How The Tempest Explores Prospero's Degrading Language Toward Caliban

Abstract

This essay focuses on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, exploring the themes of language, history, and adoption. It examines the role of language as a tool of power and control, particularly through Prospero’s degrading language toward Caliban. Rooted in colonialist theory, the analysis reveals how Prospero’s treatment of Caliban reflects European biases against Indigenous peoples and reinforces colonial authority. Additionally, the essay addresses the theme of adoption, by analyzing the relationship between Prospero and Caliban. It highlights how their dynamic evolves from one resembling a father-son bond to one marked by domination and subjugation, and the profound effects this transformation has on both characters.