Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Effect of the colonization on the colonizer
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Effect of the colonization on the colonizer
There is a fine line between one man’s Utopia and another man’s Dystopia. Conceivably the furthermost expressive of Shakespeare’s interpretations of colonialism is bestowed in the character of Caliban. He does not appreciate the activities of Prospero as a “missionary” who attempts to improve his life. Caliban is undoughtily in conflict with the authority that now governs him. His hatred concerning his conqueror and master is recognized as a legitimate reaction displayed among the colonized. Prospero becomes equivalent to a marionette master, controlling and manipulating everyone on the island. Caliban yearnings to fight back against colonizer blasphemes him and is disobedient, this is emphasized by his very first worlds, “As wicked dew as …show more content…
324-327). He continually reminds Prospero that the island, with forceful incursion, taken away from him, “This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak’st from me” (1.2. 333-334). Corresponding those throughout history, have protested the new rulers of colonialism. Maranda claims to have tried to teach language to, “Thy vile race, though thou didst learn” (1.2. 361-362). 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. The authority and criterions of Prospero are in direct conflict with the natural liberties of Caliban. The play demonstrates the defiance of the colonized to the governance of the colonizer and the hostility to preserve ones culture contrary to oppositional
The great chain of being is an important theme in Shakespeare’s The Tempest because it gives order and an unbreakable, restrained structure for the characters. In this play, Caliban is Prospero’s slave for life. In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Prospero and Caliban’s words using imagery and form demonstrate how there can be no change of social status in the great chain of being. The great chain has forced Caliban to be a slave to Prospero because of both of their positions in it, Caliban has a very barbaric nature because of his placement in the chain, and Caliban cannot be move up in society because the great chain limits his freedom.
In the play, The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Prospero took control of Caliban and made him his servant. Prospero was able to do this because he viewed Caliban as an uncivilized being; Caliban was portrayed as a beast. Thus, Prospero was able to assume power over Caliban. It can be seen from Prospero’s speech that he thinks that Caliban is inferior to him when Prosper says, “I have used thee, Filth as thou art, with human care […]” (1.2.348-349). Prospero tries to justify enslaving Caliban, but all he really does is place Caliban into a category of bestial and uncivilized and as a result enslaves him.
Another way that the treatment of Caliban by Prospero is similar to the treatment of Native Americans by the Europeans is the adaptation of the language. When the Europeans came to the New World they forced the Native Americans to learn their languages and live according to the European culture. People who had spoken one language all their lives, now had to learn another. They had to live by customs they have never heard of even before. In the Tempest, Prospero does this also. When Prospero came to the island he forced Caliban to learn the language that he spoke. Caliban had to adapt to a style of living that he had never experienced before. Caliban had to change completely to adapt to the life forced upon him.
In this whimsical play, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, after being supplanted of his dukedom by his brother, arrives on an island. He frees a spirit named Ariel from a spell and in turn makes the spirit his slave. He also enslaves a native monster named Caliban. These two slaves, Caliban and Ariel, symbolize the theme of nature versus nurture. Caliban is regarded as the representation of the wild; the side that is usually looked down upon. Although from his repulsive behavior, Caliban can be viewed as a detestable beast of nature, it can be reasonably inferred that Shakespeare’s intent was to make Caliban a sympathetic character.
Caliban’s initial attempt to defy Prospero’s power via a verbal curse actually gives Prospero more authority as master in that the curse acknowledges the duke’s ultimate power. Caliban begins his speech with the vengeful request that all the evil "infections"(2.2.1) under the sun "fall"(2.2.2) upon the "tyrant"(2.2.160) Prospero. While Caliban wishes for Prospero to be so harmed by sickness, the slave does not have the power to make this happen. Instead, he must request that these evils "fall"(2.2.2) of their own accord upon Prospero. Caliban’s lack of authority because of his condition as a slave is immediately contrasted to that...
Caliban is treated in a highly demeaning manner since Prospero is a man of magic and has infinite power to control Caliban in every aspect. It is seen early on in the play the amount of control that has been placed over Caliban, to the extent that memories make him cringe and satisfy all of Prospero’s needs. Prospero is obviously the Duke of that island similar to how he was Duke of Milan before being usurped and banished to the island, which is Caliban’s home. In general, the relationship of Prospero and Caliban is a model of early colonization into the New World considering Caliban is it’s only inhabitant. In reality, colonization is the chief reason slavery was implemented which was to maintain laborers in order to prosper in the New World.
