Prospero's Slaves

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how "The Tempest" is, perhaps, Shakespeare's most universally appropriate play in that its multicultural and colonial themes have attracted substantial study from all over the world and its characters have been employed as models for both further literary work. In particular it discusses how Caliban is, without question, a slave and how enslavement is a theme that pervades the play as a whole. It investigates this theme, not only in relation to Caliban, but also to the spirit Ariel and, to some extent, Prospero's daughter Miranda.

From the Paper:

"It would not be insensible to argue that any audience of The Tempest finds itself subject to Prospero's rule. Knowledge of all action previous to the events which take place on stage is presented in the most part through Prospero. Indeed, all of the other characters, once upon the island, are only able to perform what is permitted them by Prospero. Caliban enters on his command, Ariel begins the play in creating a storm at his order, and the passengers of the King's ship are lured into neat groups around the island in preparation for his plan for the recovery of his Dukedom. Most significantly, however, is the position of Prospero's daughter, Miranda. She has lived on the island for nearly all of her cognizant life, taking all of her knowledge of human society from her father."

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• Comparison Essay # 50944 : "Slave Rebellions"
• Essay # 85600 : "Canadians and fugitive American slaves"
• Book Review # 112168 : "Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Elizabethan Colonialism"

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