The Tempest and The Explorers essays

The Tempest and The Explorers essays You taught me language , and my profit ont Is, I know how to curse.The red plague rid you for learning me your language! Caliban. The two texts The Tempest and The Explorers are shown to be both highly influenced by the time period in which they were composed.The targeted audience also played a significant role in the formation,language and ideas conveyed within the texts. The most notable influence and theme throughout the tempest would have to be Montaignes essay On Cannibals in which he continually asserts that what is natural is synomous with what is good, and that nature herself ought to be the light which human action is guided. Shakespeare incorporates this theory in the character of Caliban, the mere name Caliban mirrors the word Cannibal. Both Montaigne and Shakespeare explore the relationship between nature and modern civilisation. Montaignes idealisation of cannibals contrasts sharply with Shakespeares portrayal of the brutish Caliban. Shakespeares cannibal (Caliban) appears to be as pathetic,crass and vulgar as any individual can possibly be portrayed Calibans first speech emphasises the conflict that arises from his lack of gratitude towards his master. Prospero, having drawn Caliban away from his savagery and towards modernity, believes that Caliban owes him a debt of gratitude. Caliban essentially feels betrayed and this is evident in the tone and language used to address Prospero in his first speech: This Islands mine by Sycorax my mother,which thou takst from me. When thou camst first, Thou strokst me and made much of me...... .......and then I loved thee........... For I am all the subjects that you have,Which first was mine own king, and here you sty me in th...