William Shakespeare’s The Tempest is a play from the beginning of the seventeenth century. It is believed to be one of Shakespeare’s last works. If considered from a postcolonial lens it can be interpreted that in this work Shakespeare offers an examination of colonization, particularly the moral aspects of it. In The Tempest the idea of colonization is communicated primarily through the relationship between the colonizers and the colonized in the play, specifically the relationship between Prospero and Caliban, and the parallels between the process of European colonization and the plot of the play. A chief idea that Shakespeare communicates throughout the play is the idea of colonization and the relationship between colonizers and colonized.
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From the beginning of the play it can be seen that Caliban and Prospero have a colonizer-colonized type of relationship which is based on distaste. On their first interference in the play in the second scene of Act 1, Prospero addresses Caliban in a very inferior way when he says “Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself/Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!” (1.2.383-384). His words imply that according to him Caliban is required to do his bidding. Moreover, it can be inferred that Prospero views Caliban as a being with whom he can’t be equal. There is separation in their relationship. Caliban too has feeling of dislike towards the colonizer Prospero. Caliban says “You taught me language, and my profit on ‘t/Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you/For learning me your language!” (1.2.437-439) which shows his disrespect towards Prospero. To Prospero’s words Caliban replies “As wicked dew as e’er my mother brushed/With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen/Drop on you both. A southwest blow on you/And blister you all o’er” (1.2.385-389). Caliban curses Prospero which depicts him as a bit uncivilized. Furthermore, Prospero calls Caliban “Thou most lying slave” (1.2.412) and says “In my own cell, till thou didst …show more content…
Western colonization of distant lands and native cultures was a relevant topic for Shakespeare’s time. By using postcolonial theory it can be deducted that through his play, Shakespeare offers the reader an examination of the process of colonization and its ethics. Throughout The Tempest the relationship between Caliban and Prospero as well as the parallels between history and the play are significant to the development of the theme of colonization. Through demonstrating the problem of colonization in The Tempest, Shakespeare provokes the reader to think more deeply about power, the nature of civilization, defects in society, and even in human nature, and
From the beginning of the play it can be seen that Caliban and Prospero have a colonizer-colonized type of relationship which is based on distaste. On their first interference in the play in the second scene of Act 1, Prospero addresses Caliban in a very inferior way when he says “Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself/Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!” (1.2.383-384). His words imply that according to him Caliban is required to do his bidding. Moreover, it can be inferred that Prospero views Caliban as a being with whom he can’t be equal. There is separation in their relationship. Caliban too has feeling of dislike towards the colonizer Prospero. Caliban says “You taught me language, and my profit on ‘t/Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you/For learning me your language!” (1.2.437-439) which shows his disrespect towards Prospero. To Prospero’s words Caliban replies “As wicked dew as e’er my mother brushed/With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen/Drop on you both. A southwest blow on you/And blister you all o’er” (1.2.385-389). Caliban curses Prospero which depicts him as a bit uncivilized. Furthermore, Prospero calls Caliban “Thou most lying slave” (1.2.412) and says “In my own cell, till thou didst …show more content…
Western colonization of distant lands and native cultures was a relevant topic for Shakespeare’s time. By using postcolonial theory it can be deducted that through his play, Shakespeare offers the reader an examination of the process of colonization and its ethics. Throughout The Tempest the relationship between Caliban and Prospero as well as the parallels between history and the play are significant to the development of the theme of colonization. Through demonstrating the problem of colonization in The Tempest, Shakespeare provokes the reader to think more deeply about power, the nature of civilization, defects in society, and even in human nature, and