It is a fact that Shakespeare’s plays are an essential part of the Elizabethan period and hence deal with topics characteristic of this time. This is also true of The Tempest, which was probably written in 1610 – 1611, for it is concerned with the theme of colonization and exploration of the New World, the newly discovered Americas. The Elizabethan period is known as the Age of Exploration.
Thus, The Tempest not only deals with the effects of colonization and civilization on the natives but some critics also tend to read this play as a metaphor of colonialism, since every character is concerned with how he would govern the island if he was the ruler. However, The Tempest can be regarded as a play whose plot is completely original and also very personal. The critic Richard Dutton even claims that there is a “theory that Prospero in The Tempest represents Shakespeare himself”.
Critics have taken this play very seriously and have pointed out its complexity. Hence, Stanley Wells says that “The Tempest (…) is a supremely poetic drama (…) because it speaks (…) on many levels, universally relevant (…) and (…) universally effective”. Why is The Tempest regarded as so original and unique? Well, one might find an answer to this question by taking a closer look at its background, its sources, its structure and at its main characters.
For this reason, I will deal with the sources of The Tempest in more detail in the following chapter. In a next step, the dramatic structure of the play will be analyzed. Since this play is mainly about colonizers and the colonized, it is also of vital importance to analyze the prominent character Caliban and the European characters’ attitude to him, in this context. It will be argued that Caliban becomes a victim of colonization.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sources
3. Dramatic Structure
4. The Colonizer and the Colonized
4.1. Caliban, the Victim of Colonization
4.2. The European Characters’ Attitude to Caliban
5. Summary
6. Works Cited
Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines Shakespeare's play The Tempest through the lens of colonial discourse, focusing on the power dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized. It aims to demonstrate how the character of Caliban serves as a representation of the "Other" and ultimately becomes a victim of European colonial expansion and cultural imposition.
- The relationship between colonial expansion and the Elizabethan era.
- Influence of historical travelogues and Montaigne’s philosophy on the play.
- Analysis of the play’s adherence to neoclassical dramatic unities.
- The depiction of Caliban as a victim of colonization and his resistance.
- The Eurocentric perspective in the characterization of native figures.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. The European Characters’ Attitude to Caliban
As a matter of fact, Caliban seems to be an ambiguous character and depicted as being half man and half animal. This reveals the European attitude towards the Other as will be shown in more detail in the following. For example, Prospero addresses Caliban as a tortoise: “Come, thou tortoise” (Tempest, Act I, Scene 2, p. 18, l. 316) and regards him as “disproportioned in his manners/As in his shape ” (Tempest, Act V, Scene 1, p. 76 , ll. 289-290).
Throughout the play Caliban is described as a strange fish-like being. Hence, Trinculo who finally finds that Caliban must have been deformed by a thunderbolt initially refers to him as a fish-like monster. He is not sure what he sees when first encountering Caliban: “What have we here? A man or a fish? Dead or alive? / A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fishlike smell” (Tempest, Act II, Scene 2, p. 37, ll. 24-25). Trinculo thinks that Caliban is “legged like a man, and his fins like arms” (ibid, l. 32). Stephano also has the impression that there is something animal-like and monstrous about Caliban. He sees Caliban as “(…) some monster of the isle with four legs,/ who hath got (…) an ague” (Tempest, Act II, Scene 2, p. 38, ll. 62-63).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the play within the Age of Exploration and introduces the primary thesis regarding Caliban as a victim of colonization.
2. Sources: Discusses the influence of historical colonial events, contemporary letters, and philosophical essays like Montaigne's on the development of the play's plot.
3. Dramatic Structure: Analyzes how the play utilizes neoclassical unities and a five-act structure to frame its narrative and character conflicts.
4. The Colonizer and the Colonized: Investigates the power imbalance, focusing on Caliban's dehumanization and his struggle against Prospero’s authority.
4.1. Caliban, the Victim of Colonization: Explores Caliban's embodiment of colonial discourse and his complex role as a native figure viewed through a European lens.
4.2. The European Characters’ Attitude to Caliban: Details the derogatory and animalistic perceptions of Caliban held by the European characters, emphasizing his alienation.
5. Summary: Recaps the main arguments, reaffirming that Caliban’s status is corrupted by European civilization rather than maintained as an ideal of natural innocence.
6. Works Cited: Lists the primary and secondary sources used in the analysis of the play.
Key Words
The Tempest, William Shakespeare, Colonization, Caliban, Prospero, New World, Colonial Discourse, Other, Montaigne, Cultural Relativism, Elizabethan Era, Eurocentrism, Victimization, Literary Analysis, Dramatic Unities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on William Shakespeare's The Tempest, specifically analyzing the play as a reflection of colonial expansion and the relationship between the colonizers and the indigenous people.
Which specific themes are addressed?
Key themes include the impact of civilization on native peoples, the influence of historical travel reports on literature, and the philosophical conflict between nature and colonial order.
What is the primary research question?
The primary research question investigates how Caliban is represented as a victim of colonization and how the European characters' attitudes toward him reflect a broader Eurocentric worldview.
What methodology is applied?
The author uses literary and cultural analysis, drawing on historical context, contemporary travel documents, and post-colonial theory to interpret the characters and the plot.
What subjects are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the origins and sources of the play, the dramatic structure in relation to Aristotelian unities, and a deep-dive analysis of Caliban's role and characterization.
How are the characters described in the paper?
Characters are examined through their relationships and actions: Prospero is analyzed as a controlling force, while Caliban is depicted as a complex, often mistreated figure representing the "Other."
How does the author interpret the island's setting?
The author argues that while the play may be set in the Mediterranean, it serves as an allegorical space representing the "New World" and the impacts of European colonialism.
In what way does the author contrast Caliban with Montaigne's "cannibals"?
The author notes that while Montaigne idealized natives as noble and unspoiled, Shakespeare presents Caliban as corrupted, weak, and ultimately damaged by European influence.
Why is Caliban's use of language significant?
Language is viewed as a tool of oppression; Caliban's rejection of it signifies his resistance against his masters, even though he remains trapped in a dependent state.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Sirinya Pakditawan (Author), 2006, The Colonizer and the Colonized. Analysis of Shakespeare's "The tempest", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/284062
