3. William Shakespeare's "The Temptress"

Q: How is Caliban represented in various productions of The Tempest?

A:

• Traditional/Colonial View: Caliban is often portrayed as a "savage," reflecting colonial depictions of indigenous peoples as primitive and inferior.

• Modern/Postcolonial View: Caliban is seen as a symbol of anti-colonial resistance, emphasizing his humanity and struggle against colonization.

• Reclaiming Caliban: Postcolonial critics, like Aime Cesaire, view Caliban as a colonized figure resisting his oppressor.

Q: How does The Tempest use language to "other" Caliban?

A:

• Dehumanizing Language: Terms like "monster," "savage," and "beast" are used to strip Caliban of his humanity.

• Prospero’s Civilizing Language: Prospero tries to teach Caliban English, but Caliban turns the language into an act of resistance.

• Caliban’s Defiance: Caliban uses language as a tool of rebellion, rejecting the colonizer’s culture.

Q: How does The Tempest use the motif of the first encounter and repetition of history?

A:

• First Encounter - Caliban and Prospero: Mirrors European colonial interactions, where initial curiosity devolves into subjugation.

• Caliban and Stephano/Trinculo: Caliban’s mimicry of colonizers reflects the cyclical nature of oppression.

• Usurpation of Power: The play features multiple power struggles (e.g., Antonio vs. Prospero, Prospero vs. Caliban, Stephano vs. Prospero), illustrating colonial power dynamics.

Flashcard 4

Q: How is Caliban depicted as "exotic" in The Tempest?

A:

• Exotic "Other": Caliban embodies the colonial fascination with the "other," representing the mysterious and untamed aspects of the New World.

• Savage Symbolism: Caliban’s physicality and behavior evoke the colonial stereotype of the "savage" as contrasting with the civilized European.

Q: What are the different meanings of slavery in The Tempest, especially in relation to Caliban and Ferdinand?

A:

• Caliban's Slavery: Forced, dehumanizing slavery imposed by Prospero.

• Ferdinand's Slavery: Voluntary servitude, framed as noble and a sign of love for Miranda, in contrast to Caliban's oppression.

• Colonial Implications: Reflects how Europeans viewed relationships with indigenous peoples versus fellow Europeans.

Q: How do Ariel and Ferdinand represent freedom in service?

A:

• Ariel’s Freedom: Ariel’s servitude is motivated by the eventual promise of freedom, highlighting a moral principle behind colonized servitude.

• Ferdinand’s Service: Ferdinand’s servitude, motivated by love for Miranda, represents voluntary submission, ultimately leading to freedom and marriage.

Q: How does The Tempest contrast beauty and goodness with ugliness and evil?

A:

• Ferdinand as Beauty and Goodness: Represents the European ideal of virtue, civility, and nobility.

• Caliban as Ugliness and Evil: Depicted as monstrous and evil, reinforcing colonial stereotypes about the inferiority of the colonized.

Q: How does the play eliminate powerful women like Sycorax and Claribel?

A:

• Sycorax: A powerful witch, but her power is only described, not shown, reflecting the suppression of indigenous feminine power.

• Claribel: Her absence highlights the marginalization of women in colonial power dynamics.

Q: How does the theme of nature vs. nurture play out in Caliban's character?

A:

• Nature: Caliban is portrayed as inherently "savage" or "monstrous" by Prospero, justifying his enslavement.

• Nurture: Despite being taught by Prospero, Caliban becomes rebellious due to exploitation, suggesting that colonization may "create" savagery rather than it being inherent.

Q: How does Caliban's character engage with ideas of civility, art, mind, spirit, and divine grace?

A:

• Civility and Art: Caliban’s art is not European, but it is a form of resistance.

• Mind and Spirit: Caliban possesses intellectual and spiritual qualities, but they are ignored by Prospero.

• Divine Grace: Caliban’s rejection of colonial authority raises questions about redemption and the role of divine grace in colonial experiences.

Q: How does The Tempest depict the colonial encounter through the lens of civilization vs. savagery?

A:

• Prospero as the Civilizer: Represents the European belief that colonizers bring civilization to the "savage" lands.

• Caliban as the "Savage": Caliban resists European civilization, positioning himself as the "uncivilized" other.

• Challenging the Dichotomy: Caliban's resistance critiques the notion that civilization can only be defined by the colonizer.

Q: What is the role of Sycorax and Claribel in The Tempest, and how are they significant in the colonial context?

A:

• Sycorax: Represents indigenous power, but her absence symbolizes the erasure of non-Christian, indigenous women in colonial narratives.

• Claribel: Her absence underscores the marginalization of women in colonial power dynamics, both politically and domestically.

• Thematic Significance: Both women’s exclusion reflects colonial and patriarchal structures that suppress female power, especially that of indigenous women.