Nom 11
Nom 11
2, 2025, pp621-659
JJMLL
Ne*
Cartographic Aspects of the Representation of Demonization and Colonialism in
Shakespeare’s The Tempest *
Akram Nagi Hizam* , Guo Fangyun
Department of English Language & Literature, College of International Studies, Southwest University,
China
Abstract
This paper examines Shakespeare's The Tempest through the lens of cartography to explore the
themes of demonization and colonialism and how they can lead to the dehumanization of non-western
people. It also focuses on the process of reducing non-Europeans, particularly Muslims, to subhuman
status. Previous academic studies on Shakespeare's The Tempest have not sufficiently examined the
geographical and cartographic elements underlying the play's investigation of demonization and
colonization. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to examine the geographical connections
and cartographic complexities, as well as the complex depiction and consequences of demonization and
colonization in Shakespeare's The Tempest. Tackling the enigma of Prospero's Island by systematically
examining the literary cartographic framework of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, it became apparent that
Ibiza is the island that inspired Shakespeare The authors support their claim by providing pertinent
evidence corresponding to Shakespeare's depictions and descriptions of Prospero's Island.
Keywords: Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Cartography, Colonialism, Demonization, Ibiza, Representation.
Introduction
William Shakespeare is an unrivaled figure whose profound influence on English literature has left
an indelible mark on Western literature and cultural development. Throughout the centuries, his works
have garnered significant attention and acclaim, and their enduring impact continues to resonate in
contemporary society. One of Shakespeare's last plays was The Tempest, probably written around 1610 or
1611. It is a nautical drama that reflects the expansion of European adventurers' intellectual and physical
boundaries. Moreover, it dramatizes the unsettling repercussions of wonderment and separation caused by
the growing literature of global exploration, with its descriptions of unfamiliar and wondrous places. The
remote island where the play is set is between Italy and North Africa. Regarding the location of the play,
it is noteworthy that merely two of Shakespeare's plays, among them The Tempest, meticulously observe
the canonical principles of dramatic unity, encompassing the three essential facets of Action, Time, and
Place without any self-referential alterations. According to Aristotle's poetics, the unity of place
demanded that the scene take its place in one specific area for the entirety of the play (Halliwell 1998,
2025 JJMLL Publishers/Yarmouk University. All Rights Reserved,
*
Doi: [Link] 10.47012/jjmll. 17.2.11
*
Corresponding Author: akramnagi2019@[Link]
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298). Except for the opening scene, all of The Tempest's actions occurred on a remote island in the
Mediterranean.
David Scott Kastan claimed that early modern audiences thought of The Tempest as a primarily
political drama involving the dynasties of England and Europe. He argues that its performance at the
court in 1613 has political motives, which shows that the play is more closely linked with political issues
on the European continent than those in the Americas(Kastan 2013, 190). This argumentation suggests
that the geopolitical context of the play is not limited to the Americas but extends to the larger political
landscape of early modern Europe. Shakespeare’s The Tempest was later supplanted by “The Tempest, or
The Enchanted Island, co-written by Davenant and John Dryden” and initially performed in 1667 and
printed in 1670(Scott 2019). The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) authored numerous articles
on Shakespeare’s plays, arguing that The Tempest was, in a significant sense, a dramatic poetry whose
ideas were too complex to be grasped adequately(Coleridge 1907, 65). Critics and writers argued about
The Tempest. They assumed that Prospero's island is fictional in the Mediterranean Sea, but we hope to
prove that Ibiza models the island Prospero was exiled to in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
The early Medieval conflict between the West and the East encouraged European authors to
demonize the other. Therefore, the significance of studying Shakespeare’s The Tempest lies in locating
the remote island and identifying what Shakespeare's presumption represented in the play's essence.
