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Colonialism In Shakespeare's The Tempest

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The quote “...there is nothing either good or bad...” was said by William Shakespeare and it relates very much to colonialism in The Tempest. In, The Tempest, Shakespeare is commenting on colonialism. Shakespeare is saying that colonialism can be both negative and positive, but not either or. He is saying colonialism can be good and bad, it can work for the good of the people and for the not-so-good of the people.. Colonialism brings out the finest in a man, but it also brings out the defects in a man. For anyone to go into an isle and bring people subject to one's rule is the main aspects of colonialism. Colonialism is always made out to seem as a rude or absurd thing, when in actuality it can be the best thing that can ever happen to anyone. …show more content…

First to the island,were Caliban and Sycorax, therefore Caliban is a real-life native to the island, and he is described as a fish. Caliban is despised with a deep hatred by Prospero and is described as “a devil, a born devil” (4.1.189). Caliban claims ‘the islands [his] , by Sycorax [his] mother, which [Prospero] tak’st from [me] (1.2.333-334). In this case and “to Caliban, Prospero is the usurper” (Willis 284). Prospero is ignorant to this fact. “Caliban's claim to legitimacy is at least as powerful as Prospero's own” (Willis 284). Again, Shakespeare casts colonialism in a negative light. Shakespeare reveals through Prospero, Caliban, and Ariel, the victims of colonization, that colonization isn’t good. Prospero has begun the process of colonization by enslaving people to him and colonization has brought out the antagonism in …show more content…

Colonialism worked in favor for Prospero, Colonialism changed Prospero’s life positively. Prospero, as mentioned before, enslaved Ariel and Caliban. Prospero, out of anger, got Ariel to generate a storm and “in troops [she]... dispersed them 'bout the isle”(1.2.220). Prospero instructs Ariel to stir up havoc in Alonso's life, following the cruel and horrible deed he committed. Alonso, Gonzalo, Antonio, and Sebastian are looking for Alonso’s son tirelessly. Gonzalo begins to get tired and says he “can go no further”, My old bones ache” (3.3.1-2). Alonso understands Gonzalo being tired because he is “attached with weariness to th’ sulling of [his] spirits” (3.3.5-6). Alonso gives up at the task of looking for his son and encourages Gonzalo to sit and rest. Prospero is then reminded of how Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano are pursuing to murder him, and usurp the island from him, so he sends Ariel to handle them. Shakespeare opens scene five with Prospero wondering how Alonso, Sebastian, Gonzalo, and Antonio are doing. Ariel says that if Prospero was to see them his “affections would become tender” (5.1.18-19) Prospero then decides that he will forgive them for all the evil they done to him, thus Shakespeare is showing how Colonization can be a good thing. Prospero turns to

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Prospero constantly claims that Caliban is incapable of doing anything right and is only capable of committing malicious acts. In the text, Shakespeare states, “Which any print of goodness wilt not take, being capable of all ill.” This statement further emphasizes Prospero’s revulsion towards Caliban. They have both endured neglection and verbal abuse throughout their lifetimes, which has led them to commit wrongful acts of violence upon

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