The Tempest
Act 3 Scene 2 (whole scene)
Another part of the island.
Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO.
STEPHANO
Tell not me! When the butt is out, we will drink water –
not a drop before. Therefore bear up, and board ’em.
Servant-monster, drink to me.
Act 3 Scene 2
Stephano is talking about a ‘butt’ or barrel of wine. When all
the wine is finished, they’ll drink water. How is a ‘butt’ a pun?
What action could he do to make this into a joke?
Trinculo is a court jester of fool. In Shakespearean plays,
‘fools’ are often wiser than the supposed ‘wise’ men. What
truthful thing does Trinculo say here?
TRINCULO
Servant-monster! The folly of this island! They say
there’s but five upon this isle. We are three of them. If
the other two be brained like us, the state totters!
STEPHANO
Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee! Thy eyes are
almost set in thy head.
Stephano says Caliban is staring at him. Why would Caliban’s
eyes be staring so glassily?
TRINCULO
Where should they be set else? He were a brave
monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.
STEPHANO
My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack. For
my part, the sea cannot drown me. I swam, ere I could
recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues off and on. By
this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my
standard.
What is Stephano setting himself up to be?
TRINCULO Your lieutenant, if you list: he’s no standard.
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The Tempest
STEPHANO
We’ll not run, Monsieur Monster.
TRINCULO
Nor go neither – but you’ll lie like dogs, and yet say
nothing neither.
Act 3 Scene 2
How is ‘Monsieur Monster’ sarcastic?
A pun. Trinculo says Stephano will lie down like a dog, but
what else does it mean?
STEPHANO
Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good
moon-calf.
CALIBAN
(Very drunk) How does thy honour? Let me lick thy
shoe. I’ll not serve him. He is not valiant.
TRINCULO
Thou liest, most ignorant monster! I am in case to jostle
a constable. Why, thou debauched fish, thou, was there
ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I
today? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a
fish and half a monster?
Caliban complains about being Prospero’s servant, but how is
he acting here?
Draw a tiny picture of Caliban the way Trinculo describes him
here. (Debauched means drunk and lecherous.)
CALIBAN L
O, how he mocks me! Wilt thou let him, my lord?
TRINCULO
‘Lord,’ quoth he? That a monster should be such a
natural!
CALIBAN
Lo, lo, again! Bite him to death, I prithee.
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Again, how is Caliban behaving?
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The Tempest
STEPHANO
Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head. If you prove
a mutineer – the next tree! The poor monster’s my
subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.
Act 3 Scene 2
What do you think of the way in which Stephano is treating
Caliban here?
CALIBAN
I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to hearken
once again to the suit I made to thee?
STEPHANO
Marry, will I. Kneel and repeat it. I will stand, and so
shall Trinculo.
How far do you agree that Prospero is a ‘tyrant’?
Enter ARIEL (invisible).
CALIBAN
As told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant –
A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me
Of the island.
ARIEL
Thou liest.
CALIBAN (To TRINCULO)
‘Thou liest,’ thou jesting monkey, thou!
I would my valiant master would destroy thee!
I do not lie.
What is Ariel hoping to do by saying ‘thou liest’?
STEPHANO
Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in’s tale, by this
hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.
TRINCULO
Why, I said nothing!
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The Tempest
STEPHANO
Mum, then and no more. (To CALIBAN) Proceed.
Act 3 Scene 2
How is Caliban trying to persuade Stephano to attack Prospero?
CALIBAN
I say, by sorcery he got this isle –
From me he got it. If thy greatness will
Revenge it on him – for I know thou dar’st,
But this thing dare not –
STEPHANO
That’s most certain.
CALIBAN
Thou shalt be lord of it, and I’ll serve thee.
What is Caliban’s plot?
STEPHANO
How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me
to the party?
CALIBAN
Yea, yea, my lord. I’ll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou may’st knock a nail into his head.
ARIEL
Thou liest: thou canst not.
CALIBAN
What a pied ninny’s this! (To TRINCULO) Thou scurvy
patch!
(To STEPHANO) I do beseech thy greatness, give him
blows
And take his bottle from him. When that’s gone,
He shall drink nought but brine – for I’ll not show him
Where the quick freshes are.
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Caliban thinks Trinculo is insulting him. Why does his complaint
sound childish?
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The Tempest
Act 3 Scene 2
Ariel successfully starts a fight here. If you were directing the
scene, describe how you’d tell Ariel to act at this point.
