The Tempest: Caliban Unjustly PunishedThrough Prospero’s verbal and physical abuse, the enslaved Caliban is unjustlyportrayed as a vicious and subhuman beast. Prospero has no feelings for Caliban.
Therefore he thinks that Caliban was put on earth for work. AdditionallyProspero just thinks he makes fires and does work for him so people should nothave sympathy for him. ” We cannot miss him. He does make our fire, Fetch in ourwood, and serves in offices That profit us – What ho, slave, Caliban. “(Shakespeare 35) This shows that he is overworking Caliban and that he is justa piece of property.
Also, Prospero thinks he is always moving slowly. WhenCaliban is first coming into the play, Prospero yells “Come forth, I say. There’s other business for thee. Come, thou tortoise. When?” ( 35) This a primeexample of Prospero harassing Caliban because Prospero feels he is not workingefficient enough. In addition Prospero orally abuses him by saying rude thingslike, “Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself Upon thy wicked dam, comeforth!” (35) Prospero is scolding him saying he is evil.
Prospero then goes onto call him, “Thou most lying slave,” (37) because he accuses him of rapingMiranda, Prospero’s daughter. He then orders Caliban to get fire wood. Hedoesn’t understand that Caliban has feelings. In conclusion, Prospero isdepicting Caliban as a subhuman beast, someone he isn’t.
English
