Utopian Society in Shakespeares The Tempest :: essays research papers

The study of Shakespeares The Tempest raises many questions as to its interpretation. Many cogitate that this play shows Shakespeares views on the colonization of the new world whereas others rely that this is a play about the ever elusive Utopian high ships company. I believe that this is a play about the European views of society and savagery at that time. I also believe that, if this is true, the play doesnt portray a conventional view of endemic peoples. Shakespeare shows this by having Prospero, the rightful(prenominal) duke of Milan and Usurping ruler of the island, call Caliban, A devil, a born devil on whose nature nurture empennage never stick but wherefore having Miranda, Prosperos daughter, say I pitied thee, took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each minute of arc one thing or another.Prospero is saying that Caliban is a savage who can not be educated, yet we hear that Miranda has taught him to speak, amongst other things. This gives a distant view over the character of Caliban. Is he an uncivilised savage or is he a normal human being?The give-and-take of Caliban could be seen as a representation of the colonisation of the new world, (The Americas) and the treatment of the natural Americans. However, the critic Meradith Anne Skura believes the opposite, We have no external evidence that seventeenth ascorbic acid audiences kibibyteght the play referred to the new world. This interpretation of the play places more ferocity upon the character of the spirit Ariel, who could also be considered as a native of the island. Prospero frees Ariel from a tree and then enslaves the spirit to do his bidding low the promise of total freedom.Calibans main speech (1.2.331-344) reveals the nature of his incarceration and treatment, Here you sty me in this hard rock, whiles you do keep me from the correspondence othisland. Though it is not clear, it seems to me as though Prospero has enwrapped Caliban in a cave and is keeping him from the rest o f the island. The reason for this treatment is much clearer , as Prospero tells us, 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 honour of my child. This tells us that Caliban has tried to rape Miranda at some point and that Prospero treated Caliban much better before the seek rape occurred.