I wrote a few of Caliban’s memorable phrases onto the bricks to indicate how each unprecedented stylistic risk in “Letter Sycorax” is a step towards finding, if not, creating his identity. Simultaneously, each time Caliban lays a brick on the right, a brick from the left (the wall representing Prospero’s language) is automatically dismantled. I wanted to showcase both sets of brick walls to highlight the long-lasting effect of Prospero’s language on Caliban. Although the influence of Prospero’s language will never truly go away, as Caliban creates a language authentic to his upbringing, the influence will slowly fade. Therefore, the representation above highlights the blending of languages instead of a new language forming from scratch—Caliban takes the basic form of Prospero’s language (English letters) but rearranges them in a way to construct his own words. Prospero’s language taught Caliban the basics and gave him the tool to now reconstruct it in a manner that allows Caliban to incorporate his personal experiences.
The writing utensils at the center of the diagram indicate how Caliban has a choice when it comes to creating his language, something he did not have when he was abiding by Prospero’s language. They represent stylistic freedom. The wide variety of “tools” displays the endless opportunities and power Caliban possesses. Unlike the past, when Caliban was forced to abide by Prospero’s rules and language, here, he is able to creatively rebel against the norm. Just like in “Letter Sycorax,” where Caliban uses the power of the computer to make “spoken word visible,” the diversity of writing utensils allows Caliban to express himself as though he is speaking out loud (Brown 126). The tools represent the varied forms of expression Caliban uses when typing his words on the computer, like the cursive X.
The chair is placed between the two walls of language to display the power Caliban has. He is in the driver’s seat while writing the letter to his mother and therefore feels like he “is a some. is a some. is a some body. a X pert or some thing like Moses or aaron or one a dem dyaaam isra light” (Brathwaite 116). This sense of control is what gives Caliban the confidence to lead his people away from Prospero’s controlling language, similar to how Moses did with the Israelites. The clay I used is very pliable and moldable, also representing how Caliban wants to shape his path moving forward. I used clay, rather than bricks, because clay is one of the most primitive forms of building materials, and it represents how Caliban is starting from close to nothing when creating a home for his culture.