Caliban Civil Society Quotes

Civil society and natural existence being two categorizes that are different but often characters can be categorized into both. Civil society can be look at as someone who has been taught the ways of society. Therefore this person understands morals and reasoning and consequences of actions. Whereas natural existence can be viewed as someone who has never been in a society let alone taught the ways of a functioning society. A person who represents natural existence has not been taught the morals and belief of society so they can be viewed a s a blank slate. A blank slate who only acts for their self interest. Caliban can be identified as natural existence, and Ferdinand can be identified as civil society. But both characters have instances

He tries his best to give anyone a reason to accept him. Once Stephano gives him his first drink of alcohol he wanted to be accepted by him. Instantly, Caliban does his best to have Stephano like him. “I will kneel to him.” (2.2.116) this quote demonstrates how desperate Caliban is and how he fits into the role of natural existence. Since Caliban has only had a negative “friendship” with Prospero, he can only associate relationship with actions and comments that are not apart of a healthy relationship. Because Caliban is so desperate to be accepted and only has had negative relationship, he’s only thought is to devote his loyalty to Stephano, who is just a drunk. Caliban doesn’t understand the concept of reasoning and only knows how to act to please someone else not himself. By performing actions that clearly demonstrate no reasoning or self morals supports that Caliban represents natural

His choice being Miranda. He says “I chose her when I could not ask my father.” (5.1.190), which exposes his sense of will. He didn’t wait for his father to ask if he could be with Miranda. He was able to use his reasons and morals to decide for himself that he wanted to be with Miranda. But he still acted with his instincts and appetite. The moral action would have been to tell Miranda that he want to be with her but wait for the father to decided since he is a prince. You can argue that Ferdinand represents natural existence in the part of the scene because he acts out of self interest to be with someone he loves and doesn’t think about anyone else, or the consequences of their