Darwinian Caliban has been seen as Darwin's 'missing link'; the amphibiouss references to him are consistent with the view that human life evolved from some sort of aquatic animal. He has been represented as both fish-like and ape-like in productions taking this interpretation. Caliban symbolises primitive man aspiring to a more civilised state.

New World Around the year 1900, some critics began to see Ariel as representing the best characteristics of Latin American civilization, whilst Caliban represented the worst characteristics of Anglo-American civilization.
50 years later, Latin American critics recast Caliban as representing the south American peoples. Prospero is seen as the domineering and imperialist United States. Anglo-Americans began to see Caliban as perhaps an Afro-American slave. Prospero is seen in a negative light: the coloniser who enslaves, who steals land and who imposes a foreign culture.

Femimists focus on the role of Miranda, representing perhaps the 'exiled, alienated woman' (HD).Ariel can be represented as feminine; even Caliban may be feminised.

Freudian Ariel can be seen to represent Prospero's superego whilst Caliban is his id.The poet Auden saw Prospero's deep, dark and secret self externalised in Caliban, embodying libidinous energies normally restrained by the codes of civilised behaviour.

Recent readings see the play as conflict-ridden, dealing with 'the brutal realities of individual and collective power, the bitter legacy of colonialism and slavery, the difficulty of releasing the female body from male inscription and control, and the misunderstandings and violence that often accompany cultural exchange' (intro, Arden edn).