A Tempest’ & ‘The Tempest’: A Comparative Analysis

Study: MA

Year: Semester - III

Paper: The Post-Colonial Studies

Guided by: Dr. D. Baradsir

Submitted to: Department of English

University: MKBU

‘A Tempest’ & ‘The Tempest’: A Comparative Analysis

Prologue:

            At very first moment only single question can came in reader’s mind that what is “Tempest”? In any language words contain so many meanings and that’s why it is most important and necessary to know about any word’s meaning. But at that time one another point is also can stick in readers’ mind that if a one word can have multiple meanings then which is appropriate for which place? A small misunderstand in word’s meaning can create a disaster. So every reader should be aware of word’s appropriate meaning while reading any text so, on the basis of this thing here to aware about the word “tempest” is must be needed, so, let’s have a look on meaning of word “tempest” which is appropriately use in theses texts, ‘A Tempest’ and ‘The Tempest’ respectively by Aime Cesaire and William Shakespeare. As per authentic dictionaries, ‘tempest’ means a violent storm. Some another meaning are also connected with this word like, to disturb, any violent tumult or commotion, a fashionable social gathering or a drum. Now it is on reader’s mind that which meaning he can connect with this word and here an appropriate meaning is must be needed because this word is used in title in both of the plays it means that, this word is most important in theses both play.  In both of the play this word tempest is used for a heavy windy storm.    

William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’:

            ‘The Tempest’ is a play written by William Shakespeare around the year 1610. It is a play of the king, named Prospero, who reaches on an island because of his brother, named Antonio. Prospero was a Duke of Milan but his brother betrays him for position of duke. Antonio wants to be the king of Milan and so he arranges to kill Prospero and Prospero’s daughter Miranda at any cost.

“PROSPERO:

My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio-- I pray thee, mark me--that a brother should be so perfidious!--he whom next thyself of all the world I loved and to him put the manage of my state; as at that time through all the signories it was the first and Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed in dignity, and for the liberal arts without a parallel; those being all my study, the government I cast upon my brother and to my state grew stranger, being transported and rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle-- Dost thou attend me?” (Shakespeare)

 But as we know a good person has bless and boon of God on them so he was saved with the help of his loyal servant and he was send on an island with his daughter very safely and tempest also plays vital role in it so that’s why William Shakespeare named this play as ‘The Tempest’.

“PROSPERO(By Providence divine):

Some food we had and some fresh water that a noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, out of his charity, being then appointed master of this design, did give us, with rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries, which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me from mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.” (Shakespeare)

            On the island there was a good spirit, named Ariel. He was slave of King Prospero and King Prospero use to do white magic because of his study and vast reading. Ariel creates a fake storm in the sea and that thing brings a King of Naples’ ship at that island as Prospero planned.

“ARIEL:

All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come to answer thy best pleasure; To every article. I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide, and burn in many places; on the topmast, the yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors o' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary and sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble, yea, his dread trident shake.” (Shakespeare)

After that Caliban was introduced in the play as slave of Prospero and Caliban’s mother, Sycorax, who is the real owner of that island before Prospero reached there. So, here we can see elements of master – slave mentality and slavery culture.

Ferdinand, the son of the King of Naples, saw Miranda and Miranda also saw an unknown man on the island and they both fell in love as Prospero wants and thinks. Some other characters shown in this plays are, Antonio (brother of Prospero), the King of Naples, the King’s party, Sebastian (the King of Naples’ brother), Gonzalo (a good hearted servant, who saves Prospero and daughter Miranda). One sub plot is also take place in this play is, Antonio and Sebastian are also plotting against the King of Naples. Even they tempt Caliban too for giving them support and Caliban has decided to swear his loyalty to Stephano and secure his aid in killing Prospero. In act 3, scene 3 Prospero finally confronts his enemies as he presents them with a banquet only to snatch it away at the last minute. Ariel echoes his feelings towards them when calling them "three men of sin". Towards the end of the play Prospero again meets with the king’s party and a remorseful Alonso. This meeting however is meant to reconcile their differences and bring his plan to a close. Alonso restores Prospero's dukedom during their meeting and in turn learns of his son's survival and betrothal to Miranda. He more or less calls out Antonio for the traitor that he is but forgives him nonetheless. The play itself ends with Prospero appealing to the audience to release him from the island through applause. (Carter) He also makes Ariel free as he promised him.

“PROSPERO:

Sir, I invite your highness and your train to my poor cell, where you shall take your rest for this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste with such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it go quick away; the story of my life and the particular accidents gone by since I came to this isle: and in the morn I'll bring you to your ship and so to Naples, where I have hope to see the nuptial of these our dear-beloved solemnized; and thence retire me to my Milan, where every third thought shall be my grave. I'll deliver all; and promise you calm seas, auspicious gales and sail so expeditious that shall catch your royal fleet far off.

(Aside to ARIEL)

My Ariel, chick, that is thy charge: then to the elements be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near.”

