The Tempest as an Allegory for Colonialism

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The Tempest: The Paper William Shakespeare’s novel, The Tempest, can easily be read as an allegory for colonialism. Being his last work, the novel was written right around the age of Spanish exploration and the discovery of the Americas. Like most of Shakespeare’s plays, The Tempest can be read and understood in many different ways. Shakespeare’s representation of the colonizer and the colonized are obvious, however. It is clear how Shakespeare cleverly chose characters to represent larger figures that were in play at the time. His characters reveal several times in the play that they actually represent something larger than they. It is also clear that Shakespeare is opposing exploration and how the colonized are treated on their land. In The Tempest, Shakespeare not only uses people to play a part in his allegory, but also spirits, magic, and objects. Almost every aspect of the play alludes to the colonization of the new world. The main character, Prospero, represents the colonizers, or the Spaniards. The Island represents the new world, upon which Prospero unpredictably landed. The character Caliban represents the natives of the new world, or the Indians. He was of a different color and appearance than Prospero was used to. Because of this, he was called things like fish and monster, which is similar to how the Native Americans were called Indians. Prospero’s books can represent knowledge, power, and disease. Caliban fears Prospero because he has the books, which give him his magical abilities. “Remember first to possess his books, for without them he’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not one spirit to command” (Shakespeare 105). Prospero can also use magic in the play, which represents technology. Prospero is more advanced than Caliban because he has access to technology, which Caliban does not understand. Prospero can use his magic to
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