Moreover, The Tempest generated the concept of cartographic demonization based on Muslim identities
and locations; Shakespeare may have intentionally portrayed the East, Muslims, and Africans negatively
to support the colonialist ideology and erode their national identity. By considering both cartographic
demonization and literary cartography, the text connects the historical context of the conflict between the
East and the West with the exploration of Shakespeare's The Tempest. It suggests that understanding the
play's depiction of a remote island and its underlying presumptions requires examining its broader
cultural and geopolitical dynamics during the early modern period.
The discovery of the remote island Shakespeare mentioned in The Tempest brought us back to when
myths about utopian islands were narrated. The island is portrayed as a utopian place of wonder and
enchantment. Prospero's descriptions and magical illusions contribute to this perception, enticing the
characters and the audience with its allure. Although Shakespeare was not the first author to write about a
remote island, he was unique in connecting the island to an actual location and specific time. For instance,
a manuscript titled "The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor" has been traced back to the Egyptian Middle
Kingdom (2040-1782 BCE). in which a man travels outside of Egypt, where he faced a violent
windstorm, and eventually washing up on an uninhabited island (Antonio Loprieno 1996, 270). Plato also
introduced the myth of Atlantis as a remote island in the Timarus and the Critias dialogues. He referred to
a large, prosperous island or continent in the Atlantic Ocean that existed for 9000 years ago. That
kingdom was perfect in every way, home to a culture so evolved and morally upstanding that its citizens
conquered the rest of Africa and Europe. However, their lust for power only intensified until the gods, in
their wrath, released a flood to cover the island (David Sacks, Oswyn Murray 2014, 61).
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Similarly to ancient mythology, utopia reemerged as a clear concept throughout the Renaissance and
early Medieval periods. For example, the mythical Avalon was a magnificent island where King Arthur
would be treated for his wounds after being mortally wounded in the battle (Sian Echard 2011, 58). Sir
Thomas More referred to a fictional, ideal society as a "utopia." He created an imaginary world in which a
sophisticated, self-sufficient community lives on a remote island, and its inhabitants all share the same
style of life and culture (Brunn 2015, 98). In most cases, these utopian islands were located just beyond
the grasp of actual maps. At the same time, Shakespeare introduced a unique transformation from the
fictional world to the real one in The Tempest, as we assume. By mapping the development and
transformation of these utopian ideas and their connection to remote islands, literary cartography helps us
understand the evolution of these concepts over time and their impact on Shakespeare's portrayal of the
remote island in The Tempest. In the 17th century, when Shakespeare was writing The Tempest,
cartography was a rapidly developing field. New maps were always being drawn, and explorers were
discovering new lands. This led to a renewed interest in remote islands as people began to wonder what
might lie beyond the known world.
The Elizabethan English playwrights and poets linked their era dreams with the mythological
concept of fortunate islands by relying on biblical predictions that included islands (Marshall 1991, 90).
England itself was portrayed as a "fortuned" or blessed isle, chosen by God. This interpretation of
England as a fortunate island aligns with biblical imagery found in books like Isaiah, which speaks of
islands in a messianic context “Be silent before me, you islands! / Let the nations renew their strength! /
Let them come forward and speak; / let us meet together at the place of judgment” “Isaiah 41:1-5 (NIV).”
Prominent literary figures, including William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, and Philip Sidney, skillfully
used mythological elements connected with fortunate or mythical islands, while also drawing inspiration
from biblical prophetic narratives and predictions. The references in their works frequently corresponded
to the concept of a paradise or a place of restoration and transformation, similar to the Edenic imagery
depicted in the Bible. For example, in The Tempest, William Shakespeare references the concepts of
redemption, forgiveness, and the possibility of a new beginning, often associated with paradise. The
play's protagonist, Prospero, has been exiled to a remote island. He uses his magic to create a world of
illusion on the island. This suggests that Shakespeare saw the fortunate islands of myth as a way to escape
the harsh realities of the Elizabethan era. Mystical prophecies concerning islands like Avalon are also
mentioned in the heroic poetry of Sidney and Spencer and demonstrate this preoccupation with island
predictions.
