The Tempest · Character

Caliban

The island's native son, taught language and then enslaved, Caliban curses his master and dreams of burning the books that hold him down.

major

Also known as Setebos, Caliban O Setebos, Caliban Ay, the beast Caliban, Caliban The dropsy, Caliban Lo, Caliban Yea, Caliban Within, Caliban Prithee

First appearance: the tempest

As a major figure in The Tempest, Caliban is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Curses Prospero and claims the island as his own, recounting how Prospero enslaved him after initially befriending him.

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Caliban claims the island as his inheritance from his mother Sycorax and insists Prospero took it from him by sorcery, a grievance sharpened by his daily labor and Prospero's contempt. He is at once brutal and eloquent, capable of describing the isle's noises and sweet airs with a sensitivity that complicates any easy dismissal of him as mere monster. When he falls in with Stephano and Trinculo, his plot to seize Prospero's books and kill him becomes the play's most dangerous counter-current, exposing how much of the island's order rests on magic and fear.

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The fuller portrait of Caliban sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Caliban in the tempest

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how Caliban sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Shipwrecked nobles and islanders
Protagonist
Goddesses in the masque

+5 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

In this epilogue, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Prospero, having regained his dukedom and f…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Stephano
friendship · ambivalent
Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano… How this plays out →
Ariel
rivalry · negative
Stephano
friendship · ambivalent
Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano… How this plays out →
Ariel
rivalry · negative
Ariel
rivalry · negative
Stephano
friendship · ambivalent
Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano… How this plays out →

Stephano
Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano exploits him for power.
Ariel
Ariel and Caliban are both servants of Prospero but despise each other, representing airy spirit versus earthy monster.
Stephano
Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano exploits him for power.
Ariel
Ariel and Caliban are both servants of Prospero but despise each other, representing airy spirit versus earthy monster.
Ariel
Ariel and Caliban are both servants of Prospero but despise each other, representing airy spirit versus earthy monster.
Stephano
Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano exploits him for power.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Caliban in the tempest

In the story

Caliban appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene II
Curses Prospero and claims the island as his own, recounting how Prospero enslaved him after initially befriending him.
Scene II
Curses Prospero and complains of torment; meets Trinculo and Stephano; swears allegiance to Stephano after tasting wine.
Scene II
Plots with Stephano and Trinculo to murder Prospero, emphasizing the need to burn his books first; shows fear and awe of the island's sounds, yet remains loyal to Stephano.
Scene I
Leads Stephano and Trinculo in a plot to kill Prospero, but is distracted by the glittering clothes and ultimately hunted off.
Scene I
Brought in with Stephano and Trinculo, acknowledges Prospero's mastery and seeks grace.

Chapter companion notes

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See Caliban in the tempest

See Caliban in Scene II