Evidently, no other literary work has been revised and deconstructed as The Tempest. Shakespeare’s Caliban represents the most identifiable example of Western colonialism. From the beginning, it is evident that the events are staged at some place in the Mediterranean, which happens to the most popular water body in Europe. Moreover, the Mediterranean has served as the boundary that defined Western culture many years before even The Tempest was written. Although actions take place mainly on the island, Alonso’s daughter wedding in Carthage causes the movement. In particular, Prospero’s banishment makes the plot more interesting while the scope of action is limited by the distance between Carthage and Milan. In The Tempest, Shakespeare relies …show more content…
The tempest is about colonialism because Prospero is the one who took over Caliban’s land by force which is Sycorax and tries to enslave its people and he also tries to apply his own culture on Sycorax’s people land. Prospero does not only take over Caliban’s land but he also tries to enslave him. He considers Caliban as half man. He treats Caliban as a slave; he calls him a thing of darkness. Prospero describes Caliban as violet, savage, and have an evil smile, and drunkard. As Prospero states in the Tempest, “This thing of darkness, I call my own.” which shows how Prospero looks down on Caliban. The whites looked down on the black people in the colony of Virginia. Prospero refers to himself as light, wisdom, and also knowledge which refers to how the Europeans see themselves. While he refers to Caliban as darkness, and ignorance. He is the subhuman, son of the witch. When Prospero comes to the land, he forces Caliban to be his slave. An example of implying slavery in the tempest is Prospero’s treatment toward. Caliban. Prospero stated in the tempest, “What, ho! Slave! Caliban! Thou earth, thou! Speak.” (369) he refers to Caliban as earth which is a thing so he gives Caliban the lowest value. Not only has that he also referred to Caliban as “tortoise” so he is telling us that Caliban has a very slow motion. Prospero is not the only one who commits a …show more content…
The purpose of Shakespeare’s writing about Caliban in the tempest is to relate it to slavery which occurred in the 1607 between the Indians and Europeans. By clearly reading some of the articles discussing the historical relevance of the tempest, one gets the idea that the European colonialist presented themselves just as Prospero did with Caliban. Just like Caliban, the people who were colonized by the European were “disinherited, exploited, and subjugated. Caliban had to learn not only the language of his colonizer, but also embrace their culture. Eventually, Caliban rebels against Prospero and demands his freedom just like those colonized by the European imperialist did after undergoing long periods. All the above is evidence that The Tempest is essentially is a mirror reflection of whatever was taking place in the society at the time when the play was being
In the first scene, it seems as if Shakespeare intended to present Caliban as a beast and a savage. However, two items come across to reveal the fact that Caliban is more than just a monster, he is a human being with real emotions (Wagner 13). First, the audience sees a sense of sensitivity when Caliban reflects on his previous relationship with Prospero, when Prospero spared him and attempted to educate him. Prospero exchanged his teachings for lessons from Caliban about the island itself; because Caliban is so close to nature, he is the best person to teach Prospero about it:
Like Russ Mc Donald I also believe that Shakespeare devoted his last comedy largely to the exploration of the shapes and effects that possession and the search for power can have on persons. The Tempest's central character, Prospero, is also crucial to this interpretation. His unique magical gifts give him undefeatable power to wreak vengeance on his enemies. It is a position fraught with dangers both for him and for others. But he is not the only veichel. Entwined with this wizard's inventive qualities are questions over what can only be called, by a modern reader as the theme of colonialism in the play which pervades the minds of all the 'civilised' Italians; Caliban and Miranda are the two primary victims of this patriarchal society. One must also make a note of the motif of usurpation in the play and recognise its interesting implications.
Caliban has been with Prospero ever since Prospero landed on the island when Caliban was a child. Before Prospero entered his life, Caliban was the sole inhabitant of his island, free to do whatever he wanted. When Prospero arrives, he raises Caliban as his own son, until he tries to rape Miranda. Caliban sexually assaults Miranda, who he has grown up with, and then shows no remorse about it. When Prospero reminds Caliban of what he did to Miranda, Caliban doesn’t try to deflect the accusation or show any remorse.
Shedding off his "dullness" in favor of a chance at redemption, Caliban takes a few steps closer to understanding the way Prospero views the world. It is Prospero?s acceptance of Caliban?s darkness that finally allows Caliban to have something in common with the world of light, and desire to seek grace.