Puritan John Bale also directly referred to Avalon in his writings, which spread throughout
England(Åkerman 1998, 244). Therefore, islands were more prevalent during the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance, marking a transitional phase between travel as a religious pilgrimage and travel for imperial
conquest. Shakespeare, who was acquainted with classical literature, placed the setting of his play on a
remote island in the Mediterranean and employed his imagination about colonial racing and the discovery
of the new world to make a perfect play based on a historical island. Shakesperae’s Othello also
introduces the island of Cyprus dramatically to England audience. It uses stereotypes from the earliest
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traveling literature to portray the island as a complex and ambiguous crossroads between different
cultures, eras, races, religions, and genders. As the first major work written in English about Cyprus, it
also marks the beginning of British colonial literature.
Shakespeare’s The Tempest is the ultimate drama blending demonization and colonialism with
geography. The pivotal significance of geography in molding the narrative and themes of The Tempest
becomes evident as the play unfolds. The remote island, where most of the action occurs, is a significant
geographical setting. The island functions as a microcosm that reflects the time's broader colonial and
geopolitical concerns. It is a mirror that reflects the stereotype of demonization and colonialization during
the Renaissance era and how cartographers endeavored to reshape the world map according to colonizers'
malevolent impulses to dominate and oppress others. According to Probasco, the role of maps in the
development of English exploration in the sixteenth century is a complex and controversial issue that has
been debated by scholars for many years. (Probasco 2014, 35). Gilbert's inventive and widespread maps
show how England benefited from using maps through their attempts to establish the first colonialization
beyond England. Probasco adds that the Elizabethan settlers put a premium on mapping and demonstrated
how maps might be helpful before, during, and after an exploratory mission (Probasco 2014, 426).
Europeans raised cartography's development in the sixteenth century for colonial purposes.
The colonial race also influenced literary cartography; whether Shakespeare advocated
colonialization or condemned its ideology was undeclared but perceptible via his explicit metaphors. He
was eagerly impressed by what is called “a new world.” In Shakespeare's play The Tempest, we see a
reflection of the major changes shaping our world today. The play depicts the clash between different
political systems and colonial powers, offering a nuanced view of the neo-colonial ambitions still
prevalent in the world. The Tempest embodies a multifaceted and intellectually stimulating dramatic
production that endures in evoking a resonant response in the audience at the present. It is a play that
explores the themes of domination, exploitation, demonization, slavery, injustice, and oppression, which
became highly promoted among the great powers in the age of discoveries and the modern era.
Shakespeare's audience might have been accustomed to the play's basic metaphorical foundations,
including the themes of the monster and the witch as demonic and Satanic figures.
According to Jacqueline Latham, Caliban has been traced back to King James I's Daemonologie.
Comparing Caliban's demonic and Satanic connections with the European concept of the barbarian
reveals that the play's primary audience at King James' court had been particularly familiar with these
themes(Harlock 2015, 49). Therefore, Shakespeare's depiction of a monster and a witch in The Tempest
does not seem to be an accidental attempt to connect two dissimilar Renaissance imaginations. However,
the adoption of monster images to establish a demonized Other is a structural connection between the
Moors who were demonized and Europeans who practiced demonization against them. This phenomenon
originates in the medieval era when there was a long conflict between Christians and Muslims in Europe.
This conflict led to the development of several stereotypes about Muslims, including that they were
barbaric, cruel, and sexually depraved. These stereotypes were often depicted in art and literature, which
helped to create a visual image of the "Moorish monster." The Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition also
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contributed to the demonization of Muslims. During these periods, Muslims were often accused of heresy
and witchcraft, further vilifying them and creating a sense of fear and distrust towards them. The adoption
of monster images to establish a demonized Other was a powerful tool that Europeans used to justify their
treatment of Muslims.
