Imperialism In The Tempest Analysis

The play, The Tempest is one of the many texts which allegorically represents various aspects of colonial oppression. The Tempest resonates with unusual power and variety. Prospero’s supreme control over the island and over the spirits of the island symbolizes his imperialistic nature within the play. Shakespeare presents the issue of imperialism through the character, Prospero as he has dominant power and control over the island and the original inhabitants. Parteni defines imperialism as “the process whereby the dominant political-economic interest of one nation controls other peoples’ land and goods for their own enrichment” (2005) and this can be seen in the tempest as Prospero uses his language and power to imperialize the original inhabitants …show more content…
Prospero can be seen as a representation of the Europeans who usurped the land of native Americans and enslaved them. He, as a sense of superiority, takes Caliban as half man. Pushing the original inhabitants of the island to the side, he places himself at the helm of affairs. He has full control over everything on the island. He makes servants out of Ariel and Caliban and unforms and reforms the island and the inhabitants in his own image. The obsessive nature for power is evident in Prospero's decision to let Miranda and Ferdinand as it would secure Prospero's position back home, and would make his daughter queen as well ( IV, I, …show more content…
In the play, The Tempest, Imperialism is presented in more than one way, three of which include: Prospero’s use of magic to control nature and everything around him, his obsession with power and lastly how he manipulates the colonized (Ariel and Caliban) with promise of freedom and his language, to serve him. Algeria, in a sense represents the colony in which the imperial power penetrates. It is through Imperialism that Prospero’s unformed and reformed the island to suit his desire and his obsession for