English 1005: First Written Assignment Staging Caliban

English 1005: First Written Assignment Staging Caliban

Shakespeare’s The Tempest has portrayed and presented Caliban in various perspectives. The primary point of concern is colonialism. In several instances, the presentation and staging of Caliban have changed from that of half-animal to “others” in the current colonial times. The character, Césaire’s Caliban, is ethnically mistreated for being black. The suggestion is that The Tempest is a modification to black theatre adaptation. As an adaptation, this essay stages Caliban in the modern staging of The Tempest. The epicenter is colonialism in the pre-colonial times.

One of the core ways to stage the Caliban is as the “other.” In William Shakespeare’s’ The Tempest, Caliban has been presented as part and parcel of the colonial paradigm. Concerning the suggestions given by Prospero, Caliban attempted to rate Miranda. The native is thus, a rapist as he admits his guilt. He remarks as follows:

O ho, O ho! Wouldn’t have been done!

Thou didst prevent me.

I had peopled else this isle with Caliban (I.ii.419-421)

The acknowledgment is a justification of the colonial setting backgrounds of the play. This scene is a culmination of a model that possibly justifies colonialism.  Being stages as the “other,” Caliban speaks for Europe. In agreement with this, the West has consequently increased its sentience of the Caliban’s rank as a populated symbol that has been subjected to a lot of oppression.

There are a few instances in Shakespear’s The Template that are related to this issue of concern. The adoption of Caliban by the Third World is ironic because its origin was in Europe. On the contrary, the oppressions had roots in the West. Certainly, Caliban doesn’t prioritize the search for his true freedom when he decides to work for Stephano, as a novel principle. Caliban remarks as follows:

“I’ll show thee every fertile inch o’ the’ island, /And I will kiss thy foot.

I prithee, be my god” (II.ii.154-155).

As an alternative to joining the war against colonialism, Caliban is portrayed dependent on his master, what is currently being experienced in the world. As a defensive mechanism when his rebellion fails, Caliban says:

Ay, that I will, and I’ll be wise hereafter And seek for grace.

What a thrice-double ass Was I to take this drunkard for a god, And worship this dull fool! (V.i.351-354)

The closing speech presented above presents Caliban as a vehicle possessing some problems in getting rid of the resistance that has origin in European models. Caliban’s resistance against Prospero’s oppression is not liberation and will always remain a major issue. Many Third World countries have limitations in their search for degeneration and transformation.

In summary, colonialism and oppression are at discourse in The Tempest. The euphemization of the abuse of Prospero is an example of the revelation. Caliban’s absurd insurgence is used to validate his reliance. The unsuccessful revolt shows that Caliban is restricted by the anxiety to better his life. In this era, it is essential to note that countries are using the Caliban as a resistance figure against European colonial domination to achieve independence.

Works Cited

William, Shakespeare. Tempest. Charles River Editors, 2018.