Sycorax
possibly Greek for sow or crow, or Arabic for deceiver
An unseen witch in Shakespeare's The Tempest, mother of Caliban and foil to Prospero
Sycorax is a powerful witch from Algiers who appears only through memory in William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. She banished to an island where she enslaved spirits and raised her son Caliban before dying years before the play begins.
- Unseen witch in Shakespeare's The Tempest (1611)
- Mother of Caliban, claimed owner of the island
- Banished from Algiers while pregnant with Caliban
- Enslained spirits including Ariel before dying
- Subject of postcolonial and feminist literary analysis
What it is
Sycorax serves as a silent antagonist in William Shakespeare's 1611 play The Tempest. Described as a vicious and powerful witch, she is the mother of Caliban, a native inhabitant of the island where the story unfolds. Although she never appears on stage, her presence defines the relationships between the living characters. Scholars often view her as a literary foil to the protagonist Prospero, highlighting his own magical authority and moral ambiguity through contrast.
Where it comes from
The character likely draws inspiration from classical literature, particularly Medea from Ovid's Metamorphoses and Circe from Greek mythology. Some critics suggest connections to the Coraxi tribe of modern-day Georgia. Linguistic theories propose that her name combines Greek words for sow and crow, or derives from an Arabic term meaning deceiver. A Romantic-era critic linked her to an unnamed North African witch who supposedly advised Algerian forces against Emperor Charles V in 1541, though this historical link remains unverified.
Sycorax, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- The Tempest tradition
How scholars and sceptics see it
Postcolonial critics interpret Sycorax as a symbol of silenced indigenous and female voices recovering from colonization. Feminist scholars debate whether she represents destructive feminine power or merely a matriarchal figure defined by motherhood. Some analysts argue that Prospero's portrayal of her is unreliable, shaped by his own suspicion of women and desire to justify his rule over Caliban and Ariel.
Compare and confuse
Sycorax is frequently compared to Medea and Circe due to their shared traits as powerful, exiled sorceresses. Later adaptations, such as those by Dryden, Davenant, and Scribe, have given her a vocal role or kept her alive to serve as a direct rival to Prospero, shifting her from a background figure to an active antagonist.
Questions people ask about Sycorax
Who is Sycorax?
Sycorax is an unseen witch in William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. She is described as a powerful sorceress from Algiers who was banished to an island while pregnant with her son, Caliban.
Where does Sycorax come from?
In the play, Sycorax is native to Algiers. She was banished there before being brought to the island where the story takes place, where she lived until her death several years before the main events begin.
What did Sycorax do on the island?
Sycorax enslaved the spirits of the island, imprisoning Ariel in a pine tree for disobedience. She also gave birth to Caliban and taught him to worship Setebos, a demonic god, before she died long before Prospero arrived.
Why is Sycorax important to the plot?
Although she never appears, her legacy drives the conflict. Caliban claims ownership of the island because it belonged to his mother. Prospero uses memories of her cruelty to control Ariel and justify his own dominance over the island's inhabitants.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Sycorax", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-15.
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