By Jazmin Gallegos
Cultural
Riddled throughout The Tempest is the underlying theme of power in varying forms, from imprisonment and freedom, to revenge and forgiveness. It might be easy to dismiss the plot and theme of the play as just another dramatic work by Shakespeare, but it remains a vital snapshot of its time. Always one to have his finger on the pulse of English culture, Shakespeare wrote The Tempest in either 1600 or 1611, at a time when England was flourishing at home and establishing colonies across the Atlantic Ocean. Taking this into account, it is difficult not to draw parallels between the two and acknowledge the impact cultural events played into Shakespeare’s writing.
It is no surprise then that “Caliban reflects early Stuart England’s perceptions of American natives and their complex interactions with European colonists” (Vaughan 137). This notion makes Caliban’s noble savage persona seem more significant, adding layers of depth to the intricacies and interactions found within the play. While England was positioning its power and dominance around the world, Shakespeare appeared to be critiquing the corruption of the human spirit that comes along with establishing power. This makes it easier to understand and appreciate as to why the majority of characters are portrayed unsympathetically throughout their respective scenes, often foolish or brutish.
Another notable influence of England culture in the early 1600s is the role of women and the corresponding lack of female characters in The Tempest. With the exception of Prospero’s daughter, Miranda, no other women grace the stage throughout the play and their absence is a powerful element of the play. During the time, the influence of Puritanism had slowly replaced “the Elizabethan ideal of a rich classical education for upperclass women” (Balmuth 19). English women who had previously witnessed advances in society and education, were now faced with a new family structure “headed by an authoritarian husband/father” (19). In addition, the importance of women’s literacy was demeaned to simply being “literate enough to read the Bible for themselves and perhaps to teach it to their children and servants of the household” (19). The Tempest’s lack of women characters feels ominous and critical of a heavily patriarchal society where women were pushed back into the shadows of domestic life.
Balmuth, Miriam. "Female Education in 16th & 17th Century England." Canadian Woman Studies 9.3-4 (1988): 17-20. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
Vaughan, Alden T. “Shakespeare’s Indian: The Americanization of Caliban”. Shakespeare Quarterly 39.2 (1988): 137–153. Web.1 May 2016.
Shakespeare Comes Alive! 