Prospero's unwilling slave. As the son of the witch Sycorax, who ruled the island before she died years prior to Prospero's arrival, Caliban believes that he should be master of the island. When Prospero initially came to the island, Caliban showed him friendship, and in return Prospero educated Caliban. But Caliban eventually came to realize that Prospero would never view him as more than an educated savage. Though capable of sensitivity and eloquence, Caliban is furious and bitter and wants nothing more than to rid himself of Prospero. Caliban's name is a near anagram for the world "cannibal," and in many ways he is a symbol of the natives that European explorers encountered. Through Caliban, and his relationship to Prospero, Shakespeare explores the themes of colonization and the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized.
Caliban Quotes in The Tempest
The The Tempest quotes below are all either spoken by Caliban or refer to Caliban. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 2
Quotes
You taught me language, and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse.
Is, I know how to curse.
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Act 2, scene 2
Quotes
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
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Act 3, scene 2
Quotes
Be not afeared; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.
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Act 4, scene 1
Quotes
A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick...
Nurture can never stick...
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Act 5, scene 1
Quotes
...this thing of darkness, I
Acknowledge mine.
Acknowledge mine.
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Caliban Quotes in The Tempest
The The Tempest quotes below are all either spoken by Caliban or refer to Caliban. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 2
Quotes
You taught me language, and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse.
Is, I know how to curse.
Related Characters:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, scene 2
Quotes
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, scene 2
Quotes
Be not afeared; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.
Related Characters:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 1
Quotes
A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick...
Nurture can never stick...
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, scene 1
Quotes
...this thing of darkness, I
Acknowledge mine.
Acknowledge mine.