Tempest Shakespeare\'s the Tempest and Chamoiseau\'s Solibo

Tempest

Shakespeare's the Tempest and Chamoiseau's Solibo Magnificent

Slavery

Slavery is one of the central themes in The Tempest. However, there are many different levels of slavery included other than the typical master and servant relationship that is based on ownership. There are also instances of mental kind of slavery that it carried out by Prospero who can control the minds of others. The two forms of slavery are closely intertwined in a system of such strict domination that is found in the feudalist structure of the society in the story. For example, the slave, being under total submission is weakened mentally and more susceptible to mental control. This is portrayed on different levels and by several different characters in the story. This type of domination is also present in Solibo Magnificent through the senseless beating and police misconduct which is used as a form of control.

The best example of slavery in The Tempest is illustrated by Ariel who is Prospero's slave. Ariel is officially a slave of Prospero in the traditional sense however Prospero promised that if Ariel was a loyal and obedient servant that he would grant him his freedom in exchange for his servitude. However, when Ariel reminds Prospero of his deal that he has made with him, "I have done thee worthy service, / Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, serv'd / Without or grudge or grumblings" (1.2.246-48). Yet Prospero does not honor this deal and bursts into a rage and threats to return Ariel to his former imprisonment and torment. This can also be illustrated by Doudou Menar who was beaten to death in Chamoiseau's story. This serves as an example of both actual and a form of mental slavery in the story.

Magic

The magic in the Tempest as one of its themes is undoubtedly related to the period in which it was written and the culture in which Shakespeare wrote the play with as a background. Although the public in Shakespeare's time largely believed that magic such as "black magic" was largely a result of simple and crude magic tricks that really were nothing more than simple tricks. That is most people recognized that there was nothing actually magical or supernatural in what was often referred to as witchcraft. However, there were still witch hunts and persecutions practiced by a small minority of the population and as a consequence the inclusion of witch craft was kind of a controversial political topic in some circles. The same elements is also illustrated by Solibo can be illustrated through the oral tradition which is used to tell stories and its contrast between the scientific, formal, orderly, and cause and effect many of us take for granted and use to explain the world today.

The use of magic in the play was even more of a controversial element due to the fact that Prospero was presented in a largely good light. Many of the observers who believed in witch craft may have looked on with discontent. However, at the end of the play Prospero does relinquish his powers and therefore, even though Shakespeare took a controversial aspect of his contemporary society, he may have satisfied the views despite their position on the issue. Shakespeare may have also been tailoring the story to depict a political issue for another reason. He often uses his plays as a source of dramatization to depict different political issues of the day often to political suggestions to King James. Again the same theme is also present in Solibo Magnificent as the author positions the reader in the middle of two world views as the police investigate the murder; one which believes in magic and the other that does not.

Colonialism

There is no doubt that European colonialism had a significant influence on Shakespeare and the play The Tempest. Some academics believe that much of The Tempest was inspired by actual events that surrounded the colonization of the new world and events that transpired near Jamestown, Virginia. Several of the ships that were headed towards Jamestown and carrying officers disappeared on their voyage and the passengers were presumed dead. However, they were found some time later in Virginia and had experienced a ship wreck of the coast of Bermuda. It is possible that stories of the event had some influence on the writing of the play.

However, the colonial themes run much deeper than a source of possible inspiration for the setting of the story. For example, Prospero is a European who is of Noble status and lands on a remote island. Prospero subsequently has power on the remote island due to his use of magic and the threat of force. This is undoubtedly the same way the indigenous population must have felt in the United States when the foreigners arrived. Even though it wasn't actually magic that they possessed, the ability to command advances in technology would have been indistinguishable from magic from the colonialist.