I woke up, I cried to dream again. (Act III, scene ii) While Prospero is preoccupied with his magic and Miranda, for all her virtue, makes little comment on the island itself, Caliban makes one of the most moving speeches of the play, becoming famous for his poetry and his vivid eloquence. This speech certainly shows Caliban's appreciation for the magical properties of the island, truly challenging the popular idea that Caliban is nothing more than a beast or monster. While he may not have an understanding of "good" as defined by the society Prospero inhabits, he certainly appreciates the beauty of nature and displays an almost unrivaled sensitivity in the game. References to "vibrating instruments," "dream," and "the clouds... open and show riches" imply Caliban's ability to perceive celestial images. If Shakespeare, in fact, deliberately included these religious connotations, he seems to present Caliban as different and uncivilized, rather than evil. It seems likely that Shakespeare did not intend to portray Caliban as an evil character. Instead, it includes subtleties and complexities that deepen and strengthen character. Although the play was written primarily for entertainment purposes, it is undeniable that Shakespeare's interests and opinions are expressed in his works. Although he did not intend for "The Tempest" to convey an explicit message, several themes and ideas present in the play suggest that Shakespeare used various characters and situations to raise questions and convey certain beliefs. On a purely entertainment level, Caliban is of vital importance to the show. The plot with Stephen and Trinculo is a comic plot that provides light relief from the more serious plots of Antonio and Prospero. This gives the audience a change in mood and pace, preventing the show from becoming too "heavy". It also allows the game to cater to a wider range of people, giving it "something for everyone". It is true that the character of Caliban can be taken at face value, as an evil character; an easily identifiable "bad" character adds color and variety to the game. However, Caliban also gives the audience some of the most beautiful poems in the work: the speech "the island is full of noises" is renowned for its vivid and evocative narrative. All these elements increase the entertainment value of the play and contribute to the dramatic significance of Caliban. For modern audiences, "The Tempest" is an invaluable treatise on the topic of colonization. Prospero represents the Western, "civilized" world, while Caliban is the "savage" subject to the whims of a new society and social hierarchy. While it is doubtful whether Shakespeare actually intended such a debate to arise from this play, I believe that as 20th century readers we must ask ourselves whether Prospero's claim to the island is just and whether Caliban should be punished for breaking the rules that Prospero himself imposed himself. The natural and "wild" world in which Caliban lives is shown, through his speech "the island is full of noises", as having a unique beauty. However, this beauty is rejected by Prospero, who introduces his own language, culture and principles to the island. Caliban, forced into servitude, is alarmingly reminiscent of the victims of the slave trade during the era of colonization. Shakespeare does not make a direct statement about the morality of colonization at all: this theme only became truly evident after the process of decolonization during the 20th century. century. However, it seems that Shakespeare uses Caliban to express the idea that the natural world is not necessarily..