Colonization: The Tempest and “ The Man Who Loved Islands”
Colonization is the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the
indigenous people of an area. The Tempest by Shakespeare explores the complex and
problematic relationship between the European colonizer and the native colonized peoples
through the relationship between Prospero and Caliban. “The Man Who Loved Islands” by D.H.
Lawrence explores the islander, who dreams of creating the perfect world and moved to three
different islands be a their master, but ends up being his islands’ victim. Both The Tempest and
“The Man Who Loved Islands” have colonization as a main theme. Shakespeare and D.H.
Lawrence shows though characterization how entitlement and different forms of manipulation
are essential elements of colonization.
In The Tempest has often been interpreted as a play about colonialism in most part when
Prospero comes to Sycorax's island, rules the land and imposes his own culture on the people of
the land. When Prospero arrives on the island and he shows entitlement when he uses magic to
break a spell that was put by the owner of island. In Act I Scene 2, lines 289-293, Prospero
shows his arrogance “It was a torment to play upon the damned, which Sycorax could not again
undo. It was mine art, when I arrived and heard thee, that made gape the pine, and let thee out.”
This quotes shows Prospero thinks he have the right to do anything he wants because he uses his
magic to open a pine tree and set Ariel free without thinking what could be inside. He doesn’t
know why Ariel is there; if it was the will of the people of the island to have him there. Also, it
shows the essence of colonization because the island didn’t belong to him and he starts to make
changes on his own way by breaking Sycorax spell first. This gives the reader a sense that he
will rule over the island. Then he make the owner of island his slave. In Act I Scene 2, line 307,
Prospero said “ We’ll visit Caliban, my slave.” This quote is a piece of evidence that shows that
he make Caliban his slave who was the owner of the island. On other hand, “ The Man Who
Loved Islands” shows entitlement in many way like by buying anything desire and to have his
own Island where he can do anything he want. In page 3, “ at the house, the smooth- lipped
butler...rather untrustworthy servant can create....
