Fricke 1 Lisa Fricke Dr.

Theile ENGL 380 6 August 2011 The Servants of The Tempest In a Shakespearean play surrounded by water, man makes two characters symbolizing air and earth servant. Prospero, a magician, reigns through as forced master of the island. Ariel and Caliban, the two strangely different characters brought together by the same ruler do not have a friendly relationship with one another. In fact, Prospero keeps the two consistently divided from ever being together and commands Ariel to hurt Caliban when he steps out of line: What I command, Ill rack thee with old cramps, / Fill all thy bones with aches (1.2.374-5). Prospero is much like modern-day America; he has all the magic/influence to make people do things for him while he exports little use for others. In many important political writings The Tempest characters of Prospero, Ariel and Caliban are used to describe cultural oppression in noneconomic countries such as Africa and Latin America. In the article Ariel or Caliban? by Marcos McGrath discussing the economic injustices in Latin America, readers can develop a larger appreciation for these fictional servants. McGrath says something very interesting concerning the Latin American population, that they are the values of the spirit versus ambitious material expansion (81). This gives an accurate depiction of why Ariel and Caliban cannot be united as one, but may be viewed as a completion of the other. They are constantly at odds since one would rather enjoy and dance in the summer breeze, while the other wants to be successful and own land. These are the things the Latin American people want, but are not allowed to have both, since these desires are constantly at odds with one

Fricke 2 another. In truth, it seems just as Ariel and Caliban cannot actually have what they want until Prospero, the powerful European culture force, leaves it seems as if the oppression of the people from Latin America will never seem to gain their desires until the Western force leaves their country. Likewise in David Pletchers article Caliban looks at Ariel, he discusses how Latin Americans are viewed as living childlike in a state of nature (148). If we look at Ariel and Caliban there are definite signs of Anglo-European definition of children: non-economic, servants, and are seen as non-human (spirit and beast). Yet the similarities do not only exist between The Tempest and Latin America, the play also has an importance of reflecting the state of African nations struggling against a history of colonial rule. Austin Dennis details in his article Reflections on African politics: Prospero, Ariel and Caliban how Prospero, like the global culture, tries to school Caliban until the latter proves too brutish (211). Then Calibans tuition ends, while his servitude remains full-forced because he is needed. Ariel and Caliban are needed despite being lower in class than Prospero, who coincidentally is not needed. Dennis discuses in his article that even though Africa is also considered lower it is still seen as a desirable prize for foreign powers, because of its minerals and natural resources. It is strange to think that the people who live and love the land are not the ones who are profiting from it on neither the island from The Tempest or in Africa and Latin America. Reading through these accounts, it easy to wonder why these people do not rise up against their oppressors. Yet we see too startlingly clear that Ariel, a fellow oppressed member, keeps both Caliban and him beneath Prospero because he believes that if he works hard enough and does as he is told to do he will be rewarded freedom. In countries like this, the same belief Ariel has exists and results in everyone from gaining his or her personal freedom. They are

Fricke 3 caught in a constant state of waiting, hope, and pain. Rarely do we see the beautiful, human moments of these characters or countries, like in Calibans beautiful description of the sounds that are on the island, or Ariel teaching Prospero that the rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance (5.1.2). Then Prospero left the island and most likely never thought of either characters admirable characteristics again, such is the misfortune that the colonial who leaves the island never looks back and sees that magnificent beauty of life and all the elements surrounding it.

Works Cited Austin, Dennis. "Reflections on African politics: Prospero, Ariel and Caliban." International Affairs 69.2 (1993): 203. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 6 Aug. 2011. McGrath, Marcos G. "ARIEL OR CALIBAN?." Foreign Affairs 52.1 (1973): 81. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 6 Aug. 2011. Pletcher, David M. "Caliban looks at Ariel." Diplomatic History 18.1 (1994): 148. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 6 Aug. 2011.