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How are the themes of servitude and freedom explored through the characters of Ariel and Caliban in Act III of The Tempest?
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How are the themes of servitude and freedom explored through the characters of Ariel and Caliban in Act III of The Tempest?
This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.
7 Comments
Myosotis Oxios-Laureano
The acts of servitude and freedom are explored through the characters very differently because Prospero treats Ariel and Caliban very differently. Ariel is promised to be freed within the next two days if he follows every order and command given by prospero and Caliban is not promised anything at all. Caliban must continue to be her slave and fulfill duties that can be compared to house chores for him and his daughter. Caliban finds Trinculo and Stephano, he then proceeds to get intoxicated and decides to be freed from prospero. Caliban offers to serve Stephano and give him the island if he frees him from prospero. I belive that Calibans feels it is the only way to be freed.
Ping Wang (she/her)
Ariel and Caliban both servitude by Prospero. Ariel is actively submissive and performs every task Prospero gives him with perfection, accuracy, and Prospero’s approval. Ariel hopes that his excellent job performance will be rewarded with an early day of liberty. His obedience is time-bound, and he is willing to give and perform 100% for the sake of his goals. Ariel’s servitude is hopeful and temporary.
In the other hand, Caliban is defiantly obedient to Prospero. He is compelled to complete his work for fear of punishment. In Act III, he instigates Stephano to help him kill Prospero, showing that Caliban is filled with hatred for Prospero’s enslavement and oppression. He tries to escape Prospero’s control over him. He also wants to be free but willing to become Stephano’s servant, hoping that Stephano will help him kill Prospero and fulfill his revenge. Caliban’ servitude is resentful and seemingly permanent.
Tsering Choedon
I agree. In addition to it…In Act III of The Tempest, Ariel, and Caliban show different ideas of servitude and freedom. Ariel serves Prospero willingly, hoping he will soon be set free. This hope makes him follow orders without much complaint. Caliban, however, feels trapped by Prospero. He once ruled the island and now hates being a servant. When he meets Stephano and Trinculo, he hopes they might help him escape Prospero. So, while Ariel is loyal because he believes in freedom, Caliban rebels, desperate to break free.
Gianni Coombs
Ariel serves Prospero willingly using his magic powers to help him while longing for his escape. He shows a more amenable form of servitude showing a desire for liberation. Caliban on the other hand is bitter about his enslavement and wants revenge against Prospero, presenting a raw and angry struggle for autonomy. Together both their experiences illustrate different perspectives on servitude but their both want the same thing which is freedom.
ismaeliglesias (he/him)
In Act III of The Tempest, Ariel and Caliban show two different sides of servitude under Prospero. Ariel serves patiently, holding onto the hope of freedom, while Caliban, full of resentment, tries to rebel by teaming up with Stephano and Trinculo. Ariel’s quiet trust and Caliban’s anger reveal how servitude can shape the desire for freedom in very different ways.
Jaqueline Martinez (she/her)
We see the themes of freedom and servitude through Ariel and Caliban’s very different attitudes. Ariel serves Prospero willingly but only because he hopes for freedom soon. He listens to everything but his loyalty is tied to his desire to be set free. Caliban hates being a servant. He feels that Prospero stole the island from him and plots with Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero and regain control.
Tsering Choedon
In Act III of The Tempest, Ariel, and Caliban show different ideas of servitude and freedom. Ariel serves Prospero willingly, hoping he will soon be set free. This hope makes him follow orders without much complaint. Caliban, however, feels trapped by Prospero. He once ruled the island and now hates being a servant. When he meets Stephano and Trinculo, he hopes they might help him escape Prospero. So, while Ariel is loyal because he believes in freedom, Caliban rebels, desperate to break free.