Man or Monster?

African-American Studies > Pre-Civil War
English > Comparison
Literature > Comparative Literature

Man or Monster?

Compares the slave narrative of Olaudah Equiano titled "The Life of Gustavas Vassa, the African," and William Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

958 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2001 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper compares the stereotypes of indigenous people using Caliban in "The Tempest," then contrasts it with a real life narrative from Olaudah Equiano's "The Life of Gustavas Vassa, the African."

From the Paper:

"In Shakespeare's "The Tempest", Caliban is reflected as an abhorred slave (19), who is tricky, savage-like and has monstrous mannerisms. Caliban is an indigenous portrait that is supported by that time periods stereotypes of non-European persons. Caliban is also shown as uneducated, foul-mouthed, and barbaric; both in nature and physical appearance. Sixteenth-century Europeans believed that natives of another land were composed of these things and more. This including that these people were wild men and beast-like. Olaudah Equiano's The Life of Gustavas Vassa, the African, paints a very different picture from that of the stereotypes mentioned. Olaudah is educated, well versed, and has pleasant mannerisms. He is also an honest slave, whose intelligence and patience buys him the freedom from his bound life."