By depicting Muslims as monsters, Europeans could dehumanize them and make it easier to justify
violence against them. For example, in Marlowe’s Tamburlaine the Great, Muslims were depicted as
Typhon and Hydra. This demonization of Muslims had a lasting impact on European culture and
continues to influence how Muslims are perceived today. Moreover, Shakespeare's plays have been
praised for their timeless insights into human nature, but they have also been criticized for portraying
non-Christian characters as stereotypical and often villainous, which reflects the prevalent prejudices of
his time and culture. In particular, Shakespeare's plays often use the language of Christian superiority and
"othering" to demonize Muslims and reinforce Eurocentric notions of civilization and barbarism. For
example, in Othello, one of the characters describes Muslims as "base Indian" and "barbarous Moor."
This language reflects the widespread prejudice against Muslims in Shakespeare's time and reinforces
negative stereotypes about Muslims, such as their irrationality, violence, and exoticism. The play The
Merchant of Venice includes Morocco, a prince from North Africa, and a Muslim. He tries to win the
hand of Portia, a wealthy Venetian heiress. However, he ultimately fails, and it is unclear whether his
dark skin and ethnic differences played a role in his rejection. In the play Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare
includes a character called Aaron the Moor, who is a black North African and Muslim. Aaron is portrayed
as a cruel and cunning villain who commits heinous acts of violence and depravity.
The concept of "otherness" has been a prominent focus of recent studies of The Tempest, as scholars
have explored the play's multifaceted representations of cultural differences and colonial power relations.
In her essay “Cultural Differences and the Idea of “Otherness” in Shakespeare,” Alina Popa argues that
the character of Caliban represents the growing Englishmen's awareness of the unavoidable "otherness" of
people from other cultures. She points out that "race" was used in many different ways in Shakespeare's
period and could refer to skin color, geographical residence, or even individual worth or behavior (Popa
2011, 2). Kahrić & Muhić also highlight that The Tempest is one of four of Shakespeare's plays to involve
non-white characters as a reference to the Other (Kahrić & Muhić 2020, 9). Their research effectively
underscores the play's role in addressing 'otherness' and related stereotypes. In her essay "Shakespeare's
Tempest and the Discourse of Colonialism," Deborah Willis argues that the play's representation of
"otherness" is a complex and nuanced exploration of the colonial project. She argues that the colonizers in
the play exploit "otherness" to assert their superiority, justify their colonization of the island, and control
their desires. For example, Stephano and Trinculo see Caliban as a "savage" and a "monster," they use
this perception to justify their attempts to enslave him. Similarly, Prospero sees Caliban as a "natural
slave" and uses his magic to control him (Willis 1989, 277).
Jonathan Locke Hart argues that Shakespeare’s The Tempest revolves around the theme of otherness,
where travel, foreign lands, and marginalized figures take center stage. Geographically, the play contrasts
Italy, North Africa, and the mysterious island of Bermuda, using the characters' language to evoke these
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distant realms. Caliban, who symbolizes monstrosity and perhaps Native American experiences, wields
the colonizers' language to challenge authority cunningly. This exemplifies the intricate interplay between
geography, language, and power dynamics in Shakespeare's exploration of otherness (Hart 2018, 126–
27). In her research paper "A Born Devil: Magic and Racial Othering in The Tempest and Othello," Zoë
Brewerton discusses how Caliban and Othello are marginalized due to their otherness. Caliban's otherness
is highlighted by his magical conception and non-European roots, while Othello's blackness is exploited
through witchcraft accusations. Their racial identities further amplify these characters' otherness,
distinguishing them from the other characters in the plays (Brewerton 2022, 43–45). Brewerton's analysis
provides a logic framework for understanding how Caliban and Othello are marginalized due to their
otherness. Their non-European origins, magical associations, and racial identities collectively contribute
to their status as outsiders in Shakespeare’s plays. By examining the intricate connections between their
magical and racial attributes, one gains deeper insights into the multifaceted mechanisms of
marginalization and demonization of the other that underpin these canonical literary works.
