Illustrated Caliban: Art, Stage, and Screen Representations

Caliban is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular characters. Over the centuries, the character has been depicted in various ways and often reflects the times of the production.

In 1611 the Court of King James I of England was treated to a production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The play mixed the real world with the otherworldly. It was one of many plays performed to celebrate the marriage of James’s daughter Princess Elizabeth to Fredrick V, the Elector Palatine of the Rhine.

The play did not garner much attention and was almost obsolete, with the theatres closing in 1642 following the English Civil War. It was only after the Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II in 1660 that The Tempest gained an audience. In 1667 John Dryden and William Davenant created a heavily edited version of The Tempest entitled The Enchanted Island, which was full of political commentary supporting the newly restored monarchy. One character in particular, though considered minor at the time, rose to prominence as succeeding generations began to produce and adapt The Tempest. This character was Caliban.