Julie's Post

Julie Philippe
Mr. Hamilton Salsich
English 9
January 29th, 2009

Being a slave
- an essay about the different and similarities of confinement and servitude based on Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”

Freedom is a word used in our modern world, but it was also used in Shakespeare’s times. Caliban, a “hag-born whelp” and Ariel, an innocent woman held captive in a tree for a dozen years have different stories to tell. They relate to the one king of the island named Prospero who wants power, but no trouble. His two servants not only serve as slaves, but are punished for bad demeanor. Freedom is a word that rushes through both character’s minds as they are no more than inferiors to Prospero’s world. Both characters wish Prospero all the worst, but they must say nothing as Prospero’s magic could bring bad events. They both want freedom and liberty but how far are Ariel and Caliban willing to go?

TS According to the dictionary, confinement means the act of being incarcerated while waiting for punishment. Why would a woman such as Ariel deserve to be confined and serve as a servant all her life? SD Ariel serves as a servant to Prospero and the freckled “hag” Sycorax. CM Her life has consisted of twelve horrible years locked in a tree in which Sycorax had locked her in. CM Ariel’s lack of obedience “ and, thou wast a spirit too delicate/ To act her earthy and abhorred commands” led to Sycorax’s overpowering rage and therefore, Ariel‘s imprisonment. SD Ariel became so angry and resentful at the witch that “thou didst vent thy groans/ As fast as mill-wheels strike”. CM Ariel’s rage became so strong that the release of her emotions were rushing as fast as “mill-wheels strike”. CM Ariel knew she could not keep living a life such as this. SD Ariel knew it was time to regain her liberty and her freedom. CM She went to Prospero and asked him so dearly for her liberty as “[she] has done thee worthy service;/ Told no lies, made no mistaking, served/Without or grudge or grumblings”. CM The old Prospero thought otherwise, if Ariel gained her freedom, he will “rend an oak/ And peg thee in his knotty entrails till/ Thou hast howl’d away twelve winters”. CS Ariel has no choice but, to continue living as a servant, or to be imprisoned in an oak tree for another twelve consecutive years.

TS Caliban, Sycorax’s son, is not only physically confined on this island, but he is also emotionally confined by the curses of his worst enemy, Prospero. SD Prospero’s harsh and abusive language brings Caliban to the most he can handle. CM After endless insults about Caliban being “got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam”, Caliban wishes for “raven’s feathers from a unwholesome fen drop on [Prospero]”! CM That isn’t enough to scare Prospero away in which he says “ urchins shall, for that vast of night that they may work, /All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch’d”. SD Caliban, was once the king of his island, before Prospero came and took over. CM Caliban conveys how nice and loving they were to each other before, “thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me/ Water with berries in’t, and teach me how to name the bigger light”. CM Now, Caliban is confined, on this island that was once his, serving the man he despises more than his own life. SD Regretting Prospero’s interference when abusing his precious daughter Miranda, Caliban has had enough (Participle phrase). CM Caliban realizes that if Prospero had not been present, Caliban could have filled “this isle with Calibans”. CM Miranda detests Caliban for his capability of such evilness, that she begins to pity him, and teach him to speak her language in which his only benefit was knowing how to curse. CS Caliban is confined in his words and the words of Caliban, so meaningless, but so threatening.

The two characters are confined in their actions, deeds, past, curses, and therefore, punished. Ariel has not obeyed the commands of the evil witch Sycorax, but still demands for her freedom. Caliban has assaulted Prospero’s child, but still curses to his master in order to gain his liberty. Not only are both physically confined on the island, but they have imprisoned themselves in their words. While being locked in the tree, Ariel has incarcerated herself in her emotions, in her feelings. Sitting in that rock, wishing that “all the charms of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on [Prospero]”, Caliban confined himself in his own curses and memories from when Prospero and Miranda had just arrived. It almost seems as if both characters not only have been confined by Prospero but they also have imprisoned themselves by their solitude. Both characters know that they have gone too far with Prospero’s patience, limiting their chances for freedom (Participle phrase)