Passage based essay on Shakespeare's "The Tempest"

This is the first time in my life I got a solid A for my English essay! I think it would be quite useful for those who are looking for inspiration online (like I usually do). It is based on Act 3 Scene 2 starting when Caliban says "Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him,/I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him...". Here it is:

 In Act 3 Scene 2, Caliban, Triculo and Stephano are plotting to overthrow Prospero. In 

this rather comical scene the reader is exposed to a never-seen-before side of Caliban. 

Throughout the play Caliban was portrayed as a savage native who uses rude language and 

insults. In this passage, however, it can be seen that Caliban is not as uneducated as he might 

seem at first.
Caliban makes a speech that could also be seen as a monologue, telling the others how he would 

like the plan to be carried out. It introduces a different side of Caliban. In this sense he can no 

longer be seen as an educated fool, but is rather looked at as a scheming man who is thirsty for 

revenge. The aspect that stands out the most is Caliban's language. Instead of cussing and using 

insults Caliban suddenly uses more sophisticated language. He calls Miranda a "non-parail" 

which is a very unusual thing for him to say because has never complimented anyone in the play 

before.
Caliban's use of language is not the only concept that stands out in the passage. Caliban's ideas 

are also superior to those of his companions. He has thought ahead and can now be seen as 

someone who is very scheming and revengeful. He explains Stephano and Trinculo that books 

are Prospero's source of power. "Burn but his books; he has brave utensils" Being the least 

educated character of all, he was the only one who has thought of the idea of getting rid of the 

source of Prospero's power before getting rid of Prospero himself.
Caliban's plot to overthrow Prospero echoes an event that took place earlier in in the play. In 

Scene 2 of Act 1 Prospero was telling his daughter Miranda the story of how he got to the island. 

He said that his brother Antonio took his power and sent him there. Luckily, Gonzalo put books 

in the boat Prospero was travelling on. Thanks to them, Prospero managed to gain his power 

over the island. Despite Antonio's education, he could not think that his brother's books were so 

important. Caliban, on the other hand said that it was the first thing to do in order to rid Prospero 

of his power. “Remember first to possess his books; without them he’s but a sot, as I am” 

Caliban's ideas and the language he uses show that he is much more intelligent than his 

companions. Just by looking at the text the reader can see that Caliban's lines are written in 

poetry form, while the others' are written in prose. This represents Caliban's knowledge 

compared to the simplicity of Stephano and Trinculo's thoughts. Caliban thinks ahead of things 

while Stephano's thinking is much more simple. He says to Caliban, "Monster, I will kill this 

man. His daughter and I will be king and queen".
By expressing himself the way he does in the passage, Caliban wants to be seen as an intelligent 

gentleman. It is a side he wants to develop and be respected for. The thing Caliban wants the 

most is sharing and equality. He wants to be loved and respected. It can be seen that Caliban will 

never fulfil his needs for he is constantly being looked at as a slave. Everyone judges him on his 

appearance and not what he wants to be.
In conclusion, Caliban has a more sophisticated and scheming side to his personality. It can be 

seen that in most ways he is more intelligent than Stephano and Trinculo, but he will never be 

respected for this side of him since everyone sees him as a slave.