Introduction
The play The Tempest by William Shakespeare is one of the author’s most iconic literary works. Due to insufficient information, it is assumed that it was written in 1610-1611, and the first performance was in 1611, November 1. The play takes place on an island where the protagonists, the magician Prospero and his 15-year-old daughter Miranda live. Other characters in the play enter the island due to the shipwreck that Prospero has prepared for his purposes. It is noteworthy that Shakespeare reflects in the play the characteristics of the time in which he lived. The Tempest features colonial and imperialist motives often manifest through the play’s protagonists’ behavior.
Colonialism and Imperialism in The Tempest
Shakespeare’s purpose in the Tempest is to show the protagonists with the characteristics of colonialism and imperialism. Primarily these qualities are expressed in the actions and character of Prospero. He was expelled from his country and settled on the island with his daughter. However, having magical abilities, he adjusts events to his wishes and thoughts throughout the play. He uses other characters, including the method of slavery, to achieve his goals. An example is how Prospero uses Ariel, a spirit that has long lived on the island. These actions signify colonialism and imperialism because they imply the expansion and exploitation of someone. Features of this behavior are displayed in performances, which will be discussed in the following paragraphs of the paper.
The First Performance
The First Performance for the evaluation is the television production of Shakespeare’s classic in 1960. In this play, the actors like Richard Burton, Maurice Evans, Lee Remick, and Roddy McDowall were performing. When evaluating Shakespeare’s purpose regarding aspects of colonialism and imperialism in this performance, particular attention should be paid to the costumes and the way of acting of the actor who plays Prospero. He looks like a king dressed in a royal robe, holding a staff, and a long white beard emphasizes his power (The Tempest 0:02:01). Moreover, it is essential to highlight that the opening scene is played out in such a way that Prospero stands in one place, giving various directions to Ariel, who runs around and tries to please Prospero (The Tempest 0:04:55). Later, a similar situation manifests itself in Prospero’s conversation with his daughter Miranda. For example, he asks her to remove his royal robe (The Tempest 0.08.05). It is noteworthy that this performance better communicates the characteristics of colonialism and imperialism as Shakespeare’s purpose than the second performance, which will be discussed in the next paragraph.
The Second Performance
In the second performance, the protagonist of the Tempest is portrayed as less potent than in the first performance. The second play took place at the Savage Rose Classical Theatre in 2014. When looking at the costumes and aspects of the acting of the actor who played Prospero, it can be concluded that he is depicted as an average human (The Tempest – Full Play 0.04.22). The actor moves a lot on stage and interacts with all the other characters in the play. As a prop, the actor uses a wooden cane, unlike the actor of the first performance, who held in his hands a refined staff. It is vital to note that in some scenes of the play, Prospero concedes the center of the scene to another character when another monologue occurs. For example, the scene with Ariel can be considered (0:16:00). Scenes and acting in this performance reference colonialism and imperialism much less than in the first performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is essential to emphasize that while both performances follow Shakespeare’s purpose to demonstrate colonialism and imperialism, they do it differently and with various intensities. Examples relating to the acting, costumes, director’s vision, and other aspects of the performances provided insight into how the directors interpreted colonialism and imperialism in the Tempest by William Shakespeare.
Works Cited
“The Tempest.” YouTube, uploaded by FunFillums, 2015. Web.
“The Tempest – Full Play.” YouTube, uploaded by savagerosetheatre, 2014. Web.