Caliban=Parallel to Native American?

                

      To start off, Caliban is the very portrayal of Native Americans and the meaning of a savage to the European descents that arrive on the shores of the island in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” As Caliban associates with Trinculo and Stephano, the two more dominant figures refer to Caliban as a “servant- monster” (120). The stereotype that Shakespeare created within his play was to portray the way he found native savages to be. But as the way the short video clip “How Hollywood stereotyped the Native American” said that “over the last 100 years, more than 4,000 movies have casted Indians in that role of blood thirsty savages.” Caliban does not fit that particular description but instead conforms to Trinculo and Stephano. He uses words and diction that let Trinculo and Stephano know that they are the dominant ones to get what he wants, instead of being the stereotypical savage that is violent.  With the article of “Cultural Studies: Postcolonialism, African- American Criticism, and Queer Theory” it states that “the message sent to these “others” by the dominant culture have been clear and consistent- conform and be quiet; deny yourself, and will be well.” In Caliban’s case, he doesn’t necessarily follow this formula.

       I think that Shakespeare is creating an image to appeal to the “white man”; therefore, he is trying to create a justification of colonization (which I do not agree on). In a subtle way, he might be on Caliban’s side, but the overall message is displaying that Shakespeare is on the side of the dominant group. Although Caliban is not following the original “hemegony,” he is still seen as the savage and the lower life form of the trio. Shakespeare portrays Trinculo and Stephano in such a light that they are going to be the ultimate heroes for Caliban and that they are the ones doing him a favor by bringing him out of wrongful, miserable life.  How do we really know what a savage is? If we were to be outsiders to a foreign area or country, should we be considered as savages just because we may not have the same customs or values as the natives? I feel as if the way “savages” are portrayed are unjust because everyone has a different way of living, conforming them may not always be the way to go. Caliban is conformed to the way Prospero wanted him and in turn, he despises what he now knows. But he also uses this as an advantage when he meets Stephano and asks for help to bring Prospero out of power. I guess there is a pros and cons side to everything, but for the overall general picture, the term savage is misleading in getting to understand a person or group of minorities.