The Sublime Savage: Caliban on Setebos Essay -- Caliban on Setebos Ess

The Sublime Savage Caliban on Setebos       Caliban my slave, who never / Yields us configuration answer.  (The Tempest, I.ii.310-1)    Caliban on Setebos was one of Robert Brownings more popular poems among the Victorians, for its presumed satire of orthodox Calvinism, Puritanism, and as well grim Christian sects. And Browning as Shakespeares savage does indeed look to hurl a few barbs in that direction, but the poets exercise seems to be as much one in alternative theology. Calibans bog-bound conjectures, in their solid departures from standard religious doctrine, serve as both an interesting forswearing of Archdeacon Paleys attempts to rationalize graven image, and as an entertaining science-fiction tale, if you will, of religious thought under spring circumstances.   Caliban is, of course, the salvage and deformed slave of Shakespeares dramatis personae in The Tempest, son of the deceased ravish Sycorax, servant of the mage Pr ospero, consort of and bootlicker for Stephano and Trinculo, failed plotters and drunken buffoons. As disproportiond in his dexterity / As in his shape (V.i.290-1), he has tried to ravish Prosperos little girl Miranda before being exiled to his cave, and in the course of the play attempts to overthrow Prospero himself and chime in Stephano on the throne of the island. At last, though, Duke Prospero comes to pardon even Caliban -- This thing of nefariousness I / acknowledge mine (V.i.275-6), and his drudge promises to be wise hereafter, / and hear for grace (V.i.294-5) or favor with his master.   Browning certainly did his research in crafting the poem near the end of the work, Caliban cowers under Setebos raven that has told... ... in a way, / Taketh his mirth with make-believes (ll. 168-9). Calibans easy acceptance of a capricious, often cruel deity, and his willingness to reduce himself in penance for irrational divine anger, serves as a satiric reproof to both Paley and the Calvinists, and eloquent support for Brownings more palatable God of love. Shakespeares Prospero claims that, without his help and education, Caliban didst not, savage, / Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like / A thing most brutish (I.ii.357-9). Some of Brownings detractors considered Caliban on Setebos still to be brutish, for its harsh language and unpleasant philosophy. Yet the poem is successful in its aim it is an effective purgative to complacent religious theory, and an entertaining glimpse into a putative religion based on quite diametrical tenets from Victorian Christianity.