Read the following passage from Act II, scene ii of The Tempest, in which Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo encounter each other for the first time.
Enter CALIBAN with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard
CALIBAN All the infections that the sun sucks up From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch, Fright me with urchin—shows, pitch me i' the mire, Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid 'em . . .
Enter TRINCULO Lo, now, lo! Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat; Perchance he will not mind me.
TRINCULO Here's neither bush nor shrub, to bear off any weather at all, and another storm brewing . . . What have we here? a man or a fish? . . . Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabouts: misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past. Enter
STEPHANO, singing: a bottle in his hand (. . .)
CALIBAN The spirit torments me; Oh!
STEPHANO This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil should he learn our language? I will give him some relief, if it be but for that. [I]f I can recover him and keep him tame and get to Naples with him, he's a present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's leather.
CALIBAN Do not torment me, prithee; I'll bring my wood home faster.
STEPHANO He's in his fit now and does not talk after the wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have never drunk wine afore will go near to remove his fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will not take too much for him; he shall pay for him that hath him, and that soundly.
CALIBAN Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon, I know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee.
STEPHANO Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that which will give language to you, cat. . . .
Discuss the themes of colonialism and the power of language to dominate others in The Tempest. Then examine how they are developed in the passage. Be sure to support your ideas with evidence from the passage.