The study of Shakespeare’s The Tempest raises many questions as to its interpretation. Many believe that this play shows Shakespeare’s views on the colonization of the new world whereas others believe that this is a play about the ever elusive “Utopian Society”. I believe that this is a play about the European views of society and savagery at that time. I also believe that, if this is true, the play doesn’t portray a “conventional” view of native peoples. Shakespeare shows this by having Prospero, the rightful duke of Milan and Usurping ruler of the island, call Caliban,
Having been usurped and wrecked on an Island Prospero and his young daughter Miranda have to settle. It is here in Prospero's past that it first clear to see where any confusion about his character may appear. As a learned and powerful man Prospero is able to take direct control of the island, he frees a trapped and tortured spirit (Ariel) and befriends the inhabitants (Caliban). Prospero 'helps' Caliban, he tries to educate him and teaches him to communicate, in exchange Caliban helps Prospero to survive on the Island. But in taking power of the Island Prospero is committing the same act that happened to him as Duke of Milan, now Prospero himself has become the usurper. In this act of goodness Prospero has unknowingly shown his evil side.
Early on in the play, the text strongly indicates that the relationship between Prospero and Caliban is far from loving o...
portray his degraded, brutish nature. In Act 1 Scene 2 Caliban complains of how Prospero used h...
Within his portrayal of Prospero, Shakespeare skilfully displays this character as the embodiment of all characteristics that defined the true colonisers; strength, power, and of course the intense control of all relationships and land he is invested in. Although these characteristics can be seen in all Prospero’s actions and interactions it is those with his subject, Caliban, which present them most clearly.
In discussing Derrida's view of Western literature, Geoffrey Hartman writes that "Western tradition has been marked . . . by a metaphysics of light, by the violence of light itself, from Apollonian cults to Cartesian philosophies. In the light of this emphatic light everything else appears obscure; especially the Hebraic development of aniconic writing and self-effacing commentary of textuality" (xix). This point is well illustrated by the nature of Prospero's power in The Tempest for his control of natural and supernatural forces is achieved through book-learning the bringing to life of Logos. That which Prospero does not control completely is the vilified character of Caliban. The denigrated and unwilling servant seems to represent Prospero's shadow, and in light of the above statement, perhaps Caliban represents the shadow of our light-infused Greco-Roman style of domination of the material world. The text tells us that when Prospero first arrives on the island Caliban willingly reveals its secrets to him. Only when Caliban threatens the chastity of Prospero's daughter, Miranda, does the relationship turn into one of master and slave. Prospero thus draws the line between the shadow realm and purity. His action suggests that sexuality, too, must be kept in a role of servitude if one is to retain control of one's kingdom. In affirming this schism, Prospero simply enforces the dualistic nature of the Western tradition. In heaping scorn upon Caliban, Prospero embodies the West's extreme dualistic nature vis-a-vis its perceived schisms existent between light and dark, mortal and immortal, good and evil.
...epresents every person that has been colonized by Europe, and their attempt to civilize the savages. Their method of civilizing and to maintain a firm grip on their savage labourers was language. It was their means to communicate and control the people who they didn’t consider as themselves and a means to discriminate against it. This is reason why Caliban resists and rebels against Prospero and disparage the language he has been taught. To him it is the loss of freedom and the agency through which he is being discriminated against.
“Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself/ Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! “(1.2.383-384). This shows that because Caliban raped Prospero’s daughter Miranda, Prospero thinks that Caliban is of a different breed and possibly raised by the devil. This also shows...
A master servant theme can be seen throughout the whole play. Prospero has a this relationship with both Ariel and Caliban clearly, but it is the way he goes about the relationship. He prefers Ariel because he is more compliant than Caliban and has more uses. Prospero’s relationship with Caliban is more toxic. These show what kind of person Prospero really is. He is a manipulative person that is willing to whatever he needs to get what he wants. This is compared to how the colonists interacted with the Native Americans. They would trade and help each, and were able to tolerate them. Eventually the colonist learned what they needed and then turned their backs on