The Tempest Colonization
The Tempest, a theatrical piece by William Shakespeare, was made in the age of expansion. This is evident in the play, as there are many instances in which colonization is apparent. Prospero embodies the role of “the colonizer” in the Tempest because of his abuseful, controlling and demeaning relationship with the non-European inhabitant of the island he was exiled to. This is evident because he changes the way Caliban acts when he first arrives to the island and treats him like he is lesser than and forces him to do manual labor; although, Prospero does at times treat other people similarly.
Firstly, when Prospero comes to the island, he finds a boy, Caliban, living there. Later, when Caliban is talking he says “You taught me language,” showing …show more content…
that Prospero has been culturally assimilating him. (1. ii. 437). It is likely that Prospero has also him other things such as teaching him “how/ To name the bigger light and how the less,/ That burn by day and night”(1. ii. 400-403). Many colonizers will make the natives of the area they conquered change the way they act to be more like them. When Prospero does this to Caliban, it is a sure sign of being a colonizer.
Also, Prospero insults Caliban and his mother, Sycorax, quite often.
Throughout the novel, Prospero calls Caliban “slave” eight out of the nine times it is said. The other time it is in the play, Miranda is using it, likely because her father has raised her to believe that she is superior to Caliban. Furthermore, Prospero calls Sycorax a “damned witch” (1. ii. 316). He, like many other colonizers, thinks himself above people of other races, and insults them whenever possible.
Prospero is not only abusive to non-Europeans, though. He is cruel to many people, including his daughter, as throughout the play, he calls her “wench” three times. Also, he forces Ferdinand to do his bidding, although the prince somewhat chooses to do so, and is rewarded with Miranda’s hand in marriage afterwards. While Prospero is still unkind and manipulative with them, his cruelty is far more inhumane when he is dealing with Caliban.
In the end, it is fairly clear that Prospero is a colonizer, because he treats the earlier inhabitants of the island in a demeaning way. Throughout the play, it is shown that he has assimilated Caliban partially into his culture and treated him cruelly. Although he does treat some others this way, his treatment of the Natives is far worse. Knowing how to detect colonizers is important so that history can be understood and, in this case, never
repeated.
Firstly, when Prospero comes to the island, he finds a boy, Caliban, living there. Later, when Caliban is talking he says “You taught me language,” showing …show more content…
that Prospero has been culturally assimilating him. (1. ii. 437). It is likely that Prospero has also him other things such as teaching him “how/ To name the bigger light and how the less,/ That burn by day and night”(1. ii. 400-403). Many colonizers will make the natives of the area they conquered change the way they act to be more like them. When Prospero does this to Caliban, it is a sure sign of being a colonizer.
Also, Prospero insults Caliban and his mother, Sycorax, quite often.
Throughout the novel, Prospero calls Caliban “slave” eight out of the nine times it is said. The other time it is in the play, Miranda is using it, likely because her father has raised her to believe that she is superior to Caliban. Furthermore, Prospero calls Sycorax a “damned witch” (1. ii. 316). He, like many other colonizers, thinks himself above people of other races, and insults them whenever possible.
Prospero is not only abusive to non-Europeans, though. He is cruel to many people, including his daughter, as throughout the play, he calls her “wench” three times. Also, he forces Ferdinand to do his bidding, although the prince somewhat chooses to do so, and is rewarded with Miranda’s hand in marriage afterwards. While Prospero is still unkind and manipulative with them, his cruelty is far more inhumane when he is dealing with Caliban.
In the end, it is fairly clear that Prospero is a colonizer, because he treats the earlier inhabitants of the island in a demeaning way. Throughout the play, it is shown that he has assimilated Caliban partially into his culture and treated him cruelly. Although he does treat some others this way, his treatment of the Natives is far worse. Knowing how to detect colonizers is important so that history can be understood and, in this case, never
repeated.