The Tempest: A History on Post-Colonial Themes

Word of the Day:

 

Post colonialism

 

[Noun] (post-cole-oni-all-ism)

 

1. Post colonialism is the study of the legacy of the era of European, and sometimes American, direct global domination. It ended roughly in the mid-20th century. The residual political, socio-economic, and psychological terms of the time effected that colonial history in which we know of today.

2. Post colonialism examines the manner in which emerging societies grapple with the challenges of self-determination and how they incorporate or reject the Western norms and conventions. Ironically, much early postcolonial theory, with its emphasis on overt rejection of imposed Western norms, was tied to Marxist theory, which also originated in Europe.

3. Contemporary studies focus more on the effects of postcolonial globalization and the development of indigenous solutions to local needs.

 

During the late 1500's and early 1600's of the artistic reign of Shakespeare: he was primarily fascinated with the culture of the time: Post colonialism. Othello, one of Shakespeare’s well known works of art: focuses on the post-colonial themes of racism and class-status.

 

What does this have to do with The Tempest?

 

Well, it’s simply elementary. The Tempest follows the themes of class and usurpations strongly to the point in where the entire play is structured on the status quo being revoked and reinstated. Let us start from, the beginning:

 

Prospero was the usurped duke of Milan. He we forcibly removed from power by his brother, Antonio. Throughout the play, history repeats in a series of bizarre and inhumane ways.

 

Upon Prospero’s arrival to the island he usurps the power from Caliban (possibly the greatest interpretation of post colonialism), and his mother Sycorax. In his time of enslavement (Caliban being the slavering worker and Prospero being to the man of power), Prospero begins to enlighten Caliban of western education, but ceases his teachings once Caliban attempts to rape his daughter, Miranda. This remains very true to the thoughts of post colonialism due to the times opinions on the African American Culture. (Normally Caliban is portrayed/played by an African American man.) Although it is not clearly spelled out in The Tempest, a better example of post-colonialism themes of race can be found in the pages of Othello.

 

“Othello, the protagonist of the play, is an African moor living in Venice, and a general in the Venetian army.

During Shakespeare's time, the Moors were described as stub- born’, ‘bestial,’ and 'intolerant'. To Elizabethan Londoners, Moors, or Africans in general, were viewed as barbaric.

Africans had visited the Mediterranean long before the time in which the events of the play are set, and a portrayal of Othello as an African makes the plot much more interesting. It adds much to the character's experience of alienation and suspicion as "a stranger in a strange land."

Moreover, Othello's failure to trust in his wife's faithfulness is attributed to the fact that they are from "two different worlds."

(If you want to read more click here: http://postcolonialism.50webs.com/)

 

This is THE TEMPEST, Not OTHELLO…What’s Your Point?

 

The point of using OTHELLO as a comparison is that Shakespeare was thoroughly inspired by the post-colonial movements of his time. The fascination with slaves and status: and the contrast between the freedoms a man is entitled to and the liberty a man has, is a clear theme and driving question of The Tempest. What will MCVTS’ do with the themes of post-colonialism in their production of The Tempest? See the show to find out.

 

For More Information on Post Colonialism click here: http://www.nilsole.net/referate/post-colonialism-definition-development-and-examples-from-india/

Sincerely,
Hayley Michelle & The Students of MCVYS School of Art

The Students of MCVTS School of the Arts
Performance Dates: March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22
112 Rues Lane East Brunswick, NJ
Tickets can be purchased by Students of MCVTS School of The Arts and or at the door