Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Tempest: Discussion- Caliban.

I think Taymor depicts Caliban in the three scenes differently each time to show the different facets of his nature. After all, he is half human and half monster. Of all the characters in The Tempest, Caliban stands out the most to me because he is full of emotions and is very expressive of them. He says whatever he feels.

In the first scene where he is shown with Miranda and Prospero (Prospera in Taymor's version), Caliban looming big over the humans shows his monstrosity which comes forth from his anger and bitterness that he feels over them, especially Prospera who he feels stripped him of his rights and has now enslaved him unjustly.

Caliban is still shown as a raging monster in the scene where he is carrying wood. When he speaks here we see that deep- seated anger against Prospera, where he wishes all sorts of curses on her. He is angry because he thinks that the island is his, and he is physically strong and capable but is made to do menial tasks like fetching wood. Caliban is shown against a very bare background here, which portrays his sense of solitariness. Although he is not the only being on the island, he has no companion and no one to call his friend.

In the final scene with Trinculo and Stephano, his largeness and giant- like stature is somewhat downplayed as he stands nearby the two men. Their sizes seem equal. Taymor shows a different side of Caliban here- a nicer and perhaps more pitiful side of him. His speech here is gentle and tranquil as he tells them not to be afraid of the island. It shows a more human part of him that can appreciate the pleasant sounds that he hears sometimes. This shows his softer side, that there might be some kindness and tenderness in him, making him less of a monster.

Taymor shows that there are always to sides to a person (or story).

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