Theme Of Colonialism In The Tempest

Caliban: Shakespeare’s Window to Positive Colonialism

While it is true that different people are predisposed to possessing certain skills and disorders, genetic inferiority does not inhibit one's ability to be virtuous. This is demonstrated in Shakespeare’s, The Tempest, which depicts a genetically and culturally inferior man named Caliban, who cannot completely accept that genetics ultimately determine one’s fate during colonization. In his actions throughout the play, he does not passively accept his assigned position as Prospero’s slave, and instead behaves in a resistant manner, which means that he establishes a set of beliefs and chooses to live by those beliefs. Firstly, the development of Caliban's virtue of perseverance can be observed through his struggle against his genetically superior ally, Prospero. As Caliban continues to develop an appreciation for his own ability to affect change through perseverance, he meets Trinculo and Stephano, who are yet genetically superior people that also suffer from being socially demeaned as a result of the high expectations placed upon them by society. In the end, the political struggle between Caliban and Prospero is resolved, but Caliban showed Trinculo and Stephano that virtue overcomes shallow, genetic limitations. In addition, they both appreciate Caliban's persistence, and they harness Caliban's energy in order to attain the degree of success that was expected of them. Marjorie Garber, a critical author on the play acknowledges that European colonists back in the 16th and 17th century had very little familiarity and knowledge on indigenous tribes (Garber 854). While relating this historical fact to the play, she proceeds to assert that “the contemporary European society surpas...

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...are many negative attributes that cling on to the concept of colonialization. As mentioned previously, Garber argues that colonialization will only emphasize negativity in a relationship due to constructed European thoughts (Garber 854). But Caliban’s colonial-power based relationships during the play show that these types of relationships can also support positive conditions when perseverance attitudes and emotional bonds are involved. From Garber’s point of view though, it is easy to say that in such a society, it is all the more likely that the notion of effort and persistence as significant factors for success will diminish because of Governmental stipulations. A person like Prospero will internalize what is called learned helplessness, which essentially means that they are much more likely to instead; attribute their failings to a deficiency in genetics.