DID YOU KNOW THAT!?
1607 - England's first permanent settlement in North America, Jamestown, is founded. 1609 - Jamestown leader, John Smith, is wounded and sent back to England. At this time, the natives take advantage of the situation and fight back against the settlers. They attempt to starve the colonists out over a year's time. 1610 - William Shakespeare writes The Tempest COINCIDENCE!? I THINK NOT! Click here to see information on Jamestown |
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Shakespeare and Colonization
The British had been active in the Atlantic Slave Trade for over
a hundred years when Shakespeare wrote The Tempest.
The play is his way of exploring the relationship between master
and slave, colonizer and colonized.
The British had been active in the Atlantic Slave Trade for over
a hundred years when Shakespeare wrote The Tempest.
The play is his way of exploring the relationship between master
and slave, colonizer and colonized.
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Proof From Text - Act 1, Scene II
Prospero - To Ariel inquiring as to the success of his tempest.
"Thou, my slave / As thou report'st thyself..." - Line 270-71
Prospero - To Miranda
"We'll visit, Caliban, my slave...We cannot miss him. He does make
our fire / Fetch our wood, and serves in offices that profit us." Lines 308-13
Prospero - To Ariel inquiring as to the success of his tempest.
"Thou, my slave / As thou report'st thyself..." - Line 270-71
Prospero - To Miranda
"We'll visit, Caliban, my slave...We cannot miss him. He does make
our fire / Fetch our wood, and serves in offices that profit us." Lines 308-13
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Caliban - To Prospero
"This island's mine by Sycorax my mother / Which thou tak'st from me
...For I am all the subjects that you have / Which first was mine own
king; and here you sty me / In this hard rock, whiles you do keep
from me / The rest o' th' island." Lines 331-43
Prospero's Response
"Thou most lying slave..." Line 344
Miranda - To Caliban
"Abhorred slave..." Line 350
Caliban - To Miranda
"You taught me language, and my profit on't / Is, I know how to curse.
The red plague rid you / For learning me your language!" Lines 362-64
"This island's mine by Sycorax my mother / Which thou tak'st from me
...For I am all the subjects that you have / Which first was mine own
king; and here you sty me / In this hard rock, whiles you do keep
from me / The rest o' th' island." Lines 331-43
Prospero's Response
"Thou most lying slave..." Line 344
Miranda - To Caliban
"Abhorred slave..." Line 350
Caliban - To Miranda
"You taught me language, and my profit on't / Is, I know how to curse.
The red plague rid you / For learning me your language!" Lines 362-64