Caliban Upon Setebos; or, Natural Theology in th
Resting in a muddy pit while Prosper and Miranda sleep, Caliban reasons about Setebos by comparing the god's power with his own arbitrary treatment of weaker creatures. He speculates about a higher, untroubled power and conceals his happiness to avoid divine anger. When a storm breaks, he fears his speech has been overheard and promises privations to appease Setebos.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Dramatic Monologue, Philosophical Poetry, Religious Poetry · 3,971 words
First lines
Or, Natural Theology in the Island
"Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself."
Genres
- Dramatic Monologue — Caliban speaks alone about Setebos, revealing his own habits of cruelty, concealment and fear through his account of the god.
- Philosophical Poetry — Caliban constructs arguments in verse about creation, suffering and divine motives through comparisons with his own actions.
- Religious Poetry — Caliban disputes his mother's beliefs about Setebos and the Quiet, considers punishment after death, and seeks protection through appeasement.
Tags
natural theology · divine power · cruelty · religious fear · anthropomorphism · dramatic monologue
What this Textopian page supports
Caliban Upon Setebos; or, Natural Theology in the Island is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Dramatic Monologue, Philosophical Poetry, Religious Poetry
- Length: 3,971 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Caliban Upon Setebos; or, Natural Theology in the Island by Robert Browning
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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