Sunday 24 January 2016

Act 3, Scene 2 - Caliban

Act 3, scene 2

Caliban
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.Sometimes a thousand twangling instrumentsWill hum about mine ears, and sometime voicesThat, if I then had waked after long sleepWill make me sleep again; and then in dreamingThe clouds methought would open and show richesReady to drop upon me, that when I waked I cried to dream again (lines 127–135). 

The lines are written blank verse, which is measure and controlled. It is unusually that Shakespeare should have him speak like this since he is meant to be the uncivilised monster. 

The language that Caliban uses is surprising especially after the aggressive language he has used before this when aggravated by Trinculo, he calls him a 'scurvy patch' and describes in detail how he will kill Prospero; 'Batter his skull, or pauch him with a sot.'
Whilst in this speech from him he uses words such as 'twangling' and 'sweet airs' which all have positive connotations and are soft sounds.
Caliban also uses more complex words and words he hasn't used before like 'delight' and 'riches' differ to how he states to Miranda that 'you taught me language, and my prof on't is, I know how to curse.'
Yet actually this short monologue from him shows he knows how to use language sophisticated fashion, which disagrees with his earlier portrayal and characteristics.
The word 'twangeling' does not exist in the modern dictionary, but Shakespeare did make up many words, it creates the image of string music and is also onomatopoeic. The word 'Hum' is onomatopoeic as well, its a resonating and calm sound, this accentuates how the island is safe.
The voices he mentions are most likely to be Ariel or the other spirits, even though these spirits are possibly the ones who taught him.
The voices are made to sound hypnotic, they make him fall asleep, where he dreams of the wealth falling from the sky - which is possibly a metaphor for his want for power.
Overall the speech is poetic and many critics write that it shows that Caliban is more than just the uncivilised monster he is viewed as by the other characters.


Shakespeare has littered this monologue with powerful imagery, which help to guide the audiences imagination of the setting since at the time, and in some performances now, there was very little visuals to go with. 'Sweet airs' alludes to the sound of wind through the trees, 'a thousand twangling instruments' add to this possibly picking up on the sounds of birds and insects singing but as if it were music and to 'give delight'. The noises 'hum' in Calibans ears too which give strong imagery of how these sounds are always all around. The description of the 'clouds methough would open, and show riches' could be Caliban describing the rain, which would show riches upon the earth as its necessary for life.

From this speech Caliban make the island seem wonderful and mystical, but also with an air of mystery and unsuitable for the men, who don't understand this beauty like Caliban does. The island does sound beautiful with its 'riches' from the sky above and 'sweet airs' that 'hum' about the island. The 'twangling instruments' and 'voices' add to the mystery of the island and make it almost believable that the clouds would open up to 'show riches ready to drop' and that these riches would appear on this island. Overall Caliban makes the island seem like a natural sanctuary and to be 'afeared' as it is only full of enchanting wonders.

When reading these line its interesting to look at the theme of nature and nurture. Is Caliban how he is because its in his nature or is it because of how he has been treated by Prospero?
Since the speech is poetic and seemingly calm, its seems that this is Caliban's true nature and his monstrous side is his reaction to the way he has been treated by Prospero.
Caliban was one of the only inhabitants of the island and has lived their all his life, in this monologue he speaks of it very positively, almost poetically. Picking up on its beautiful side and making the slightly frightening side, for instance the voices and mysterious music, seem appealing.
The island has nurtured Caliban and because of this he has a lot of respect for it, contrasting with his more aggressive side when speaking about Prospero or subservient side when addressing Stephano. It could be read that Caliban is this aggressive, primitive character only because that is how Prospero treated and treats him but originally he was happy just being with nature.
The fact that Caliban talks about dreams Shakespeare could be insinuating that all the beauty in the island can only be seen by him, since dreams are private and only seen by you. It also makes the beauty of the island seem less realistic and Caliban become a less reliable resource, therefore the island is to be afeared. And maybe it is to be afeared by Trinculo and Stephano since Prospero watches over all they do and knows what they are plotting and therefore punishes them for it.
Dreams are important to Caliban, its his escape from the world he lives in as Prospero's slave. Which is why he cries to 'dream again' and is so desperate to get back there.

These lines help the audience picture the island and what its looks like. This would of been very important to Shakespeare, especially at the time when there would of been little technology in stage design, having descriptive sections helps the audience to imagine. It also helps the audience remove this setting from the real making the supernatural and magical happenings more realistic as the audience remove themselves from reality.

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