Geography and drama studies often focus on a work's historical and geographical context rather than
The cartographic imagination was a powerful tool used by Europeans. John Gillies' "Shakespeare and the
Geography of Difference" exemplifies this. He explores how Renaissance geography influenced
Shakespeare's depiction of unfamiliar places. Gillies connects Shakespeare's portrayals with literal
cartography, suggesting that marginalized locations were depicted at map margins. He also highlights the
resemblance between maps and theatre (Gillies 1994, 99). Geographers have also turned to
Shakespearean drama to investigate matters of history and law. For example, in Shakespeare's play The
Tempest, John Wylie explores the interplay between colonial narratives and geographical dialogues. He
argues that colonization and colonial discourse originate in, and are built upon, a series of European
theological and classical perceptions concerning the moral aspects of voyages and the essence of distant
geographical territories (Wylie 2000, 45).
The Tempest also reflected the canonical colonial mindset that promoted colonial sustainability. This
mindset paved the way for predatory colonial powers to conquer nations later. In addition to being useful
for navigation, maps, and mapping can be used as instruments of power. There is an inherent relationship
between mapping and dominance and control. Maps, Tally argues, are an inherent part of power
dynamics and have always represented particular kinds of authority and control. An analogy to the
colonial mentality that used maps for more than just understanding distant lands—but also for claiming
and controlling them—is possible. Conquest and colonization are justified because mapping itself
becomes a way of bringing order and authority to what was previously seen as chaotic or unknown (Tally
2013, 25–26). According to Edward Said in his book Culture and Imperialism, what novelists,
playwrights, and poets say in their literary works and what explorers narrate about their voyages
transforms into a perfect method that colonized nations depend on to propound their existence and
identity (Said 2012, xii). So, this is what happened on Prospero’s Island when Prospero dominated
Caliban. According to Said, imperialism's primary competition is over territory (54). Therefore,
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Tempest
cartography began as a colonial endeavor and remains today as a device of spatial control well over the
existence of individuals and species across ever-greater regions of the Earth (Northcott 2015, 12).
Since maps were the key elements that enabled the leaders of colonial powers to conquer the other’s
possessions, playwrights might have offered a new, shortened vision of the new world either on a tanned
leather or on the theatre’s stage. Shakespeare employs the strategy of demonizing foreign cultures,
represented by Caliban, to explore the complicated issues related to European expansion during his era. In
fact, by demonizing foreign cultures, Shakespeare could explore the complex issues of colonialism and
challenge the assumptions of his own culture. His imaginative descriptions of the New World were
informed by his audiences' familiarity with the demonization of Muslim history in Spain and the
Mediterranean. Caliban is depicted as savage and uncivilized, representing the world's colonized peoples
as Europeans understood them in Shakespeare's time.
The cartographic imagination was a powerful tool used by European cartographers in the 16th
century to justify imperialism and colonialism. It helped to create a vivid depiction of the demonization of
Muslims and the colonialism of European culture. The legacy of this cartographic imagination can still be
seen today. According to Robert Tally, the literary cartographer must identify the extent to which a
particular portrayal of a location pertains to any actual site in the geographical world (Tally45).
Therefore, we indicate that Shakespeare depicted Ibiza as a fictional island in the play, allowing us to
determine its real location in the Mediterranean Sea, its Amir, its geographical territories, and its political
relations with the other islands in Italy and Spain.
Consequently, Shakespeare referred to the colonial movements of his age in the Atlantic Ocean
drawing upon historical instances of colonial expansion in the Mediterranean that occurred during the
Middle Ages, such as that of the Byzantine Empire, Arab caliphate powers, and the emerging maritime
republics of Italy (including Venice and Genoa), various regions of the Mediterranean came under the
influence of these powers. It is possible that Shakespeare referred to a significant island in the
Mediterranean Sea and adapted its events to coincide with what happened in the Atlantic Ocean .During
Shakespeare's time, the Mediterranean Sea was well-known. It had been home to ancient civilizations,
and people had written extensively about its history and culture. Shakespeare would have been familiar
with these stories and legends and may have used them as inspiration when writing The Tempest. On the
other hand, the Atlantic Ocean was not as well-understood at the time. It was a vast and mysterious ocean,
and there was much that people did not know about it.
