 Sycorax / ˈsɪkəræks / is an unseen character in William Shakespeare 's play The Tempest ( 1611 ) . She is a vicious and powerful witch and the mother of Caliban , one of the few native inhabitants of the island on which Prospero , the hero of the play , is stranded . According to the backstory provided by the play , Sycorax was banished from Algiers , and took up residence on the island. февруари 2018 г. - Explore cathleenc's board "Sycorax" on Pinterest. See more ideas about Sycorax, Shakespeare, Prospero.