Lydia's Essay 11

Lydia Schulz
Mr. H. Salsich
9 English
January 29 2009

The Likeness is Uncanny:
An Essay Discussing Servitude and Confinement in "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare

With so many words in the English language, there are bound to be some that do not have encouraging and upbeat meanings. The word servitude does not often come with positive implications, and neither does confinement. Yet, too often, people in the world have to use these words to describe their own predicaments, whether they are serving time in a prison or serving a leader. Two very different characters in "The Tempest," one a water nymph, one a deformed monster, both have to deal with these issues (S-V split).
The character of Ariel is confined both literally and figuratively. The evil witch Sycorax imprisoned Ariel in a "cloven pine", quite literally confining her. Ariel stayed in the tree for 12 years until Prospero finally freed her. Exultant at her freedom from her 12-year confinement, Ariel agreed to serve Prospero, entering a new form of confinement as soon as she had left one (participle closer). Ariel didn't realize it at the time, but she was just as confined by her servitude to Prospero as she was by her pine tree. Prospero may make it seem as though he is helping Ariel, but it seems he is also taking advantage of her and cannot be trusted. Even if Ariel realized what Prospero was doing, there would be no way to escape Prospero because he could easily use his magic to prevent her from leaving, threatening to "rend an oak and peg [her] in his knotty entrails." Though at first Ariel seems to be a lighthearted character, when you take a closer look you can see that her life does not involve much freedom.
A very different, more sinister character is dealing with the same type of discrimination as Ariel: Caliban. As the child of Sycorax and the devil, Caliban is treated like scum, confining him to his solitude. Caliban attempted to "violate [Prospero's] child", Miranda, and Prospero now regards him as the most repulsive (FAST) creature to ever walk the earth. Having no one to care for him (participle opener), Caliban is confined to his seclusion, leading a dark and lonely life. However, perhaps Caliban isolates himself from the other people in his life. When Prospero first arrived on the island, he tried to help Caliban by teaching him to speak, "to name the bigger light," but Caliban threw that away when he betrayed Prospero's trust and tried to violate Miranda. His cold attitude toward Prospero could be the reason he is so exiled. Though Caliban's situation could be regarded as a sad one, Prospero is right for denying Caliban the trust he once had.
Caliban and Ariel are in very distinct situations, yet they both have the same problems to sort out. Both are confined in some way, either to themselves or their master, and despite what they might wish, both have to answer to Prospero. It is amazing that two characters that are so different could be so alike (purposeful repetition) in these ways. Though we may not realize it, there are many people in the world who are similar in ways one may not realize; the inmate and the servant, or you and me.