Already in 1611 William Shakespeare argued in his romance “The Tempest” with the conquest of the New World. A wide space in this play is fulfilled by the analysis of the relationship between the European imperialist and the submissive native, shown by the
example of Prospero, the rightful duke of Milan, and the creature Caliban, the “savage and deformed slave”1. Nearly 400 years later, in 1982, the South African author Nadine Gordimer deals with the
situation of the abused slave in her novel “July’s People” again. She creates a fictional situation where the former white-coloured masters have lost their power after a successful revolution of the suppressed black majority. The white middle-class-family the Smales become themselves sla ves as they are from now on dependent from their servant July, who offers them a refuge in his homeland. In the upcoming analysis I want to show that Nadine Gordimer created a situation which can be seen as “If Caliban’s wish came true...”, as she continues the attempt of the slave to recover his liberty. I want to compare both novels in order to prove that Gordimer orientated herself very much on Shakespeare’s play and makes use of typical characteristics of the master and the slave we find in “there. Her work should be regarded on the one hand as continuation and on the other hand as a lean on “The Tempest”.
1 Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Ed. Rex Gibson. Cambridge: Cambridge UP,1995. ‘List of Characters’, 1.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 The object of analysis
1.2 The way of analysis
2. If Caliban´s wish came true – The work with the master-servant relationship of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” in Nadine Gordimers contemporary novel “July´s People”
2.1 The stranger in both works
2.1.1 The wild man Caliban
2.1.2 The wild man July
2.2 The imperialist in both works
2.2.1 How the masters are presented
2.2.2 Why do the masters want to control ?
2.2.3 Why were the masters accepted at the beginning and are later fought on ?
2.2.4 The master as educator
2.3 Two attempts to become free
2.4 If a dream comes true...
2.4.1 How the slave deals with new power
2.4.2 Prospero’s nightmare: the arrogance of the white man
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This work examines the parallels between the master-servant power dynamics in William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Nadine Gordimer's contemporary novel "July's People." The research investigates how the colonial structures and the "stranger" archetypes represented in Shakespeare's play are mirrored or subverted in Gordimer's depiction of the post-revolutionary South African landscape.
- The master-servant relationship as a reflection of colonialism.
- The perception and construction of the "stranger" or "other."
- The role of language and education as tools of power and subjugation.
- The shift of power dynamics and the loss of authority in post-colonial scenarios.
- The comparison of Shakespeare's 17th-century tropes with 20th-century political reality.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.2 The wild man July in “July´s People”
Also the servant July is presented highly strange, but author Nadine Gordimer does not create strangeness throughout July’s look. His strangeness is defined by the view of his fellows. The plot is in wider parts told and judged by Maureen Smale, his former servant. Up to the revolution, Maureen – and with her the audience -, knew him as reliable, honest and polite house boy. At the beginning of her stay in his village, July seems to continue to play this role, as he becomes their rescuer, who is willing to fulfil his job as her servant, although the Smales refuse. But during the action his gratitude vanishes. As he becomes less the Smales’ host and more in control of their lives, preventing Maureen`s mixing with the women, and even removing their means of escape, we see his true shade. They find out who this July – whose real name is Mwawate - is in general, as he lives a different life and speaks a strange language. When Maureen finds out that he has stolen various articles from her house in the past, she is shocked, because she had always trusted him. When he takes over Bam’s bakkie, she begins to realise there are depths to him and that he was “Always a moody bastard”, and when she supposes that he might have the missing sporting gun, the audience is infected by her fear of him. In her eyes July is a child or animal, who is unable to be tamed.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Defines the scope of the comparative study between Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Gordimer's "July's People" regarding colonial power structures.
2. If Caliban´s wish came true – The work with the master-servant relationship of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” in Nadine Gordimers contemporary novel “July´s People”: Analyzes the characterization of the "stranger," the imperialist mentality, the nature of enforced education, and the shifting attempts at freedom in both literary works.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes how Gordimer utilizes Shakespearean metaphors to critique the persistence of colonial attitudes and the inherent inhumanity of slavery over five centuries.
Keywords
The Tempest, July's People, William Shakespeare, Nadine Gordimer, Colonialism, Master-servant relationship, Caliban, Apartheid, Literature, Power dynamics, The Other, Slavery, Post-colonialism, Imperialism, Cultural representation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the master-servant relationship in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and its evolution and reflection in Nadine Gordimer's "July's People," specifically focusing on colonial power dynamics.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The study covers the representation of the "stranger," the psychology of imperialist masters, the role of language in colonization, and the eventual subversion of power dynamics in a post-revolutionary context.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to prove that Nadine Gordimer uses "The Tempest" as a literary framework to highlight the enduring and inhuman nature of colonial suppression and the shifting roles of masters and servants.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
A comparative literary analysis is used, drawing on post-colonial theory and historical context to contrast the characterizations and narratives of both novels.
What does the main body discuss?
It discusses the "wild man" archetype (Caliban vs. July), the presentation of masters (Prospero vs. the Smales), the failure of colonial education, and the changing tides of power following a revolution.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include colonialism, master-servant relationship, Caliban, Apartheid, post-colonialism, and literary comparison.
How does the author interpret the name "July" in the context of the novel?
The author identifies "July" as a metaphorical continuation of Daniel Defoe's "Friday" from "Robinson Crusoe," representing the servant figure in a story about white colonial displacement.
Why is the "bakkie" (vehicle) scene considered a turning point in the analysis?
It is cited as a moment where the former servant asserts independence, marking a shift in power dynamics where the masters realize they have lost control over their former helper.
- Quote paper
- Bernd Evers (Author), 2000, If Caliban´s Wish Came True - The the master-servant relationship of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' in Nadine Gordimer's contemporary novel, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/20802
