The Tempest Research Paper

The Tempest, written by William Shakespeare, is heavily influenced by the themes of slavery, colonialism, and racial power, all of which were painfully relevant to the historical context of the play. The relationship between conquerors and the conquered in the play can be accurately depicted by two historical journal accounts: Journal of Captain Phillips and Journal of a 12 Year Old Boy. These journals provide insight into the racial differences and power that came with being white, and the mistreatment and dehumanization of the enslaved people, which can be related to the experiences of Caliban in his relationship with Prospero. The play begins with a shipwrecked group of people ending up on a deserted island ruled by the powerful Prospero,

Phillips goes as far as to refer to them as goods when he is talking about his business deals, describing their physical characteristics and age as if they were objects someone was describing to a potential buyer. Similarly, in the Journal of a 12 Year Old Boy, the enslaved people are described as nothing more than cargo being shipped from one place to another. The boy tells about how when he was discouraged about how much longer their trip would be, the captain offered him a slave to make him feel better. He did this with such ease and disregard for life that he was giving away as easily as an adult would give a child candy. The conquerors' treatment of the enslaved and servants was inhumane, as there was complete disregard for both their physical and psychological needs. Cramped at the bottom level of the ship with overcrowding, bad food and water, and seldom allowed on deck created an environment for disease, death, and hopelessness. The slaves were beaten, even if they did nothing wrong, as an example of what could happen if they were to

His ending was tragic and cruel; however, he died with a sense of agency. Overall, The Tempest and the two journal accounts provide insights into the inhumane mistreatment of captives and slaves by their conquerors. The relationship between servant and master is based on oppression, demonstrated through the outcomes of the journeys on the ship. Social, political, and economic justifications are all present as to why the conquerors believed that they were better and above those they enslaved, but it ultimately comes down to the idea of white supremacy and freedom being determined by the color of one’s skin. Despite the depersonalization and horrific mistreatment of the enslaved, many held on to their identity and sense of agency. The Tempest, while a story and not true, gives good insight into the inner workings of master and servant, and how they might interact. The journals give real accounts of how the Slave Trade worked and justifications and excuses as to why it was perceived as okay. Reading the two side by side allowed for multiple perspectives to be