The Concept of Race

Q: How was race defined in the early modern period?

A: In the early modern period, race was not understood as a biological or genetic category. Instead, people were classified based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, and class. The modern concept of race began to develop in the 17th and 18th centuries with European colonial expansion.

Q: How was the concept of "bloodline" related to race in early modern Europe?

A: "Bloodline" was linked to ideas of purity and noble descent. It signified a person’s lineage and identity, and "race" was often more closely tied to ethnicity or national origin rather than physical characteristics.

Q: How did nation and religion overlap with race in the early modern period?

A: People were often classified based on national origin (e.g., English vs. Spanish, French, or Italian) and religion (e.g., Catholic vs. Protestant), both of which were factors in determining race. Religious differences were seen as markers of cultural or racial "otherness."

Q: How does race intersect with colonialism in Shakespeare’s "The Tempest"?

A: In "The Tempest," Caliban embodies the racial "other" as a native inhabitant of the island colonized by Prospero. His mixed heritage and portrayal as a “savage” reflect the colonial anxieties of racial superiority and the subjugation of native peoples during European imperialism.

Q: What role does class play in the early modern concept of race?

A: The noble class was often considered racially superior due to their "pure" bloodlines, while the lower classes (peasants or laborers) were seen as inferior. Race could be a social marker, but social class (wealth, birth, occupation) played a significant role in defining one's status.

Q: How did gender interact with race and class in early modern Europe?

A: Women were often seen as inferior to men, and their treatment was influenced by both race and class. For example, Caliban's mother, Sycorax, embodies both racial and gendered fears of colonization. Non-European women were often portrayed as exotic and subjugated by colonizers.

Q: How is race portrayed in "The Tempest"?

A: Race is explored through characters like Caliban (a racial "other"), Ariel (a supernatural figure with ambiguous race), and Prospero (a colonizer). These characters embody ideas about colonialism, racial identity, and bloodline, with Caliban representing the native "savage" and Prospero’s Italian noble bloodline reinforcing his sense of entitlement over the island.

Q: How does colonialism influence racial identity in early modern thought?

A: Colonialism brought Europeans into contact with peoples of different races and cultures, and these differences were often racialized to justify subjugation. In "The Tempest," Prospero's colonization of the island mirrors the European imperialist project, where race and colonialism are intertwined.

Q: What is the relationship between race and colonialism in "The Tempest"?

A: Colonialism is central to the play, with Prospero exerting control over the island and its native inhabitants, especially Caliban. Racial differences justify the European dominance over the colonized, reflecting the racial hierarchies of early modern European imperialism.

Q: What does Shakespeare’s portrayal of race in "The Tempest" suggest about early modern views on race and colonialism?

A: Shakespeare explores race through characters like Caliban, representing colonial anxieties. The play suggests that racial identity in early modern Europe was complex, shaped by bloodline, religion, class, and colonialism. The intersection of these factors reflects the racial ideologies underpinning European colonialism during that time.