Is there really a right way to read?

After reading through the article and looking at the issue from both George Will’s and Stephen Greenblatt’s positions, there seems to be no conclusion.  George Will supports the side that authors already have a predetermined meaning and that literary critics and teachers look too far into the text.  Stephen Greenblatt feels that to only look at the surface level of a book and not look for an underlying meaning would be taking away from the text.

George Will believes that, “All literature is, whether writers are conscious of it or not, political” (111).  However, Will suggests that “the academics who reinterpret Shakespeare in the light of colonialism, feminism, and other current preoccupations are rendering the plays unrecognizable to the ordinary reader and playgoer” (110).  Although George Will acknowledges the fact that literature can always be interpreted in the political light, he feels that if these plays or works are reinterpreted to address the issues of feminism or colonialism then the ordinary reader would not look at the meaning of the plays as the author intended.  He feels that “Criticism displaces literature and critics displace authors as bestowers of meaning” (112).  Will feels that criticizing works of literature takes away the author’s intended meaning.  Therefore Will is an advocate for not critiquing the works of author’s and letting the original meaning of the text stand.

On the other hand, Stephen Greenblatt believes in looking for underlying meanings and searching for possible interpretations of a text.  He says in terms of interpreting Shakespeare’s text The Tempest that “these are among the issues that literary scholars investigate and encourage their students to consider” (114).  Greenblatt feels that it is critical to look at all the potential issues addressed within the text and expand upon the author’s initial meaning.

After reading the article, I still find it hard to find a conclusion.  Is there really a correct way to read?  I agree with Will in that it is important to understand the author’s intended meaning.  However, how will we completely identify the author’s purpose?  Therefore I agree with Greenblatt in that we need to be aware of the possible interpretations of the text.

Caliban=Imperialism

After looking deeper into The Tempest, it becomes clear that Shakespeare is making a point about imperialism.  During British colonization, we saw Great Britain as a country looking to imperialize many nations and teach these nations their ways.  British leaders looked down on these nations and saw their people as nothing more than savages.  Within The Tempest, Caliban represents the natives and those nations colonized by the British.  Caliban was among the first to inhibit the island in which he now works as a slave.  He is the only true native to the island, and he feels that Prospero has taken the island from him.  When Caliban first comes on scene he tells Prospero that “This island belongs to me because Sycorax, my mother, left it to me” (Shakespeare  43).  Caliban also familiarized Prospero with the island by showing him all the freshwater springs along with all the fertile places.  This relates to the colonization period because as nations came in to gain control, they took over the natural resources and used them for their own benefit.  They also put people to work, in the same way Caliban is forced to labor for his master, Prospero. 

Going along with the article about postcolonialism, we see how Caliban was manipulated and forced under Prospero’s control.  Postcolonial theorist Frantz Fanon observed the circumstances of the blacks under French control.  He noted “that 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 conscious of the French” (Ashcroft 239).  Once Caliban was taught language, he was able to communicate with Prospero and Miranda.  With this he was able to show them around the island and teach them about the nature of his birthplace.  However, Caliban did not readily accept the ways of his colonizer.  Once the relationship between him and Prospero turned sour he regrets learning language at all and says, “You taught me language and all I can do with it is curse.  Damn you for teaching me language!” (Shakespeare 45).

The Tempest Act I

There are several clear instances where Prospero is able to manipulate others on the island through the use of rhetoric. Prospero holds total control over both of his servants. Ariel and Caliban are both forced to obey and submit the authority of their maser, Prospero. These instances occur when both of his slaves grow weary of their positions and express their desires for freedom. After Ariel completes his job of causing the ship to wreck, he reminds Prospero that “You promised to take a full year off my sentence” (Shakespeare 33). Prospero does not put up with Ariel’s request, and he reminds Ariel where he came from. He refers to the past and tells Ariel “You know better than anyone how tortured you were when I found you. Your groans made wolves howl, and even made bears feel sorry for you” (37). Prospero immediately hits Ariel with a narrative from the past and makes him feel sorry for complaining about his position. Ariel resubmits to his master’s authority once he is reminded of where he came from and how much better off he is. Prospero’s use of rhetoric is effective enough to hold total control over his servant.

Prospero narratives also work to some extent on his other slave, Caliban. Caliban disobeys in a more crude manner, but ultimately, Caliban knows he is not strong enough to overpower Prospero. Prospero visits Caliban and gives him orders and duties that he is to follow. However, Caliban replies disrespectfully and Prospero threatens him by saying, “I’ll send goblins out at night to work their nasty deeds on you. You’ll be pricked all over, and it’ll sting like bees” (43). Prospero refers to the supernatural and orders Caliban to obey him. Although Caliban does not willingly accept Prospero’s task, he cooperates for fear of being attacked by the supernatural. Prospero’s use of rhetoric proves to work effectively on Caliban. Although Caliban does not want to submit to the authority, Prospero’s use of narratives allows him to completely reign over Caliban.

The Ultimate Socratic Circle Discussion

I felt that we had a strong discussion during the extended period on Thursday. There were several main points that stuck out to me, and I was also able to draw some similarities to 1984. One of the topics that most stood out to me from Kristen Gardner’s article was the idea that our history here in America is being narrowed down to a white history. She mentions that with the teachings of WWII teachers should include “how African Americans fought for desegregation of the military; and how Mexican Americans created the G.I. Forum to ensure veterans benefits after their discharge from service.” These points are sometimes overlooked because they are not thought of as important. I remember a statement that somebody made during the first discussion group that was something along the lines of “Aren’t whites becoming the minority here in America? Therefore, shouldn’t we include the important history created by the minorities of those times?” I thought this was a good thought, and whether or not whites are becoming the minorities, I still feel that it is important for teachers to include teachings about the minorities and the impact that they had on our American history. America is made up of a mixture of races and cultures so it is important to include these minority voices in our past. America’s identity is based on unique customs collected from the different groups that have moved and settled here.


Another issue that was discussed was the importance of learning from our mistakes. If history was rewritten to make America look like a perfect nation then we would be in danger of recreating the past and making the same mistakes that have already hurt us. Based on this idea, I was able to contrast our history and the history in 1984. In Oceania, the government’s goal was to make it appear as if Big Brother was always right and make its citizens feel that they were a perfect nation. However, here in America, we pride on learning from our mistakes and bettering our future. We do this by recording our mistakes so we do not end up creating the same problems that have already plagued us. The Oceania government would be unable to learn from their mistakes because they are continually covering up their faults.