The Tempest Colonialism

Colonialism is when people explore new geographical places and then take political control over those lands. In addition, Colonization in America started when Christopher Columbus discovered it in 1492. Therefore, when viewing The Tempest, by Shakespeare, a reader can agree he was inspired by the colonization of America. While The Tempest offers a variety of themes, it tells a story of a usurped duke named Prospero, and how he arranged a shipwreck to extract revenge on those who wronged him, allowing him political control over everyone on the land. Conversely, after Prospero colonized the new land, Caliban retaliates because he was there before Prospero, just like the Indians in America before Christopher Columbus came along. Shakespeare’s
In addition, once Ariel asks Prospero if he will free him, Prospero immediately attacks him and reminds him how he freed him from the witch Sycorax, who Ariel was a slave to before Prospero showed up: “When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape / The pine and let thee out” (Lines 429-430). Furthermore, this is also where a reader learns Prospero manipulates Ariel into thinking Ariel owes him since he saved him from Sycorax’s magic when she stuck him in an oak for twelve winters, causing Ariel to remain submissive due to the hopes of one day being free. However, even though Prospero and Ariel have a great relationship, Ariel is his slave, revealing Prospero as a colonizer who exploits his subjects for his own personal advantage, and his magic appears to be his connection to
Caliban is Sycorax’s son and when she died, Caliban felt he should rule the land that once was hers: “This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, / Which thou takest from me” (Lines 482-483). Furthermore, when Prospero arrived, he took care of Caliban until Caliban tried sleeping with his daughter Miranda, causing Prospero to treat Caliban like an Indian, the same as the Europeans did when they discovered America. The Europeans pushed the Indians aside and took over just as Prospero does with Caliban and Ariel. In addition, Caliban starts to reject the knowledge he has gained from Prospero: “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” (Lines 517-519)! These lines show a reader that Caliban would rather stay in a primitive state of ignorance than to become knowledgeable by rejecting everything Prospero has taught him. Conversely, a reader learns even though Caliban strives to be the leader and rejects Prospero, he will do anything to no longer serve