Imperialism in the Tempest - a Question of Ethics and Morality

When one interacts with strangers, feelings of superiority and inferiority are bound to occur. In Shakespeare's time period, most of the Europeans' perspectives were disrespectful, arrogant, and full of ignorance. Like the Native Americans, for most of the European colonists who landed in the "New World," it was their first exposure to the people of a different race. And yet, their first intuition of the Native Americans was described as barbarians, savages, and cannibals. The Europeans thought themselves as superior compared to the "poor savages"(Takaki 148); likewise in The Tempest, Shakespeare portrayed Prospero as the rightful leader of Caliban's island, just as the Europeans thought of themselves as the rightful rulers of the Americas. However, Prospero did not have the right to exercise authority over Caliban morally and ethically, even though at the time the play was written, it was widely accepted. Hence, The Tempest contains many European principles which are represented through the events and through the actions of characters.

During the Renaissance period, European principles such as concept of superiority influenced the makeup of Prospero character. It allows him to have supremacy and to have "legal" authority over supposedly "inferior" characters such as Caliban. In the text, Prospero is full of wisdom and knowledge, is supreme when compared with, the untamable savage, Caliban. Prospero, like many Europeans, sees himself as the humanizer and the salvation to Caliban. He believed that his presence in the new land is for the good of Caliban. However, Prospero in the end brought oppression and suffering to Caliban similar to numerous deaths of Native Indians due to slavery and diseases effectuated by Europeans wh...

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...he time of Imperialism. Moreover, the teaching of rudimentary language to Caliban, symbolizes the teaching of Christianity to the Natives. Caliban's inability to learn the language but only the foul language symbolizes how Europeans who suppose to "enlighten" the Native Americans but actually caused negative side effects such as diseases, slavery, and eventually brought the downfall of Native Indians' populations along with their culture dramatically.

Such examples from historical truths, one may not judge others by comparing to oneself because of factors like customs, traditions, and culture, which contribute to the makeup of a person's character and personality. Therefore, it does not allow one to judge whether he or she is inferior or superior. Hence, by nature, we have no right to rule over others due to the fact that we perceive ourselves as better than them.