Shakespeare used the characters in The Tempest to explore the themes of colonialism,
discrimination, demonization, and apartheid. He did this by depicting the characters as mapmakers
responsible for charting new lands and claiming them for their own. This mirrors Edward Said's concept
of Orientalist discourse, where the Orient is depicted through stylized figures or tropes that serve to
reinforce Western superiority (Said 1979, 71). It also mirrors how European colonizers claimed land from
the native peoples they encountered. The interaction between the colonized and the colonizer, the text,
and Space is also implied in the play. Moreover, Shakespeare devoted his efforts to connecting the events
of the Orient and Mediterranean with early modern colonial ambitions, which were motivated by the
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desire to conquer the other world. He employed his expertise to demonize Muslim Africans and to show
that reconciliation with all European nations was vital before colonizing non-European nations. The
reconciliation in the Tempest between Prospero and Antonio could be just an imitation of a successful
reconciliation between Orthotics and Catholics during the Crusade war or the reconciliation of the
republics of Pisa and Genoa against Muslims in Sardina in 1015 AD so that common interest prevails
based on internal understanding to ensure the continuity of hegemony over other nations. He also
introduced the trans-historical connections and parallels between the old distant periods and the early
modern ones when they are tightly linked to disparate colonial places.
Analyzing The Tempest through the lens of literary cartography enables us to map the relationships
between the play's geographical setting, its characters, and the broader cultural and historical context of
colonialism and demonization. This perspective helps us understand how Shakespeare intertwines notions
of demonization and colonialism with the geographic space of the remote island, offering insights into the
complex dynamics of power, identity, and oppression portrayed in the play. This research paper examines
the aspects of colonialization and demonization in Shakespeare's The Tempest, focusing on Prospero's and
Caliban's cartography, the island's location, and the demonization of Muslims. By analyzing the
interactions between these elements, the paper illuminates how the play explores the complexities of
colonial power dynamics, geographic representation, and the demonization of the 'other,' particularly
concerning Muslims.
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Tempest
by having mysterious supernatural powers that outweighed the power of the natives. His passion is
emphasized once more during the final coming-together when Prospero's magic circle holds Alonso and
his five consorts under its spell; they all join the circular shape that Prospero had constructed. They all
remained delighted (Bigliazzi and Calvi 2014, 84). While the closed circle undeniably evokes a sense of
enclosure, mirroring the fortified walls of Ibiza castle, its significance extends beyond a purely visual
representation. Adopting the same geometrical imagery throughout The Tempest also compels us to
visualize the shipwreck's off-stage location when Prospero commanded Ariel to perform The Tempest.
Ariel states an assertion in which he proclaims, “In troops I have dispersed them ’bout the
isle”(1.2.220), along with the reality that he had accomplished this feat of landing the King's son all on
his own “in an odd angle of the isle” (1.2223). More precisely, Prospero focused on a unique cartography
based on geometric shapes, and his executive cartographer-Ariel – carries out Prospero’s commands. The
dramatic journey from the periphery to the center might indicate the colonists' eagerness to reach the
central location. Therefore, the events of The Tempest are relatively localized: after the opening scene,
where a ship is shipwrecked on the island's shore, the action is restricted to the island, while for most of
the play, the audience is merely "before of Prospero's cell." Thus, it demonstrates Prospero's absolute
dominance over the island. Prospero as a European colonizer advocated the “divide and conquer policy”
(Trivedi and Ryuta 2010, 246). He strived to tear apart the social fabric and started to dominate humans
and lands. He divided the natives into two parties: those who promised obedience were granted power and
sovereignty, while those who practiced disobedience faced slavery, injustice, and persecution. Ariel was
the loyal native, while Caliban was the disobedient one. Ariel, who represented the obedient colonized in
Act1 Scene 2, revealed the plan of the European colonizer on the map:
Ariel All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be’t to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curled clouds. To thy strong bidding task
Ariel and all his quality (1.2.189-193).
