Sunday, September 19, 2010

Native as in AVATAR!!!???

Caliban is being portrayed throughout Acts I and II as being a native person there on the island.  Native people are referred to as "subhumans or "savages" who are inferior" in the Post colonialism article.  This is exactly how Caliban is being treated throughout this whole story.  First he starts out just living on the island with his mother and WHAM out of no where Prospero comes and makes Caliban his slave.  Caliban is not only treated as if he is a savage or native by Prospero but also by Trinculo and Stephano.  Stephano impresses Caliban because of his wine and his courage so Caliban wants to serve him because he believes that this could lead to the death of Prospero.  Stephano is treating Caliban the same way though by stating "Get down and swear it" he is telling Caliban to swear his life to him so he can serve him now.  Caliban adds to the role of him being a native in the story because he knows everything about the island. He says "I'll show you where the fresh water is... pick berries for you... catch birds on the rocks for you".  This shows that he is innocent right now because he believes that Stephano can help him.  Just as in the article when it states that "Western Europeans, and, in particular, the British people, were biologically superior to any other race" the same idea is going around when Prospero or Stephano take advantage of Caliban and his knowledge of his homeland.  Caliban is representing what actually happened when the Native Indians decided to help and lend knowledge to the settlers or at least tried too.  They were taken advantage of and then thought of as lesser people and "savages".  I believe Caliban will help out Stephano but in the end if Prospero will perish, Stephano will do exactly what Prospero did and make Caliban his slave and treat him like an animal.  Well that is why I believe Caliban is representing a native person on the island.     Bye now!

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