The Tempest Essay, Research Paper

Caliban’s response to Trinculo and Stephano changes greatly throughout act two scene two. At first site Caliban intrepretates the the two as being spirits or Prospero’s, sent to torment him:

Lo, now, lo!

Here comes a spirit, of his to torment me

For bringing wood in slowly. (2.2.16)

But as the scene develops and through conversation with the two, Caliban’s interpretations change from him thinking them to be spirits to him thinking they are brave gods. The reason for this change in interpretations is Trinculo’s amazing description of Stephano’s ability to escape the sea, and survive. Another important part of this is that Caliban believes that the wine Stephano has given him is celestial.

These be fine things, an if they be not

sprites. That’s a brave god, and bears celestial liquor:

I will kneel to him. (2.2.115)

Stehpano and Trinculo’s response to this is utter amazement of the fact that Caliban could confuse a drunkard to be a god:

A most ridiculous monster, to make a

wonder of a poor drunkard! (2.2.164)

But they are willing to allow this, “monster” as they believe him to be, to see them as gods, and take him in as their servant. The purpsoe for this is so that he will show them around the island and show them the wonders of the island, much like he did for Prospero.

We are left in this act with a feeling of relief from Caliban, he feels that, by becoming a servant to these men, he will no long have to suffer under Prospero.

The significance that I see in this scene is that Caliban has decided to abandon his servitude to Prospero and become a servant of Trinculo and Stephano. I see this causing a major conflict later in the play. If Prospero’s magical powers are indeed as powerful as he states in act one, great pain will come to Caliban for betraying Prospero