Hag-Seed

by

Margaret Atwood

Red Coyote Character Analysis

One of the prisoners in Felix’s acting troupe, eventually selected to play Stephano, one of Antonio’s unscrupulous servants. A Native Canadian, Red Coyote has been incarcerated for drug dealing. From the start of the class he sympathizes with Caliban, pointing out that the play’s “villain” is actually the rightful owner of the island, enslaved by Prospero. In his arguments, Red Coyote evokes the postcolonial interpretations of The Tempest, which focus on Caliban’s role as an oppressed and marginalized voice.
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Red Coyote Character Timeline in Hag-Seed

The timeline below shows where the character Red Coyote appears in Hag-Seed. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 14. First Assignment: Curse Words
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
...them all, from “blasphemous dog” to “insolent noisemaker” to “hag-seed.” When Felix asks for questions, Red Coyote takes issue with the fact that that “earth” and “tortoise,” both considered sacred to many... (full context)
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
Red Coyote contends that no one should use those insults. Someone asks if “shit,” which appears in... (full context)
Chapter 16. Invisible to Every Eyeball Else
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
...actors to discuss possible costumes for Ariel, and PPod suggests green skin and bug eyes; Red Coyote says he’s probably a vegan, and would eschew human food. In this way, the actors... (full context)
Chapter 21. Prospero’s Goblins
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
...everyone in the play has been jailed by Prospero, even though he himself is imprisoned. Red Coyote points out that Prospero isn’t just a jailer but a “slave driver,” of Caliban and... (full context)
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
Some of the prisoners start arguing with Red Coyote , but Felix calls for calm. Although they don’t like Prospero, he asks them to... (full context)
Chapter 22. The Persons of the Play
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
Stephano will be played by Red Coyote , a young Native-Canadian man in jail for bootlegging and selling drugs and who feels... (full context)
Chapter 24. To the Present Business
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
...even if they don’t like them. When he passes out the list, everyone starts arguing. Red Coyote doesn’t want to play Stephano and thinks that Caliban should be First Nations, while Leggs... (full context)
Chapter 28. Hag-Seed
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
Caliban’s team—TimEEz, PPod, VaMoose, and Red Coyote —clap a beat while Leggs begins to rap. Prospero, he says, “prison me up to... (full context)
Chapter 38. Not a Frown Further
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
Transformation and Change Theme Icon
On Felix’s cue, Red Coyote and TimEEz (as Stephano and Trinculo) “prance” into the classroom, to the alarm of all... (full context)