Prospero and Caliban are alternately and perhaps occasionally all at once: master and servant, tutor and pupil, master and slave, and father and adopted son. Prospero terrorizes and belittles Caliban. Calibans short, snappy replies and his odious tone, reveal the bitterness he feels from leading a servile life, his rudeness makes him seem like an unworthy and despicable slave. Caliban is frustrated from the very beginning with the oppressive attitude of his dictator master Prospero. The hostility between Caliban and Prospero results in the breakdown of their initial loving father-son relationship. Prospero may have failed in nurturing Caliban because the nurture he offered him was intended to control him, not educate or liberate him. Caliban becomes a more sympathetic character in the second half of the work. His weakness is made more evident, and the ease by which he is controlled shows him to be a victim of his circumstances, possessing a nature weakened by subjugation and
The Tempest reflects Shakespeare's society through the relationship between characters, especially between Prospero and Caliban. Caliban, who was the previous king of the island, is taught how to be "civilized" by Prospero and his daughter Miranda. Then he is forced to be their servant. Caliban explains "Thou strok'st me and make much of me; wo...
However, Caliban is a very different type of character. Caliban actually hates Prospero and serves him begrudgingly. Although he is his servant, he also plots to kill Caliban.
In The Tempest both Caliban and Prospero talk about how the two were friends in the beginning. Prospero taught Caliban his language and customs. In return Caliban showed Prospero all the good resources of the island. After gaining Caliban’s love and trust Prospero tricks Caliban by enslaving him. In Act I Scene II Caliban reminds Prospero what Caliban did for him saying “show’d thee all the qualities o’ the isle, the fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile: cursed
Of course, Prospero says he enslaved Caliban because he tried to coupled with his daughter, however, Caliban, sounding like someone who has had their land and culture stolen from them, replies to this, "O ho,...
It is apparent that because he would not embrace English language Caliban is evaluated as inferior, not only materializing as something less than human but truly being barbaric. Caliban responds that “my profit on’t is I know how to curse” (1.2. 366-367). This illustrates how Prospero is under the delusion of transforming Caliban into a civil person since Caliban does not desire to acquire his language. Caliban, consequently, has no modification of nature and endures at the culmination of the play what he existed as at the commencement.
Prospero exerts much power and authority over Caliban and it is clear their relationship is one of resentment. This is presented to the audience through Prospero’s controlling and authoritive figure, his demanding voice and Caliban’s self-abasement.
During this time Caliban loved Prospero and showed him the features of the island, "The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile…" Caliban regrets helping Prospero as he says towards the end of his speech, "Cursed be I that did so!" Caliban feels this way due to his imprisonment.
Prospero appears to be a ruthless tyrant that strikes fear into Caliban to make him work but further on in the text we learn that this is not the case. Caliban's foul-mouthed insults,
The Tempest is generally it is a romance and frequently interpreted as Shakespeare dramatic art. It counted one of Shakespeare's most original plays. critical argument on ‘The Tempest’ has centered for centuries. It is he who embodies the debate over colonialism, over the clash of cultures, and over the humanity of the play’s heroes: Prospero, Miranda, Ferdinand and others. No source for the central plot has been definitively identified. The Tempest is set in an unidentified age on an unnamed island, which some critics have suggested evokes themes of European colonialism in the New World. The plot centers on the magician Prospero, exiled Duke of Milan, who has been unfairly deposed and set adrift in the ocean with his daughter Miranda. After arriving on the island he uses magic to free the fairy-like Ariel and enslave. Prospero then punishes his usurpers, his brother Antonio and King Alonso of Naples, by luring them to the island and destroying their ship in a magical storm. After exacting his vengeance, Prospero closes the drama with a gesture of reconciliation by announcing the union of his daughter and Alonso's son, prince Ferdinand. In the final scene, Prospero confronts his brother, who rules in his place, and demands his dukedom back. He leaves the island under the control of Caliban, forsakes his magical powers, and returns triumphant to Milan. The character of Prospero, who some critics believe represents Shakespeare himself.
In Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, there are two characters who appear to be polar opposites. The characters of Caliban and Ariel both play very important roles in the play. The term caliban is defined as “a brutish or brutalized man,” and the term ariel is defined as “a spirit of the air” (Dictionary). The definitions of these two characters names even show the huge difference in the two characters before readers or viewers even get to know the characters. There are also differences in how the two characters feel about the self-proclaimed king of the island, Prospero. However, regardless of their many differences the one thing that they do have in common is the fact that they are both oppressed by Prospero who has deemed himself king of the island and seek freedom.