Poor, Poor, Caliban...

In the Postcolonialism article it clarified the different perspectives of the colonialism era; in both the light of the colonizers and colonized. It helped understand the character of Caliban in The Tempest.

In the Postcolonialsim article it explains how, “As soon as the colonized were forced to speak the language of the colonizer, the colonized either accepted or were coerced into accepting the collective consciousness of the French, thereby identifying blackness with evil and sin and whiteness with purity and righteousness.”  In The Tempest Caliban was forced to speak the language of Propsero, and therefore submitted himself under his control by accepting his way of thought.

The article also talks about the generalization given to the “others” that existed among those outside of the newly enforced hemonegy by the colonizers. It explains that the others were considered “subhumans or savages,” and “were indolent, thoughtless, sexually immoral, unreliable, and demented.” Caliban definitely represented this group. When Stephano and Trinculo first encounter him they refer to him as “a monster” and conclude that he was what the inhabitants of the island looked like.

Also the article explains that the colonized were made to “…produce and then give up their countries’ raw materials in exchange for what material goods the colonized desired or were made to believe they desired by the colonizers.” In The Tempest Caliban states, “I’ll show you where to get fresh water. I’ll pick berries for you. I’ll fish for you and get you plenty of firewood… I beg you, let me show where you can find crabs to eat. I’ll use my long fingernails to dig edible roots for you, find you a bird’s nest, and teach you how to catch a nimble monkey.” In return Caliban wanted Stephano to be his master.

So far, I feel that Shakespeare is sympathetic towards Caliban and against the “colonizers.”  He shows the conniving plots of Antonio, Prospero, and Stephano in a somewhat negative and ridiculous light. And although Caliban is depicted as a fowl mouthed savage, I think Shakespeare centralizes on  his innocence in a way as caliban becomes so willing to rule a different master while never really concerning himself with having no master.