The Tempest: Caliban

After reading Act II and III in the Tempest I believe that Caliban is indeed supposed to parallel the natives to our world today.  Caliban is the original being who was born on the island, but his seemingly "primitive" nature makes him submerse to the authority of others, namely Prospero.  Caliban teaches Prospero and his daughter everything they needed to know about the island.  In exchange, Prospero and his daughter "civilize" Caliban by teaching him language and teaching him about the stars and the moon.   Caliban represents the native Americans because when the Europeans first came to the New World it was the Native Americans who taught them where to find food and got them acquainted in the mainland.  After the Europeans became settled, they eventually fought against the Native Americans for dominance.   

“They’re not like us, and for that reason deserve to be ruled.”  The article on post colonialism describes the justification of colonizing others.  In the same way I think Shakespeare justifies colonization because he portrays Caliban in such a malevolent manner, with his desire for Miranda and his switching loyalties from Prospero to Stephano.  "I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island. And I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my god." Caliban's manner parallels the early Aztecs who, upon first seeing Cortez and his army of Spaniards, believed him to be the prophesied god Quetzalcoatl.  They then started treating the foreigners like gods, until they were betrayed and annihilated.  

The video on Native Americans was pretty accurate.  Over the last decades, Native Americans have been portrayed in a negative manner in the media.  In the long run, this inaccurate portrayal could have dangerous consequences.  The later generations will have a preconceived notion towards Native Americans and other ethnic groups and will be exposed to the danger of a single story.  This in turn can fuel racism and hatred towards other cultures and beliefs.