character of Caliban in Shakespeares The Tempest
... 1 The character of Caliban in The Tempest Caliban is not only one of the major characters, he is "one of the most interesting and sympathetic characters in the play" (Todd). ... Later in the play he is called a tortoise (The Tempest, I. ... The name Caliban is an anagram of the word cannibal and could also refer to the word Cariban which was used in former times for the Carib indians. Caliban is the only natural inhabitant and, as he thinks, rightful owner of the island, which he has inherited from his mother, the witch Sycorax. Caliban, who must be about twenty-four years old had been living on his island on his own for twelve years when Prospero and Miranda arrived.