How Can The Tempest Be Considered An Outsider

Throughout many of Shakespeare’s plays, there are characters who are labeled as “outsiders” because they do not seem to fit into society, they are not part of a dominant group, or they are clueless to what is going on around them. In The Tempest, Caliban is an “outsider” on an island with Europeans; he acts and is treated very badly. In Anthony and Cleopatra, Antony is an “outsider” to Rome because his mind his wherever Cleopatra is. Coriolanus is not only an “outsider” to the common people, but he also becomes an “outsider” to Rome, and as a result he joins the Volscians and ultimately is an “outsider” to them, as well. Many of the characters act based on the way they are treated.
The Tempest is a play that has various characters that can be considered “outsiders” in a dominant group throughout the play, such as Ariel, however, I feel like Caliban fits into this category the best. Prospero enslaved Caliban, a native of the island, and since he is an outsider, Prospero treats him like a pariah. Caliban is not welcome to live in the world of Prospero and Miranda, nor the other Europeans who end up on the island; he is only still there because he is basically their servant. For example, in Act 1 Scene 2, Prospero wants

Caliban to fetch more wood and says to him, “What, ho! Slave! Caliban! Thou earth, thou! Speak.” (1.2 316-317). Upon discovering Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano treat him like he is a monster, or some other outcast. Trinculo and Stephano make rude remarks about him. For example, Stephano says, “Do we have devils on the island? Are you playing tricks on me by showing me savages and uncivilized men from the Indies, ha?” (2.2 55-56). Ariel who also fits in the category of the “outsider” is a non-human, who like Caliban, is also a servant to Prospero. Prospero treats Ariel better than Caliban, but Ariel still wishes to be free. Ariel behaves well and obeys Prospero for the most part because he know he is becoming closer to freedom, but on the other hand Caliban acts very rude and conceded. Caliban uses actions such as talking back to Prospero, and even plans to kill him, probably because he is treated like such a pariah.
In Anthony and Cleopatra, Antony can be considered as an “outsider” to Rome.

At the beginning of the play, he says, “Let Rome in Tiber melt away and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall.” (1.1 35-36). He does not care about his status in Rome anymore, he feels like he belongs in Alexandria with Cleopatra. In a way, Antony feels like an outsider in Rome because Cleopatra isn’t there. He’d rather be with her than with the dominant Roman group. Later in the play, his mind shifts back to battle. Antony feels like he has been betrayed by Cleopatra, and in some ways becomes an “outsider” to her. This causes Antony to threaten to kill Cleopatra. He says, “But better ‘twere thou fell’st into my fury for one death might have prevented many.” (4.13

40-42).
Coriolanus is the main “outsider” throughout the play, Coriolanus, however his mother, Volumnia and his wife, Valeria can also be considered “outsiders” in a male dominant world. In the marketplace, Coriolanus is treated like an “outsider”. He thinks he is better than the commoners and which causes him to act arrogant in front of them. A citizen tells Coriolanus, “you have not indeed loved the common people” (2.3 83-84). Secondly, Coriolanus is an outsider to Tullus Aufidius and the Volscians. Aufidius is Coriolanus’s sworn enemy until Coriolanus is exiled. After he becomes exiled, Coriolanus becomes an outsider to his own hometown, and as a result he tries to join the Volscians in order to get revenge on Rome. Towards the end of the end the play, and right before he dies, Coriolanus realizes her is an “outsider” to the Volscians as well. Aufidius thinks Coriolanus is a traitor because he left his group and then went back to them. Aufidius says, “But tell the traitor, in the high'st degree he hath abused your powers.” (5.6 85-86).
Moreover, “outsiders” in Shakespeare plays are faced with discrimination, challenges, and decision making within the plays. Caliban’s treatment as an “outsider” causes him to act badly and make bad decisions. Antony Coriolanus becomes an “outsider” in his own home, and as a result he makes a decision to join the Volscians. Finally, characters that can be considered “outsiders” do not fit into their worlds.