With close reference to language, imagery and staging in this passage, examine how Shakespeare

presents Prospero and Caliban

PROSPERO

Thou most lying slave,

Whom stripes may move, not kindness, I have used thee,
Filth as thou art, with humane care, and lodged thee
In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
The honor of my child.
CALIBAN

O ho, O ho! Would ’t had been done!

Thou didst prevent me. I had peopled else
This isle with Calibans.
Abhorrèd slave,

PROSPERO

Which any print of goodness wilt not take,

Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,
Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each
hour
One thing or other. When thou didst not, savage,
Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like
A thing most brutish, I endowed thy purposes
With words that made them known. But thy vile
race,
Though thou didst learn, had that in ’t which good
natures
Could not abide to be with. Therefore wast thou
Deservedly confined into this rock,
Who hadst deserved more than a prison.

CALIBAN

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!
PROSPERO Hagseed, hence!
Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou ’rt best,
To answer other business. Shrugg’st thou, malice?
If thou neglect’st or dost unwillingly
What I command, I’ll rack thee with old cramps,
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar
That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
CALIBAN
No, pray thee.
Aside I must obey. His art is of such power
It would control my dam’s god, Setebos,
And make a vassal of him.
Q.13 "At the core of Shakespeare's play is a sustained attack upon the idea and even the
desirability of freewill." How far do you agree with this view of The Tempest?

Overview

We could see plenty of debate here with some claiming The Tempest shows that free will is at the
root of human sin and error and only when it is restrained by higher authority is there any chance of
stability and happiness. We might see some interesting work on AO4 as candidates consider the
possible responses of different cultures to these ideas. Some might argue that freedom/free will is
granted as the reward for virtue, obedience and service (possible links to Christian models of
salvation) and others might raise questions about human dignity and purpose when free will is
removed. Likely areas for attention could be:

• Ariel's compulsory service

• Prospero's arrangements for Miranda and her marriage (illusion of free will?)

• Prospero's treatment of Caliban

• Prospero's use of magic to direct the actions of the royal party

• The Clowns' insistence on their freedom to do as they like and ignore Caliban's guidance which
leads to the ruin of their plans

free will

1. free and independent choice; voluntary decision: You took on the responsibility of your own free
will.

2. Philosophy . the doctrine that the conduct of human beings expresses personal choice and is not
simply determined by physical or divine forces.

How do you think that free will is relevant to the characters in The Tempest ?

What points could you make about the scenes are referred to here in the examiners’ report?