The Representation of the British Empire in Shakespeare’s the merchant of Venice and the tempest: postcolonial standpoint
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Date
2023
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Université Mouloud Mammeri
Abstract
This dissertation has examined the representation of the British Empire in William Shakespeare's plays, The Merchant of Venice (1596) and The Tempest (1611), from a Peripheral Postcolonial standpoint. The objective of the present work, which takes its theoretical bearings from Edward Said’s Postcolonialism, is to challenge the existing idea of England's supremacy during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, arguing that the Spanish and Ottoman empires held more central positions in global power dynamics at that time. It investigates how Shakespeare's depiction of the British Empire reflected the ambitions of a nation seeking to establish itself as a dominant colonial force. By examining characters like Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Caliban/Prospero in The Tempest, our concern is to highlight voices and perspectives that are often ignored or marginalized in order to maintain the existing power dynamics. Furthermore, we have explored the historical backdrop of the 15th and early 16th centuries, emphasizing the significant roles played by the Spanish and Ottoman empires on the global stage. Through this research, it is demonstrated that the British Empire, while emerging as a significant power, existed on the periphery of dominant imperial powers during that era. The findings of our research, have contributed to a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's portrayal of the British Empire, and England’s position within the global power dynamics of the 15th and early 16th centuries. Overall, it is incorrect to categorize England as a colonizing imperial power in comparison to other European and non-European powers that exerted global dominance. During the Elizabethan (1558-1603) and Jacobean (1603-1625) eras, it can be argued that England was actively involved in constructing its empire but had not yet achieved the status of a fully established imperial power
Description
61 p. ; 30 cm. (+CD-Rom)
Keywords
British Empire, Spanish Empire, Ottoman Empire, Postcolonial theory, Peripheral, William Shakespeare
Citation
Literarture and civilization