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Erica Rapp

Dr. Verena Theile

English 271

19 September 2010

Explication Essay

William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest with many themes of irony and used multiple

symbolic references among the characters. He also had a tendency to use creative, poetic

stylistics in the dialogue among characters. The following passage from The Tempest takes place

in Act III, Scene 3 from lines 130-138, and is considered one of the most poetic in the entire

play:

‘“Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,

Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometimes voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.’”(Shakespeare 59).

This quotation is said by Caliban, the monster-like son of the witch Sycorax. Caliban is

also one of Prospero’s many servants and acquainted Prospero on the island when he arrived.

The passage above is Caliban’s explanation to Stephano and Trinculo of mysterious music that

they keep hearing on the island, which are the sounds that are created by magic. Caliban’s speech
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contains a strong theme of irony, in a sense that there are many opposing attitudes and meanings

among the message of the characters (Bressler 62). The biggest irony factor is the fact that the

speech is described as poetic and beautiful, but it is given by someone who is completely drunk.

Also, the noises that are described by Caliban could either be the natural noises of the island, or

the magical works of Prospero and the invisible Ariel. It seems as if Caliban has something

invisible within him that can’t be described, just like the noises seem to be invisible like Ariel,

and cannot be directed back to a particular source.

There are imagery elements in Caliban’s speech that describe his gratitude and

attachment that he has for the island. The noises are described as, “Sounds, and sweet airs, that

give delight and hurt not.” (Shakespeare 58). He says that the noises “give delight”, meaning

they bring him happiness and nothing but. That last couple of lines seems to describe a heaven-

like image that is describing the noises, “That, if I then had waked after long sleep, Will make

me sleep again; and then, in dreaming, the clouds methought would open and show riches…”

(Shakespeare 59). It is possible that he is describing some sort of symbolic heaven that he falls

into when he hears the noises, and when the music and noises stop he is thrust back into a painful

reality where he just wishes he was back in the heaven-like state again. This situation could be

defined by Harmon and Holman as a euphony, which means that certain noises or situations

create pleasing sounds (214).

As far as connotations and denotations go, the word “twangling” that is used to describe

the instruments is can also be synonymous to a nasal-like noise, or a vibrating sound. This

twangling that is happening with the instruments can be lead to the hum that is described in the

following line. The “hum” that is being created could possibly signify Caliban drifting off into

his heaven, like a child would fall asleep to calming music. Caliban also mentions in line 7 of
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the passage how he would wish that the clouds would part and bring him riches. The “riches”

could symbolize the constant greed that Caliban holds within himself. Caliban is greedy because

he wants the island to himself and seeks for sovereignty against Prospero.

The biggest and most obvious metaphor that occurs in Caliban’s speech is the

comparison of the beautiful noises to a heaven or a dream. The imagery that is used in the

metaphor shows the audience a softer side of Caliban, and it becomes known that he really did

occupy the island before Prospero did. Ambiguity can be defined as a significant change or

uncertain meaning (Harmon and Holman 18), and stands out mostly through Caliban in his

speech about the beautiful noises. Caliban is a sensitive monster, which is recognized in the

passage, yet he allows himself to be transformed into a complete fool throughout the story.

Therefore, Caliban somewhat becomes a significant symbol of unjust slavery and ambiguity.

Caliban’s speech is one of the most poetic, important, and symbolic that occurs

throughout the play. This speech really allows the audience to see the soft side of Caliban that

isn’t a monster who is constantly ridiculed by Prospero. Caliban’s speech signifies his inner

feelings and emotions through symbolism, and that allows the audience to put a meaning behind

the words.
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Works Cited

Bressler, Charles E. Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. 4th edition.

New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.

Harmon, William and Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature. 11th edition. New Jersey:

Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Ed. Graff, Gerald and Phelan, James. 2nd edition.

Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2009. Print.