The Occult Revealed by Two Distinctive Characters

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In Shakespeare's fictional play The Tempest, many roles are introduced to the reader and each one of them brings something very particular to the plot. The protagonist Prospero, after being betrayed, was exiled to an island where he had two servants: Ariel and Caliban. Though Ariel and Caliban are oppressed by Prospero thanks to his occult knowledge, they share many similarities, but they are the two most sharply contrasting characters in the story. Ariel is an air spirit, and Caliban is referred to as a monster holding human attributes. Ariel serves Prospero because he owes him for saving him from a curse he was put under. Caliban, powerless, simply lives in the fury of being controlled by Prospero because he believes he is the rightful owner of this island. The different reason Caliban and Ariel each have explaining their servitude to Prospero is what builds up most differences between the two. Caliban's name is gross and derived from the word "cannibalism". Caliban is a result of nature, the son of the Algerian witch Sycorax. He symbolizes the black magic of his mother. He claims the island is his and he is constantly accusing Prospero of tricking him in the past to steal his island. No one knows who is really Caliban's father. Prospero has made Caliban his servant or, more accurately, his slave. Caliban is more of a domestic servant who will take care of physical work. He grumbles all the time when being asked to do something for Prospero or Miranda. On another note, Caliban is a really poor judge of character. Although Prospero has deceived him and mistreated him, he also raised him. In spite of that, he still trusts two drunken guys he had just met (Stefano and Trinculo) to plot a revenge against Prospero. Caliban tells Prospero: "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!"

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