Intersections of Race, Class, and Gender in the Tempest Essay

In Shakespeares play, The Tempest, the characters of Prospero and Caliban, represent two different extremes on the kind spectrum the ruler, and the ruled. Their positions on the social hierarchy are largely due to the fact that Caliban responds almost wholly to passions, feelings of pleasure his senses, objet dart Prospero is ruled more(prenominal) by his intellect and self-will his mind. at heart The Tempest there are obvious social implications regarding this social hierarchy, with the representations of characters such as Caliban and Prospero. During Shakespeares time social classification was much more rigid than today and some members of society were considered superior to opposite members. Shakespeare attempts to provide an example of this rigid social structure. Shakespeare illustrates how superior men differentiated themselves from lesser beings on the basis of race, class, and g stoper. Through the characterization of Prospero, Shakespeare provides an example of one, w ho had reason to feel superior and often did voice his superiority, yet at times treated others on a more holistic level and even forgave others wrong doings.In the closing scene of William Shakespeares, The Tempest, through dialogue with Antonio, Prospero states This thing of shadower I/ Acknowledge mine (V.1.275-6). This statement by Prospero is simply stating what Prospero bona fidely believes, that he is genuinely the master of Caliban and the rest of the island because he colonized it. Prospero had one connect many, if not all, of the other inhabitants of the island did not posess a wealth of knowledge. The source of all his power, in both ways of his magic and his obvious control over the other inhabitants in the play comes from his books. enchantment he firmly believes he has power over almost everyone and everything in the play, Prospero has a very empathetic side as well. In the end he forgives Caliban for plotting against his life and even relates himself to Caliban. This shows that, in a way, Calibans rebellion was quite successful because it showed Prospero some of his tyrannical and hypocritical ways. bingle such example of Prosperos tyrannical and hypocritical ways is when Ariel reminds his master of his promise to relieve him of his duties early if he performs them willingly. In response to this deal, Prospero bursts into fury and threatens to show him to his former imprisonment and torment. Thou liest, malignant thing Hast thou forgot / The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy / Was grown into a hoop? Hast thou forgot her? (I.2.16) or else of Prospero acknowledging that Ariel has indeed lived up to his end of the deal thus far, he bursts into rage only acknowledging exactly what he did for Ariel in the first place. This in turn emphasizes Prosperos extremely autocratic stance, he puts Ariel down to build himself up.Another example Prosperos unnecessarily tyrannical ways is the first time Prospero calls for Caliban to enter in The Te mpest. But as tis, / We cannot miss him he does make our fire, / Fetch in our wood, and serves in offices / That profit us. What, ho slave Caliban / Thou earth, thou communicate (I.2.18). term Prospero believes he saved Caliban from the Sycorax, his blue-eyed hag mother, he essentially kills Calibans mother and takes out-of-door not only his mother and the land that is rightfully his, but most importantly his freedom as well. He takes away Calibans freedom and forces him to be his slave. Ariel, who Prospero did indeed save from Sycorax is considered a servant, while Caliban, who was not imprisoned by Sycorax, but instead living with Sycorax as his mother was turned into the lowest form of a being. Essentially Prospero lands on Calibans island, takes away everything he has, and then forces him to become his slave proclaiming he saved him from his witch mother. This is yet another perfect example of how Prospero displays the obvious social hierarchy and is in like manner the typic al colonizer. These actions and consequent reasonings are also prime examples of Prosperos horrible tyrannical ways from the beginning of the play.Prospero and Calibans relationship is forced from the beginning of the play when Prosperos strong authoritative flavors begin to surface. Caliban has the right of ownership of the island however, Prospero firmly believes in the superiority of the white European over the half-devil islander. While this puts a strain on their relationship from the start, the boiling point came when Caliban attempts to rape Miranda, Prosperos daughter. Even after attempting to rape Miranda, Caliban was brutally honest in not denying his malicious intent. O ho, O ho Wouldt had been done/ Thou didst prevent me I had peopled else/ This isle with Calibans (I.2.349-51).In response to Calibans essay rape and his obvious total lack of remorse for it, Prospero states, I have used thee / with humane care, and lodge thee/ In mine own cell gutter thou didst seek to violate / The honor of my child (I.2.345-8). Prospero recounts here that he has cared for Caliban and lodged him and he still has attempted to violate what is most sacred to him, his daughter Miranda. Again, Prospero belief that by killing his mother Sycorax that Prospero essentially freed Caliban so he has the right to claim Caliban as his own slave. He states that he has cared for Caliban and given him a home, while truly he has treated Caliban with no respect or gratitude at all throughout the play. Prospero is essentially riding on the belief that he has in the end saved Caliban, so he is entitled to treat Caliban however he pleases and Caliban should accept that as well.While Prospero accepts no responsibility for Calibans actions, in the end of the play his compassionate side not only comes out, but he also begins to forgive Caliban for the attempted rape and the plot to kill him. As you carriage/ to have my pardon, trim it handsomely (V.1.93-94). Prospero is essentially st ating, just go do a good job on this task and you have my forgiveness. He is in conclusion starting to realize how poorly he has treated Caliban while still holding true to his autocratic ego and not accepting any responsibility.While Calibans rebellion was not successful in the terms of his plot succeeding, it was successful in Calibans latent goal of wanting Prosperos genuine respect and not the classic master-slave relationship which Prospero has projected throughout the entire play. While Prospero and Caliban represent two different extremes on the social spectrum, their positions on the social hierarchy are largely due to the fact that Caliban responds almost wholly to passions, feelings of pleasure his senses, while Prospero is ruled more by his intellect and self-discipline his mind. Within The Tempest there are obvious social implications regarding this social hierarchy, with the representations of the characters Caliban and Prospero. In the end of the play, Prospero finall y begins to break this social hierarchy and shows Caliban some much necessary forgiveness.