During the end of the 16th century William Shakespeare was one of the most famous writers. Shakespeare wrote all sorts of different genres in his career, but his most popular comedic play is The Tempest. The Tempest is a magical play about wizardry, betrayal, and love. The play takes place on an island where a magical wizard and his daughter life. The two are invaded by seamen who had survived a shipwreck. In the play, Shakespeare criticizes the British colonization in India. Shakespeares The Tempest presents a microcosm in which he argues that British colonialism is unethical.
Shakespeares The Tempest makes it seem like the British had made false promises and had manipulated Indians during their colonizing in India. The island that the seamen land on is inhabited by two exiled Italians. Prospero was the former Duke of Milan but forced to flee to the island with his daughter. His servant on the island, Caliban believes that he is the rightful ruler of the island, but Prospero had taken it from him. Caliban was initially treated as an ignorant child and only put in the spotlight after he attempted to force himself upon the completely innocent Miranda. The charge of "rape" is made more believable in having Miranda tell on Caliban who she calls an "Abhorr'd slave" (1.2.352). Prospero puts Caliban in chains because he has earned the status of slave after he was manipulated. Caliban was originally the only inhibiter of the island, but when Prospero and Miranda come in they took advantage of his wrong doings and took control. After their incident, Caliban realizes the relationship between each other. He knows that they are not friends, but have a relationship like a master and servant. Caliban told Prospero, You taught me language and my profit ont / is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you / For learning me your language! (1.2.366-368). Caliban expresses the manipulation that Prospero had done. Caliban is saying that Prospero has taught him the language, but all he can do is curse. It seems as if Caliban was expecting friendship, but instead he only got trouble. Similar to this, Ariel, Prosperos servant spirit is under Prosperos control. In exchange for his imprisonment in a tree stump, Ariel has agreed to serve his Prospero. In Act I, scene ii, Prospero and Ariel acknowledge that his service will set him free, and Prospero has to keep his word if he does his work. Although Ariel had done his work, he served / Without or grudge or grumblings (1.2.149-150) Prospero does not release him. The false promises that Prospero makes is similar to the way the British treated the native people of India. The false promises on both accounts are unethical in Shakespeares eyes.
According to Shakespeare the British colonization attempts include oppression and exploitation. Caliban has been labeled as a native, in conjunction to the microcosm. Caliban embodies many of the characteristics that the British had associated with the Indians. Caliban is exploited as a bad person. He was projected as an inhuman person because Miranda said, Which any print of goodness wilt not take / Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee, / Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour (1.2.357-360). Miranda thinks that Caliban is a bad person, that he cannot be good. She also says that she pities him. British colonization made exploitation efforts, they tried to make the natives seem like they are the lesser people (http://members.tripod.com/~india_resource/kautskycolonial.html). These efforts are similar to the way Prospero and Miranda made toward Caliban. Caliban is a drunk and is played by another drunk Stephano. Stephano says, "If I can recover him, and keep him tame, and / get to Naples with him, he's a present for any/emperor that ever trod on neat's leather / If I can recover him and / and keep him tame, I will not take too much / for him: he shall pay for him that hath him, / and that soundly" (2.2.41-44). Stephano wants to sell Caliban and exploit him for his absurd traits. The exploitation of Caliban represents the lack of respect for the natives. Shakespeare expresses his disapproval of the British expansion through the disgust of Stephans thoughts. Although it seems that only Caliban and a few others are exploited and oppressed, Miranda is also under control. Miranda is put to sleep by Prosperos words, Thou art inclined to sleep.Tis a good dullness, / And give it way. I know thou canst not choose (1.2.185-186). Although it seemed like Miranda was not under Prosperos power, she is not. Thus indicating that everyone is under Prosperos rule, clearly Shakespeare thinks this is wrong. Prospero is all powerful and is untouched by anyone, which is very similar to the way the Britain was treated in the colonization efforts. The unethical expansion of the British was without doubt under attack through Shakespeares words in the play.
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It is obvious that ethnocentrism is an inhuman and unethical thought and Shakespeare make his opinion known in The Tempest. Ethnocentrism is the thought that ones ethnic group is superior to the other. The British made this clear in their expansion to India, just like Shakespeare made it clear between his characters. In the play, Caliban is not treated like a human, he is treated like a savage animal. Prospero and Miranda seemed to hold the fact that he had tried to rape Miranda over his head because he believes that he is the rightful owner of the island. After Caliban expresses the reason for why the island is his Prospero replies, Thou most lying slave, / Whom stripes my move, not kindness! I have used thee. / Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee / In mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate / The honor of my child (1.2.349-354). Prospero uses that fact to his advantage because he makes everyone see him as a savage, making him the better owner. Also, Prospero uses this to make him and Miranda seem better that Caliban. Miranda also feels the same way about Caliban. Although she has no inner reason to degrade Caliban, she still thinks of him as, A thing most brutish (1.2.359). Miranda also degrades Caliban through her words. She believes that he is almost an animal. This is again an example of ethnocentrism, and it is clearly shown that Shakespeare does not approve of it. Finally, ethnocentrism is noticed in the treatment of Ariel. Prospero had not kept his word and manipulated Ariel to do work for him without a reward (1.2). This is showing a lack of respect, a lack of importance. He knows that he owns him, thus creating ethnocentrism. This important fact of the British colonialism makes it seem unethical, thus helping Shakespeare make his point about British colonialism.
Being created into microcosm for British colonialism, The Tempest written to express Shakespeares disapproval in the, what he thought to be unethical colonization attempts. Although Shakespeare was not a politician and could not express his voice to everyone, creating a play to express his thoughts was genius. Capturing the unethical acts the colonization efforts made, like oppressing, exploitation, false promises, manipulation, and ethnocentrism helped Shakespeare to get his message across. Although Shakespeare is dead today his stories live on and the understand and interpretation of the stories help us get a basis on what happened back in his time.
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