STEPHANO
Trinculo, run into no further danger! Interrupt the
monster one word further, and, by this hand, I’ll turn my
mercy out o’doors, and make a stockfish of thee.
TRINCULO
Why, what did I? I did nothing! I’ll go farther off.
STEPHANO
Didst thou not say he lied?
ARIEL
Thou liest.
STEPHANO
Do I so? Take thou that! (He hits TRINCULO.) As you like
this, give me the lie another time!
How does Caliban react to Stephano beating Trinculo and what
does this make you think of him?
TRINCULO
I did not give the lie! Out o’your wits, and hearing too?
A pox o’your bottle! This can sack and drinking do. A
murrain on your monster, and the devil take your
fingers!
CALIBAN
Ha, ha, ha!
STEPHANO (To CALIBAN)
Now, forward with your tale.
(To TRINCULO) Prithee, stand farther off.
CALIBAN Beat him enough. After a little time,
I’ll beat him too.
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The Tempest
STEPHANO (To TRINCULO)
Stand farther! – (To CALIBAN) Come,
proceed.
CALIBAN
Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him
I’th’afternoon to sleep. There thou may’st brain him,
Having first seized his books – or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books – for without them
He’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not
One spirit to command. They all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books.
He has brave utensils – for so he calls them –
Which, when he has a house, he’ll deck withal.
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter. He himself
Calls her a nonpareil. I never saw a woman
But only Sycorax my dam and she –
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great’st does least.
Act 3 Scene 2
What makes is sound as though Caliban is really enjoying the
thought of Prospero being killed?
What does Caliban say is the root of Prospero’s power?
Do you believe Caliban when he says the spirits ‘all do hate him
as rootedly as I’? Why/why not?
STEPHANO
Is it so brave a lass?
CALIBAN
Ay, lord. She will become thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth brave brood.
What do they plan to do with Miranda?
STEPHANO
Monster, I will kill this man. His daughter and I will be
king and queen – save our graces! – and Trinculo and
thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot,
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The Tempest
Act 3 Scene 2
Trinculo?
What is ironic about Stephano’s use of ‘on mine honour’?
TRINCULO
Excellent.
STEPHANO
Give me thy hand. I am sorry I beat thee: but, while
thou liv’st, keep a good tongue in thy head.
CALIBAN
Within this half hour will he be asleep.
Wilt thou destroy him then?
‘troll the catch’ means ‘sing the song’ (a ‘catch’ is a round).
‘Flout ‘em and scout ‘em’ means ‘mock them and laugh at
them’.
STEPHANO
Ay, on mine honour!
How would you direct the three characters to behave while
they sing?
ARIEL (Aside)
This will I tell my master.
CALIBAN
Thou mak’st me merry! I am full of pleasure.
Let us be jocund! Will you troll the catch
You taught me but while-ere?
STEPHANO
At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason. –
Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
(They sing)
Flout ’em and scout ’em,
And scout ’em and flout ’em:
Thought is free.
CALIBAN
That’s not the tune.
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The Tempest
Act 3 Scene 2
What has alarmed Stephano and Trinculo?
ARIEL plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.
STEPHANO
What is this same?
TRINCULO
This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of
Nobody!
How would you direct Stephano and Trinculo to act at these
points?
STEPHANO
If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness! If thou
beest a devil, take’t as thou list.
TRINCULO
Oh, forgive me my sins!
STEPHANO
He that dies pays all debts. I defy thee! Mercy upon us!
CALIBAN
Art thou afeared?
This speech is often picked out as showing a different side to
Caliban. Underline words with soft sounds that help to create
a peaceful atmosphere – look for repeated ‘s’ sounds
(sibilance) and alliteration.
STEPHANO
No, monster, not I.
What do you think causes these ‘noises’?
CALIBAN
Be not afeared. The isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears – and sometime voices,
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again. And then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
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What surprises you about Caliban in this speech?
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The Tempest
Ready to drop upon me – that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.
STEPHANO
This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall
have my music for nothing.
Act 3 Scene 2
Dramatic irony is a technique used in plays, when the audience
know something that the characters don’t. Write a brief
explanation of how Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in this
scene, including how it sets Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo up
for a fall.
CALIBAN
When Prospero is destroyed.
STEPHANO
That shall be by and by. I remember the story.
TRINCULO
The sound is going away. Let’s follow it, and after do
our work.
STEPHANO
Lead, monster. We’ll follow. I would I could see this
taborer: he lays it on.
TRINCULO
Wilt come? I’ll follow, Stephano.
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