Aime Cesaire’s ‘A Tempest’:

           

                        This story was also narrated by Aime Cesaire in his play ‘A Tempest’. It was written in 1969. It was the story, which’s center is changed, protagonist is changed, its narration is changed, so this text emerges as a new text in the field of literature. M. J. Carter said: “Aime Cesaire's A Tempest is a politicized take on Shakespeare's play created during the late sixties, a time of great social change. It is really a "post-colonial response to The Tempest” and as such deals much more with the story from the point of view of Caliban and Ariel. In this version Caliban is a black slave and the spirit Ariel is represented as a mulatto slave.” (Carter)  Cesaire’s version of this play explores the original concepts in future depth by incorporating the themes of colonialism. This play touches modern issues and theories. This play utilizes a classic play for giving such message on colonialism, racism, colour discrimination, and etc, with which play the most of the modern readers are familiar.  

            In this play Caliban and Ariel are still slaves of Prospero only but Caliban is black slave and Ariel is mulatto slave. Mulatto means a person who is half black and half while by birth. It means a person’s one of parent is white and one another parent is black or Negro.   These characters are the center of the play. These are the protagonist of the play. This story is retold with their perspective. On this issue colour, race, power and decolonization plays vital role. As everyone know about this issue that white people colonized almost half of the world and they becomes ruler. Their main power is their slave but they are nearly black people. They fight for white people and this how their whole empire and power structure works. There are clear lines drawn between characters based on race and even the formerly impartial Gonzalo is condescending towards what he views as a rebellious Caliban obviously in need of Christianity. Caliban's race and subsequent treatment as a result of is quite obvious and the same with Ariel in his role as the willing servant. Better treated but still a captive, Cesaire's decision to make him a mulatto slave was probably an obvious one as they are traditionally viewed as better treated. Slavery is the biggest curse on the society as per even my thinking too but white people go one continuing it in any situation for their benefits and betterment. They treated slaves are just like animals and so Aime Cesaire tries to highlight this point with the help of this play.

“Prospero: Well Ariel!

Ariel: Mission accomplished.

 Prospero: Bravo, good work!  ….. Are you tired?

Ariel: Not tired; disgust, I obeyed you but – well, why not come with it? – I did so much unwillingly. It was a real pain to see the great ship go down, so full of life.”  

Herein this conversation we can clearly read that Prospero order him to draw the ship of the King of Naples so they can stuck in the tempest and reached to that island so Ferdinand and Miranda can come together and fall in love and he also can take revenge with his  brother Antonio. But here main thing is Ariel does not want to do that thing but he has to follow his master at any cost even if his heart permits to done him that stuff or not. He cannot follow or listen to his heart. He has to follow only his master. He has to think about his master and his master’s aims and wishes only. He just have to obey his master blindly and nothing else.

“Ariel: Mater, I must beg you to spare me this kind of labor.

Prospero: (shouting) Listen and listen good! There is a task to be performed, and I don’t care how it gets done.

Ariel: You have promised me my freedom a thousand times, and I am still waiting.

Prospero: Ingrate! And who freed you from Sycorax, may I ask? Who rent the pine in which you had been imprisoned and brought you forth? You will get it when I am good and ready.”  (Cesaire)

           Here in these dialogues we can clearly see that how Ariel was ill treated by Prospero. How he has to obey Prospero without any single question.

            The same thing happens with Caliban, too.

Prospero: Caliban! Caliban!

Caliban: Uhuru!

Prospero: What did you say?

Caliban: I said, Uhuru! 

Prospero: Mumbling your native language again! I have already told you, I don’t like it. You could be polite at least; a simple “hello” would not kill you. (Cesaire)                                                                                                                                 

A person cannot speak in his own language and he should have to follow the language taught by his master only. In The Tempest there are quite a few characters that might be easily identifiable as villains but the main figure, Prospero seems to play many roles, good and bad. All of the events in the play are more or less orchestrated by him in his attempt to get justice and return to Milan. It can even be argued that he is largely at fault for his current situation by neglecting his duties as Duke and passing off responsibility to his brother. Whether Prospero is a villain or not is not so difficult to figure out in Cesaire's work as that is his purpose as an oppressive European colonist.

            As we use to see in movies like game is changing in this play. A person who is hero and protagonist at one vision, at one angel from another angel he is villain and bad character person from another side. His behavior is harsher with Caliban in comparison of Ariel that we can easily conclude from theses dialogue. Prospero is the best example of power and position in this play. Who has authority can do anything is proved with the help of this character in this play.

            The character Stephano who happens upon Caliban as he's hiding gives us another example of power in the play and more specifically how the characters often abuse it towards their own ends. When Caliban swears his loyalty to him he readily agrees and takes advantage of this, more or less declaring himself king of the island. We see that Caliban has once again decided to trust an outsider to his detriment. Miranda plays a unique role as she is really the only female character present on the island. She is also depicted as a helpless character, whom was the focus of Caliban's unwanted attention thus resulting in his current situation. In this way his treatment is justified, he comes to represent "bestial desire", and Miranda establishes herself as an innocent in need of constant protection. As to whether Shakespeare's play lends itself to an interpretation like Cesaire’s, I would have to say that it does. Caliban's character and the way Prospero treats him is a good representation of colonial attitudes towards indigenous peoples. His rebuke of the idea that Prospero did him a favor by teaching him English is synonymous with the view of many, especially during the late sixties when Cesaire wrote his version. (Carter)

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Works Cited

Carter, MJ. "A comparison of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' and Cesair's 'A Tempest'." (n.d.).

Cesaire, Aime. A Tempest. Ubu Reportory Theater Publication, 1958.

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. n.d.