The Tempest and Colonialism

After reading the first three Acts of The Tempest by Shakespeare and Literarcy Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice by Charles Bressler, I have seen a few similarities with how Caliban is treated and colonialism. When Prospero and Miranda landed on the same island as Caliban, Prospero had his own hegemony, "that is dominant values, sense of right and wrong, and sense of personal self-worth," that he forced onto Caliban (234 Bressler). Meaning when Prospero first found Caliban living his own life on his island, both Prospero and Miranda thought they were helping Caliban when they "took pains to make [Caliban] speak" and "taught [Caliban] each hour one thing or another" (Act 1, Scene2, Lines 356-357). They saw him as a subhuman that was not up to par with what they were. Thus, they saw it fit to colonize Caliban to  become closer to their level of equality.

When Trinculo and Stephano come across Caliban, who was trying to receive firewood for Prospero, they share wine and thoughts that lead to Stephano wanting to keep Caliban around. As Trinculo said, "...he's not much of a monster" yet, "...a poor, gullible monster" (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 120-122). These words have the same meanign as calling other races subhumans or "savages", a topic discussed in Bressler's article. This leads to "a philosophical concept called alternity whereby 'the others' are excluded from positions of power and viewed as different and inferior" (236). This is exactly where Trinculo and Stephano put Caliban as they call him "servant monster." They see his monstorous looks and savage ways of physical behavior as something underneath them meaning they just have to take Caliban under their wings and teach him anew. Add in their hopes to rule the island, this is colonization happening. So far they've taken over the people inhabiting the island, check; brough in alternity to see them as inferior, check; began to force labor on them, check; imposed their personal hegemony, check. The next step would be to spread more people under their rule throughout the island. With that I think there is evidence showing Caliban as the native people.

Shakespeare does portray the white man as being superior to others around him, in reference to how Caliban is treated so far. From Prospero in the beginning to Trinculo and Stephano now, all have attempted to take advantage of Caliban's gullibility and "savage-ness" to colonialize the native peoples on that island.