The Cycle of Slavery in The Tempest Essays -- Tempest essays

The Cycle of Slavery in The Tempest William Shakespeares The Tempest blends elements of adventure and intellectual inquiry. The plot of Shakespeares last lap contains comedy, ro humanityce, and action enough to sustain the interest of his common audience. However, there lies on a lower floor the eloquent language and exciting plot an intelligent political commentary. Shakespeare uses the context of use of a virtually uninhabited island as an experimental testing lay down for the institution of knuckle downry. Shakespeare shows through his island experiment that subjugation, once instituted, seems to perpetuate itself. time the almost automatic explanation of this cyclical nature of slavery would be to understand that this political rule is continued by the subjugators, the surprising reality is that it is the dupe of colonialism who continues the bike of slavery. Caliban, the native islander(2.2.36), despises his condition as a slave. However, in his attempt to disrupt and overthrow the political order instituted on the island by Prospero, Caliban actually provides evidence of the force play of slavery over both man and mind. Calibans initial attempt to defy Prosperos power via a verbal curse actually gives Prospero more authority as overtop in that the curse acknowledges the dukes ultimate power. Caliban begins his speech with the vengeful collect that all the evil infections(2.2.1) under the sun fall(2.2.2) upon the tyrant(2.2.160) Prospero. While Caliban wishes for Prospero to be so harmed by sickness, the slave does not have the power to make this happen. Instead, he must request that these evils fall(2.2.2) of their own conformance upon Prospero. Calibans lack of authority because of his condition as a slave is immediately contrasted to that... ...tly subjugate Trinculo. This brilliant strategic move on Calibans part further perpetuates the cycle of subjugation. Once again it is the victim of slavery who acts as the agent in establishing an d perpetuating slavery. In trying to benefit himself by breaking free of slavery, Caliban instead benefits the very practice he so despises. Slavery exerts its power in every aspect of Calibans life. In his speech, in his actions, in his thoughts, and even in his attempts to break free of slavery, Caliban cannot incline the powerful effects of subjugation. Caliban does not succeed in breaking the cycle of slavery. Its power and tendency to perpetuate itself are too great. Instead, the slaves attempt to end his servitude actually propagates rather than abolishes the practice of slavery. Works CitedShakespeare, William. The Tempest. Mineloa, NY Drover, 1999.