Human Nature In The Tempest

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In The Tempest, Shakespeare analyzes human nature through three distinct characters. Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, is maliciously overthrown by his own brother, Antonio. After being thrown on a shabby raft, he is left to die on an island with his daughter Miranda. Twelve years later, he finally takes his vengeance by shipwrecking his brother and the other lords on his island. Despite having been betrayed by his own brother, he finds the humanity to forgive Antonio and all the other lords who have done him wrong. Prospero’s slave, Caliban, also sought revenge on his former master for taking control of his island. He is consumed by hatred towards his master, but unlike Prospero, his inhumane nature prevents him from showing any remorse. Through the development of Prospero, Caliban, and Antonio, Shakespeare shows the dual nature of all humanity Prospero embodies the duality of vengeance and forgiveness. After detaining the …show more content…
After living with Prospero for 12 years, he commits many atrocities, such as attempting to rape Miranda. Instead of showing respect for the people that taught him to speak and provided him with shelter, Caliban exclaims, “You taught me language, and my profit on’t is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you for learning me your language.” instead of apologizing, he attempts to kill his master with the help of Stephano and Trinculo. Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare displays Caliban as a savage with no moral sense. By connecting him with a lack of forgiveness, he makes an important statement: Only bad men are incapable of forgiving the sins of others. After being taken into protection by Prospero, Caliban commits malicious acts, and displays no signs of sympathy or remorse. Instead, he spitefully plots against the man who allegedly stole the island from him. What makes Caliban so different from Prospero is his inability to
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