Tempest

During Shakespeare's day and age society had levels of classification where some men were considered "superior" to other men. Shakespeare gives us a taste of this hierarchical culture through his play The Tempest. He shows us how "superior" men perceived themselves in contrast to lesser beings due to their race, financial status, and gender. We also are shown those who had reason to feel superior yet treated others equally and with the respect due to them.

The Tempest reflects Shakespeare's society through the relationship between characters, especially between Prospero and Caliban. Caliban, who was the previous king of the island, is taught how to be "civilized" by Prospero and his daughter Miranda. Then he is forced to be their servant. Caliban explains:

"Thou strok'st me and make much of me; wouldst give me Water with berries in 't; and teach me how to name the bigger light, how the less, That burn by day and night; and then I lov'd thee, And show'd thee all the qualities o' th' isle,... For I am all the subjects you have, which first was mine own king."(I,ii,333-342)

We see he is treated as a lesser being because he is not of the same race as Prospero and Miranda. Prospero describes him as, "A freckled whelp hag-born - not honour'd with a human shape."(I,ii,283-284) Clearly, the people of different races were treated as inferior human beings in Shakespeare's time. In this culture, because someone is different, they are less of a human.

Financial status also plays a major role in social classifications. During the time of The Tempest, Dukes and Earls, who were among the nobles, were considered to be superior even to other members of their own race. The nobles had servants and commoners who worked for them. Shakespeare shows us an example of this with the relationship between his characters of Sebastian and Antonio and of the Boatswain and the sailors. Sebastian yells at the sailors, "A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!"(I,i,39-40), implying that they are inferior and are there to serve him. Antonio also shows he believes himself superior by stating to the Boatswain, "Hang, cur! Hang, you whoreson, insolent, noise-maker. We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art."(I,i,42-44) These men were of the same skin color, hair texture, and eye color, but were treated inferior due to their financial status and "inferior" blood line.

Women had also fallen victim to this hierarchical society. During this era women were considered to be objects and were treated as property. Shakespeare presents this in the treatment of Claribel, daughter of Alonso, and Miranda, daughter of Prospero, by their fathers. Claribel was married to the King of Tunis, an African nation, merely for the gain of Alonso, the Duke of Milan, and his Lords. Their feelings are clear in Sebastian's words, "Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return." (II,i,73-74). Prospero used his daughter in the same way, "Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition Worthily purcas'd, take my daughter..."(IV,i,13-14) Both of them are obviously considered their property. Women did not have rights at this time and were merely used as pawns in trade with other men of stature to gain whatever it was they wished.

Not all men in the position to consider themselves superior thought themselves to be. Even though some men had the financial status or noble blood, they treated others as equals. Ferdinand, although being the Prince of Naples, treats Miranda, who he thinks a mere maid, as an equal human being deserving nothing less than his affection and kindness. This is proven true in his conversation with Miranda where he tells her "O, if a virgin, And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you the Queen of Naples."(I,ii,447-449) He loves her and would have her as his wife and Queen even though he thinks her a mere maid.