The Tempest By Juan Gines De Sepulveda

Juan Gines de Sepulveda writes of an account that describes the reason that there is a just reason to start a war against the Indians. This perspective tells the reader about the Indians way of life and their beliefs. This is a story of colonialism as the Spaniards believe that their way of life is superior to the Indians and are trying to implement their beliefs upon these people as they enter the Indian’s land. This account by Juan Gines de Sepulveda can be related to a Shakespeare play written years before this event occurred. The Tempest has a theme that expresses aspects of colonialism through symbols. The play shows a natural order of rulership between slaves and their master. Also, the dehumanization of a character due to a lack of knowledge

The Sepulveda text shows the dehumanization of the natives because they are thought to be savages and not human. The Spaniards believe themselves to be superior to the natives since they are human and contain virtues and wisdom. This account expresses that since the Indians eat human flesh they are barbaric and possess inhumane qualities. The Sepulveda text says, “On the contrary, in those same institutions there is proof of the coarseness, barbarism, and innate servility of these men” (13). The Indians acts and way of life is not considered to be humane and because of this the Spaniards believe that these people need their guidance. The Spaniards reemphasize that the Indians are innately servile because they are barbaric and savage. The colonialism text shows that the natives of the land are not human and by their way of life they deserve to be ruled over. In comparison, The Tempest has the native of the Island, Caliban, depicted as a monster and has non-human characteristics like the colonialism texts. Caliban is native to the island that Prospero rules over and is described as a monster. The play describes his features in the

When thou didst not, savage,

Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like

A thing most brutish, I endowed thy purposes

With words that made them known. But thy vile race,” (I:II 325-331).

Prospero explains that it took a lot of effort to teach Caliban language and that by Caliban learning language he will no longer be a vile race on the Island. Caliban has a different perspective on the value of learning language. 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!”(I:II 333-335). He explains that by learning language he possessed nothing of value, but to be able to curse at his master, Prospero. The Tempest reemphasizes that the lack of education of an inferior race shows their innate servility to the beings that already harness knowledge and wisdom. All in all, The Tempest depicts aspects of colonialism through the symbols and acts of the characters throughout the play. The relationship between beings is predestined by the innate nature of the being to be a slave or a master is seen within both texts. The theme of the inhumane perspective of the natives of the travelers who believe themselves to be superior. Lastly, the aspect of believing the natives are uneducated and therefore need to be educated and deserve serve those who have knowledge and language. Shakespeare wrote a story that can be related to the account by Juan de Gines Sepulveda because of the sections