Analysis of Caliban's infantilism in The Tempest The speed and characteristics of infant cognitive development have been a topic of interest to many people over the centuries, as the classification of the different stages can help us better understand children's actions. A common categorization method divides development into four phases: sensorimotor phase, preoperational phase, concrete operational phase, and formal operational phase. When analyzing Caliban in The Tempest, classifying him in the pre-operational phase is crucial to understanding his actions and role in the play. Caliban's preoperative categorization equates his actions and instincts with those of most humans aged two to seven. Although children at this stage can think, they are largely limited by what they can actually do. To a large extent they do not know how to reason and do not have the cognitive abilities necessary to understand complicated ideas. Even children in the preoperational stage are generally egocentric. They see the world only from their own eyes, and any attempt to challenge their point of view results in strong opposition. Caliban reflects this generalization because he constantly emphasizes the loss of his heritage (the island) to everyone, and schemes to get it back at every turn. Caliban's childhood is shown when he rejects Prospero's punishment, saying that he objects to being subjugated when he was once "my king". In another instance where Caliban acts childish, he is outraged that Prospero is punishing him when, from his point of view, he has done nothing wrong. Even as a child, the idea of ​​being his own ruler dominates his thoughts. This is reinforced by his immediate course of action… middle of the paper… any further depth. Furthermore, when Caliban discusses plotting revenge against Prospero, he says, "Break his brains /... or with a log / Strike his skull, or strike him with a stake, / Or cut his wezand with your knife," which sounds once again as a childish provocation. The self-centered child, inspired primarily by the id, sees revenge as an immediate and satisfying remedy to most conflicts. These factors reinforce Caliban's categorization in the preoperative stage of mental development. During The Tempest, Caliban's actions seem childish, primitive, and immature. When his actions are analyzed through the lens of developmental stages, it can be determined that, mentally, he is between the ages of 2 and 7 years old. This gives the reader a new perspective on Caliban and allows them to see him in a different light: less as a savage and more as an underdeveloped, desperate child..