# Caliban — The Tempest character guide

> Caliban in The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** 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:** 0000-the-tempest

## Snapshot

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

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Stephano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/stephano)

_friendship_

Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano exploits him for power.

### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ariel)

_rivalry_

Ariel and Caliban are both servants of Prospero but despise each other, representing airy spirit versus earthy monster.

### [Stephano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/stephano)

_friendship_

Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano exploits him for power.

### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ariel)

_rivalry_

Ariel and Caliban are both servants of Prospero but despise each other, representing airy spirit versus earthy monster.

### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/ariel)

_rivalry_

Ariel and Caliban are both servants of Prospero but despise each other, representing airy spirit versus earthy monster.

### [Stephano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/stephano)

_friendship_

Caliban idolizes Stephano as a god and ally in his plot against Prospero, while Stephano exploits him for power.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

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

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Curses Prospero and complains of torment; meets Trinculo and Stephano; swears allegiance to Stephano after tasting wine.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-iii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-iv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Brought in with Stephano and Trinculo, acknowledges Prospero's mastery and seeks grace.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/caliban
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters