Parker Verhoeff
English 9
Mr. Salsich
1.27.09

Confined to the Island of Servitude:
An Analysis of The Tempest

In Shakespeare's, The Tempest, there is a reoccurring theme of confinement. Prospero's servant Ariel, and his slave Caliban, are both forced into confinement. They are in a similar deal with Prospero, but they have their differences as well.

Ariel, a creature with a timid demeanor-FAST, is Prospero's humble and respectful servant- s-v split appositive. Ariel was first the servant to an evil witch named Sycorax. Being too righteous-FAST and hesitant in carrying out "her grand hests", Sycorax enslaved Ariel in a pine tree for 12 years-participle phrase-opener. Until Prospero came and freed it from it's prison, but now it serves as Prospero's servant. However, Ariel is now asking for its freedom since it "done [him] worthy service; told [him] no lies, made [him] no mistakings, served without or grudge or grumblings: [he] didst promised to bate [it] a full year." Prospero reminds Ariel of how much it owes him for freeing it from the "damn'd" and "foul" witch! So Ariel has to agree and follow out the rest of Prosero's deeds. Ariel seems to be a very loyal servant, who just can't catch a break. Prospero ends up giving that break, saying: "after two days I will discharge thee." He gives Ariel one more final task, and then after two days Prospero will give it the freedom it deserves.

On the other hand, Caliban, is the unfortunate son of Sycorax. He is, as Prosepro says, a "freckled whelp hag-born--not honour'd with a human shape". Prospero keeps him as a slave because of it; because he's the son of a witch. Caliban now must tend to Prospero's needs, confined to one small cave-participle phrase-closer. He does not like this however, saying: "Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye And blister you all o'er!"- He hopes both Prospero and Miranda will "blister" from a vigorous-FAST wind. Claiban also believes that the island is rightly his, telling Prospero that, "This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou takest from me." Caiban goes on to say that at first, when Prospero arrived on the island, Prospero wooed him, by giving him food, and in return he showed him the island and its resources. But afterwards, Prospero took advantage of him by gaining the information that he needed, forcing him into slavery and making him live in a cave while he had the island to himself-3-action verb; thus stealing Caliban's island. Prospero did have a goon reason to though; Caliban attempted to rape Miranda, "thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else this isle with Calibans"-if Pospero didn't stop him , he would've made the island full of his children. This was the tipping point for Prospero, which intensified his hatred for Caliban even more. Prospero will never forget that and will make sure Caliban doesn't forget either, by permanently enslaving him on his own native land.

Although Ariel and Caliban are very different, they are in similar situations with Prospero. Ariel carries out Prospero's magical duties, and Caliban does manual labor. The difference is Ariel will see its freedom and Caliban will not.