If Caliban´s Wish Came True - The the master-servant relationship of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' in Nadine Gordimer's contemporary novel

Seminar Paper , 2000 , 18 Pages , Grade: 2 (B)

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

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 Gordimer's 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 Key Themes

This work aims to compare Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Nadine Gordimer's "July's People," analyzing the master-servant dynamic within the context of colonialism and the potential reversal of power. The analysis focuses on how Gordimer's novel can be seen as a continuation and reimagining of Shakespeare's themes, specifically exploring Caliban's desire for freedom and its implications.

• Master-slave relationships in colonial contexts
• The representation of the "other" in literature
• Power dynamics and their reversal
• Themes of colonialism and imperialism
• Literary intertextuality and the influence of Shakespeare

Chapter Summaries

1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central argument of the paper: a comparative analysis of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Gordimer's "July's People," focusing on the master-servant relationship and the potential for the reversal of power dynamics in post-colonial contexts. It outlines the object of analysis, specifically the characters of Prospero and Caliban in Shakespeare's play and their counterparts in Gordimer's novel. The chapter also details the methodology employed, concentrating on comparing the characterizations of the masters and slaves in both works and analyzing the slaves' efforts to establish a new order.

2. If Caliban's wish came true - The work with the master-servant relationship of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in Nadine Gordimer's contemporary novel "July's People": This chapter delves into a detailed comparison between "The Tempest" and "July's People," focusing on the presentation of both the "stranger" (Caliban and July) and the "imperialist" (Prospero and the Smales family). It analyzes how the characters are portrayed, exploring the motivations and actions of the masters and the slaves' reactions and attempts at liberation. The chapter sets the stage for exploring how Gordimer’s novel functions as a modern re-imagining of the power dynamics presented in Shakespeare's play.

Keywords

Shakespeare, The Tempest, Nadine Gordimer, July's People, colonialism, post-colonialism, master-slave relationship, power dynamics, Caliban, Prospero, imperialism, otherness, liberation, literary analysis, intertextuality.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Gordimer's "July's People"

What is the main focus of this academic work?

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Nadine Gordimer's "July's People," focusing primarily on the master-servant dynamic within a colonial context and the potential for a power reversal. It explores how Gordimer's novel can be seen as a modern reimagining of Shakespeare's themes, particularly Caliban's yearning for freedom.

What are the key themes explored in the analysis?

The analysis delves into master-slave relationships in colonial settings, the portrayal of the "other" in literature, power dynamics and their reversals, themes of colonialism and imperialism, and literary intertextuality, specifically the influence of Shakespeare's work on Gordimer's.

Which characters are central to the comparative analysis?

The core characters analyzed are Prospero and Caliban from Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and their counterparts in Gordimer's "July's People." The comparison focuses on how these characters represent the masters and the enslaved, and how their relationships evolve.

How is the analysis structured?

The analysis is structured into three main chapters: an introduction outlining the objectives and methodology; a detailed comparison of "The Tempest" and "July's People," focusing on the portrayal of the "stranger" and the "imperialist" in both works, and analyzing the attempts at liberation; and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings.

What methodology is used in this comparative analysis?

The methodology centers on comparing the characterizations of the masters and slaves in both "The Tempest" and "July's People," analyzing the slaves' reactions to their situations, and exploring their efforts to create a new social order. The analysis aims to highlight how Gordimer reimagines the power dynamics presented in Shakespeare's play within a modern, post-colonial context.

What are the key takeaways or conclusions of the analysis?

While the full conclusions are detailed in the concluding chapter, the analysis aims to illuminate the enduring relevance of Shakespeare's themes in a post-colonial setting. It demonstrates how Gordimer's novel engages with and reinterprets Shakespeare's portrayal of power dynamics, colonial oppression, and the struggle for liberation.

What are the keywords associated with this academic work?

The keywords include Shakespeare, The Tempest, Nadine Gordimer, July's People, colonialism, post-colonialism, master-slave relationship, power dynamics, Caliban, Prospero, imperialism, otherness, liberation, literary analysis, and intertextuality.

• College: University of Potsdam (Institute for Anglistics)
• Grade: 2 (B)
• Author: Bernd Evers (Author)
• Publication Year: 2000
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V20802
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638245821
• Language: English
• Tags: Caliban´s, Wish, Came, True, Shakespeare, Tempest, Nadine, Gordimer