Monologue
Introduction
This monologue is spoken by Caliban in act three of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Caliban has been enslaved by Prospero for the past 12 years. While fetching wood for his master, Caliban hears Trinculo in the distance causing him to hide underneath a cloak in fear that he is one of Prospero's tormenting spirits. Trinculo joins Caliban underneath the cloak to protect himself from the brewing storm. Shortly after, Stefano enters drunk and feeds wine to Caliban. Once intoxicated, Caliban eagerly provides his services to Stefano, believing that he is a spirit and the key to his salvation. During their time together, Ariel creates the illusion that Trinculo contradicts Caliban, causing Stefano to strike him. In the monologue, Caliban relishes in Trinculo's beating and begins to express his deep desire for vengeance against the tyrannical Prospero. He offers Trinculo and Stefano an ambitious plan to murder Prospero. While delivering the speech, Caliban sounds exhilarated as he anticipates the long-awaited defeat of his enemy.
Original Text
The Tempest
Caliban
3.2.89, 92-93, 96-112
Ha, ha, ha!
Beat him enough. After a little time
I’ll beat him too.
Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him
I’ th’ afternoon to sleep. There thou mayst brain him,
Having first seized his books, or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his weasand with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books, for without them
He’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not
One spirit to command. They all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books.
He has brave utensils—for so he calls them—
Which, when he has a house, he’ll deck withal.
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter. He himself
Calls her a nonpareil. I never saw a woman
But only Sycorax my dam and she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great’st does least.
Paraphrased Version
Ha, ha, ha! Keep hitting him. After a while, I'll join in too. As I told you, he always sleeps in the afternoon. That's when you can kill him, after first taking his books, or bash his skull with a log, or stab him in the stomach with a stake, or cut his throat with your knife. Remember first to take his books because, without them, he's as dumb as I am and can’t command a single spirit. All the spirits hate him as much as I do. Burn his books. He has fine furnishings, or so he says, which he plans to decorate his home with when he gets one. The most important thing to remember is his beautiful daughter. Even he says she is unparalleled. I have never seen such a beautiful woman except for Sycorax, my mother, but Miranda is much more beautiful than her.
Analysis
In the monologue, Shakespeare uses repetition and symbolism when mentioning Prospero's books to convey the immense power the books represent and how Prospero is devoid of any real strength of his own. Caliban tells Stephano and Trinculo, "There thou mayst brain him, Having first seized his books," meaning that prior to carrying out Prospero's murder, Stephano and Trinculo must take possession of Prospero's books; otherwise, the plan will result in defeat. Prospero originally acquired these magical books from Gonzalo as part of the reparations he received when banished to the island and has repeatedly used them to induce unspeakable pain onto Caliban. To further emphasize the necessity of retrieving the books, Caliban repeats the instructions and states, "Remember first to possess his books" and "burn but his books," giving the audience a glimpse into the tremendous amount of fear and suffering Caliban associates with the books. Not only do they symbolize Prospero's relentless power over Caliban and his servants, but Shakespeare pushes the idea one step further by stating, "for without them he's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not One spirit to command." Here Caliban is trying to convey that the entirety of Prospero's strength originates from his books and that in the absence of them, he is just as powerless as his servants. One could also believe that Caliban is referring not just to Prospero's but his own situation and could very well be reflecting on the powerlessness he has felt for the better part of his life. Overall, Prospero's power can be completely attributed to his books, and just the mere thought of them is enough to incite fear in his enemies.