The tempest
The differences between Prospero and Caliban in The Tempest and A Tempest
As A Tempest is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest that focus on a postcolonial perspective, the story is, obviously, a little different. In A Tempest, Aime Cesaire clearly shows his postcolonial perspective by changing Ariel from an airy spirit into a mulatto slave and Caliban into a black slave. However, in Act I Scene II, the two main characters that should be focused on are Prospero and Caliban. In A Tempest, since it has a postcolonial perspective, the characters seem to be more aggressive. For example, in the Tempest, Prospero is more tolerant, and knows how to use people. Ariel also shows more respect to him while in A Tempest where Prospero is an ideal example of a white man in postcolonial perspective. He acts like he is the master of every life. If he wants something to be done, it must be done no matters how. At the same time, Caliban stands for himself more strongly in A Tempest. He dares to shout and be so rude to his master.
He talks back to Prospero and he would not surrender so easily. In The Tempest, Caliban does argue with his master, but in the end he surrenders. On the contrary, in A Tempest, Caliban shows that he would not be “a good slave” obeying everything anymore. He resists on saying a words in his native language even though Prospero forbids him to do so. In my opinion, it symbolize that black people would not surrender to white people anymore, or at least, not so easily. They are ready to fight back and stand for themselves. In conclusion, even though the characters of Prospero and Caliban are similar in The Tempest and A Tempest, they also have a little difference. The characters are stronger and more aggressive which express the postcolonial perspective of the play.
As A Tempest is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest that focus on a postcolonial perspective, the story is, obviously, a little different. In A Tempest, Aime Cesaire clearly shows his postcolonial perspective by changing Ariel from an airy spirit into a mulatto slave and Caliban into a black slave. However, in Act I Scene II, the two main characters that should be focused on are Prospero and Caliban. In A Tempest, since it has a postcolonial perspective, the characters seem to be more aggressive. For example, in the Tempest, Prospero is more tolerant, and knows how to use people. Ariel also shows more respect to him while in A Tempest where Prospero is an ideal example of a white man in postcolonial perspective. He acts like he is the master of every life. If he wants something to be done, it must be done no matters how. At the same time, Caliban stands for himself more strongly in A Tempest. He dares to shout and be so rude to his master.
He talks back to Prospero and he would not surrender so easily. In The Tempest, Caliban does argue with his master, but in the end he surrenders. On the contrary, in A Tempest, Caliban shows that he would not be “a good slave” obeying everything anymore. He resists on saying a words in his native language even though Prospero forbids him to do so. In my opinion, it symbolize that black people would not surrender to white people anymore, or at least, not so easily. They are ready to fight back and stand for themselves. In conclusion, even though the characters of Prospero and Caliban are similar in The Tempest and A Tempest, they also have a little difference. The characters are stronger and more aggressive which express the postcolonial perspective of the play.