I’m well into the new day and have yet to sleep, yet I am as energetic as if I had just slept the whole night. It’s a bit weird to be honest, I was tired during midday and I’m quite awake past midnight. Perhaps its energy from the Colts game Sunday night or maybe it’s from the energy I received from reading the wonderful words of Shakespeare, either way I better start focusing now before I crash and pass out.
For as long as I’ve been interested in history, I have been interested in the different perspectives of it. I always wondered how those from the other side saw the events in history. How they saw the events in time differently from the American perspective. Although I never really pursued finding an answer to my curiosity, I was able to see other perspectives from documentaries, my fellow peers, and of course what I know of the Philippine history from when I went to school there. Despite my lack of proper knowledge, I did know that within the different countries were different narratives of the same story.
It seems to be an occurrence in American history to paint the “White Americans” as the hero and the “Native Savages” as the villain. It was as if they felt a sense of superiority towards others simply because they thought themselves to be “better” and more “knowledgeable.” This sense of superiority could come from a variety of things from using the Bible as their excuse or by claiming that their educational background gave them the right to “educate” others of a less knowledgeable background. I digress.
The story of the foreigners coming in to some new land and taking over the original inhabitants using their so called savagery as an excuse has been the plot of many forms of literary work and video. Caliban was the original inhabitant of the island, given to him by his deceased mother Sycorax. The island was his and it always had been and always would be… that is until Prospero and Miranda washed up into the islands shores. The dethroned Duke and Princess saw themselves superior to the “savage” Caliban. They took it upon themselves to enslave him and “improve” his life by destroying his culture and replacing it with their own. The dominant class had their dominant view that the minority shall live in “silence. Live quietly, work quietly, think quietly. The message sent to these ‘Others’ by the dominant culture has been clear and consistent – conform and be quiet; deny yourself and all will be well” (Bressler 234). Whenever Caliban protested to Prospero’s commands and wishes he was threatened with punishment or was punished without warning. Obedience was the only way to be free of pain and suffering. The story of Caliban is a perfect exemplification of the classic story of the “better” race improving the “savage” natives. He represents every nation and population that was taken over by those who saw themselves superior. Just like the Native Americans were seen as savages by the new immigrants from Europe, so was Caliban seen as a savage by Prospero.
Upon seeing Caliban for the first time Stephano immediately sees him as “some monster of the isle with four legs who hath got, as I take it, an auge… if I can recover him and keep him take and get to Naples with him, he’s a present for any emperor that ever trod on the neat’s leather” (98). Without even knowing him, Stephano already saw him as a lesser being and a possession. Caliban was inferior and thus his property to be controlled, used, and sold if it was his wish. He was different “and for the reason he deserved to be ruled” (Bressler 240). He didn’t even have to think twice of his decision; he was automatically better due to his origin. If you think about it, this sense of imperialism has been the driving force of the American culture and even that of some of the more powerful European nations.
In regards to the writing of one William Shakespeare, I think he lives it open to interpretation depending on who is reading The Tempest the understanding will be different, after all each person makes up their own minds and opinions and thus see things differently. One can see Caliban as the oppressed Native fighting to survive against the cruel control on the foreign invaders. Another might see it as the horrible savage being educated by the superior foreigners. I think that Shakespeare wrote this play so that it could appease both sides, who’s to say one is better than the other.
Caliban is a perfect representation of the Native taken over by the “superior” race. However, who are we to decide who is superior or inferior. At the end of the day we are all the same and come from the same humble beginnings. Why should we let the norms of society define who we are? What one person might find inferior and thus negligible can be another person’s most prized possession. We all see things through different eyes and no two people share the exact same view of things, so how can there ever be a “savage.” If we keep on this path, if we keep treating others as if they were lesser beings, then how are we ever going to progress into a better future? If we remain in what the past has ingrained in us, how can we move?
You might think you are superior, but keep in mind that somewhere in the world you are seen as inferior.
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