The Ongoing Tempest Debate…. and preparing to write

When it comes to interpreting Shakespeare’s work, The Tempest, there are many different ways in which the meaning of the text can be looked at.  From one point of view, columnist George Will maintains that looking into The Tempest and interpreting the text as a message about imperialism is looking too deeply into the meaning.  Will speaks for the common reader and claims that the “academics that interpret Shakespeare in the light of colonialism…are rendering the plays unrecognizable to the ordinary reader” (110).  However, on the other hand, Stephen Greenblatt believes that The Tempest is without a doubt making reference to colonialism.  Greenblatt states that “it is very difficult to argue that The Tempest is not about imperialism” (114).  Greenblatt uses the conflict between the savage, Caliban, and the prince, Prospero to show that Shakespeare’s intentions were to raise awareness on the issue of imperialism.  Extending upon Greenblatt’s views, Aime Cesaire also looks at The Tempest in terms of colonialism.  Aime was active in restoring the cultural identity of black Africans.  He rewrites the play and emphasizes the dialogue between Prospero and Caliban.  He also includes dialogue to show a plot that Ariel and Caliban discuss about getting back at Prospero for making them suffer.  Therefore, after looking at the text in all of these different lights, we can see that Shakespeare’s text, The Tempest, does make reference to colonialism.  There are several instances where Caliban is portrayed as a savage, and even Stephano says that he “is some monster of the isle with four legs” (98).  Stephano and Trinculo both think that Caliban is some kind of a monster and even state that he looks like a fish.  This instance definitely relates to imperialism; outsiders coming in and passing extreme judgments on the natives.  In Prospero’s case, he feels that he is helping Caliban and doing him a favor by teaching him language.  Caliban, on the other hand, feels that he is mistreated and enslaved.  Without a doubt, I feel that The Tempest makes reference to colonialism.