The interpretation of the character of Caliban, as it was in the 17th century, differs a lot from today's reception. The change of this ambiguous character during the past 400 years is the product of different historical, political and socio-cultural contexts. This work will give a comparison of the Caliban from the 17th century and his presentation during 400 years until forms of interpretation in the 21st century and show where differences and similarities lay.
Table of Contents
1. Monster, Stranger, Human?
2. Shakespeare’s Sources: Where did the inspiration come from?
3. 18th century – The Monster
4. 19th century – The Stranger
5. 20th century – The Human Being
6. 21st century – What’s up for Caliban?
Research Objectives and Themes
This work examines the evolution of the character Caliban from William Shakespeare's The Tempest over the past 400 years, investigating how shifting historical, political, and socio-cultural contexts have transformed his representation from a monstrous, dehumanized entity into a complex, psychological figure symbolizing the oppressed individual.
- The influence of 17th-century exploration and colonial literature on the creation of Caliban.
- The shift in stage interpretations from a physical "monster" in the 18th century to a "man-beast" in the 19th century.
- The impact of Darwinism and evolution theory on the perception of Caliban in the late 19th and early 20th century.
- Post-colonial readings of The Tempest and the symbolization of Caliban as an oppressed victim of imperialism.
- Contemporary 21st-century psychological approaches to the character, focusing on individual human motives and the experience of isolation.
Excerpt from the Book
18th century – The Monster
Since there was no technological possibility to record any performance of a play before 1890 (Kilby 1002), the outer appearance of Caliban in the 18th century is open to speculation. The only hints that are given come from observations by contemporary witnesses, such as Samuel Pepys. Between November 1667 and February 1668, he visited the Restoration play The Tempest: Or, The Enchanted Island by John Dryden and William Davenant, which was a renewal of the Shakespearean version and served as a comedy. Here, the character of Trinculo (in the play Duke Trinculo) got more text and a more expanded role, so that the other seamen and Caliban were said to be reduced to one scene, filled with music, dance and cheerfulness (Shakespeare`s Caliban 173-174). Although Pepys visited this adaptation nine times, he only referred once to Caliban in his diary. He briefly mentions that he saw ‘[…] the seamen and the monster […]’ (McAfee 75). The reference of ‘the monster’ might mean that the figure of Caliban was in some way physically deformed. In spring of 1756, David Garrick, manager of the Theatre Royal, presented an adaptation of The Tempest, which reduced the smaller roles even more by emphasizing the main characters like Prospero, and combined it with elements of The Enchanted Island. In this version, which lasted only a year, Trinculo calls Caliban a tortoise, so he might have had the look of an Amphibia (Shakespeare’s Caliban 176).
Summary of Chapters
Monster, Stranger, Human?: This introduction establishes the core research interest in how the perception of Caliban has transformed over 400 years from an ambiguous, monstrous figure into a deeply human, albeit complicated, cultural icon.
Shakespeare’s Sources: Where did the inspiration come from?: This chapter explores the historical context of 1611, tracing how discoveries of the "New World" and contemporary travel accounts influenced the development of the character.
18th century – The Monster: The focus here is on early stage adaptations and artistic representations where Caliban was depicted primarily as a physically deformed, amphibious monster.
19th century – The Stranger: This chapter details the shift from treating Caliban as a mere monster to his emergence as a "man-beast," influenced by both changing stage practices and early evolution theories.
20th century – The Human Being: This section covers the impact of decolonization and post-colonial studies, repositioning Caliban as a literary symbol for the oppressed victim in imperialist contexts.
21st century – What’s up for Caliban?: The final chapter examines modern, "down-to-earth" interpretations that utilize psychology to understand Caliban as an individual with specific motives, strengths, and weaknesses rather than just a colonial symbol.
Keywords
Caliban, The Tempest, William Shakespeare, Literature, Theatre History, Post-colonialism, Evolution Theory, Monster, Human, Oppression, Cultural Icon, Adaptation, Psychological Interpretation, New World, Identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work explores the cultural and stage history of the character Caliban from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, tracking his evolution over 400 years.
Which historical periods are analyzed?
The study provides a chronological analysis covering the 17th century (origin), 18th century (monster), 19th century (stranger), 20th century (human/oppressed victim), and the 21st century (psychological interpretation).
What is the main research question?
The work investigates how different socio-cultural and political contexts have fundamentally altered the interpretation and reception of the character Caliban over time.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a historical-analytical approach, examining contemporary performance records, artistic interpretations, and academic post-colonial theories.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides an in-depth chronological look at how stage adaptations and critical readings have shifted the perception of Caliban from a monstrous entity to a symbol of the oppressed and eventually to a psychologically complex human being.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Caliban, The Tempest, post-colonialism, identity, evolution theory, and theatre history.
How did 17th-century explorations influence Shakespeare’s creation of Caliban?
Shakespeare was influenced by travel accounts, shipwreck reports like those from Bermuda, and essays on cannibals, which provided the cultural fabric for an "exotic" or "savage" character.
How does the 21st-century portrayal of Caliban differ from previous centuries?
Contemporary portrayals move away from symbolic colonial victimhood and instead focus on individual psychology, treating Caliban as a person with unique motives, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Quote paper
- Susann Doerschel (Author), 2017, Monstrous, Strange, Human. The Development of Caliban, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/372968