Ariel, who acted as the cartographic executive of Prospero’s colonial ideology, replied, “I come to
answer.” He performed his plans according to Prospero’s desire, dominating the four elements of the
universe: Earth, air, water, and fire. This argumentation aims to debunk a common assumption about The
Tempest by demonstrating how problematic Shakespeare's use of the idea of the elements is and how
Prospero represented the four elements to embody colonial interests. The four elements of the universe in
The Tempest determined the location more than being material entity qualities. Shakespeare's plays are
filled with allusions to cosmological concepts. For instance, The Tempest became a piece of evidence of
how Shakespeare viewed the cosmos, or at minimum, how he preferred depicting it to his audiences from
the perspective of colonialism. In the early 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish-German scientist,
proposed that the Sun is at the center of the universe, not the Earth, based on his findings. However,
English authors persisted in the Ptolemaic model, which places Earth at the center of the solar system
either for colonial or religious reasons (Carey 2020, 59).
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The three coordinates of a vertical map of the cosmos can be seen by Prospero, his daughter
Miranda, and the island they are isolated on in The Tempest. Prospero represents the mind, Miranda
represents the soul, and the island represents the body. Together, these three components form a map that
can be used to understand the entire stock of creation, from the highest (the mind) to the lowest (the
body). In other words, The Tempest is a metaphor for the soul's journey, as it seeks to find its way back to
its rightful place in the cosmos (DeGregorio 2010, 118). According to the perspective of colonialism,
universe elements found on the island and in its immediate surroundings are crucial to the characters' lore
and identity. Ariel, in his role, was responsible for executing tasks. Ariel said:
Thou call’dst me up at midnight to fetch dew
From the still-vexed Bermoothes, there she’s hid;
The mariners all under hatches stowed. (1.2.227-230).
Ariel alerted Prospero of the ship's safe arrival in Bermuda. Therefore, the European cartographer
Prospero, who knew the ends of his map, said, “Ariel, thy charge exactly is performed; but there’s more
work.” (1.2.236-237). According to Prospero's illusion, the horizons of colonialism go beyond Bermuda
island. Shakespeare referred to Spanish colonialization or the voyage of discoveries. One of the earliest
landings in Bermuda was recorded in a cliffside rock carving, “EXPLORERS AND SEAFARERS” As
early as 1503, a Spanish explorer named Juan de Bermúdez is thought to have sailed by what is now
the Bermuda archipelago (Morlock 2021, 22). By addressing Bermuda, Prospero made the map in a
geometrical shape. Milan, Tunisia, and Bermuda shape the three-dimensional geometric shape of the
cone. The storm occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, as it is in the circumcenter of the cone. The same
geometrical shape might be comprehended if Shakespeare also alluded to England.
Moreover, the severe storm that blew out the ship was in the cone's barycenter, which might refer to
the conflicting interests of colonial countries to dominate the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. If we
visualize the locations as a geometric cone extending from Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean to Tunisia in
Africa and then Milan in Italy, then the vertex of the cone has to be the Island of Bermuda, which is
located far away from the flat of the cone, where the storm took place. Prospero's location is not in
Bermuda; only his knowledge reached there. In alternative terms, it is an emblematic representation of
Spanish colonialism, extending from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.
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Tempest
Figure 1: Imaginative map of the island and the storm. This figure shows the geometric cone that Milan,
Tunisia, and Bermuda make, according to the description in The Tempest by William Shakespeare.
Bermuda, at the vertex, represents Prospero's wide impact and reach. The European power centers
represented by Milan and Tunisia form the foundation of the cone. While the barycenter, the place of
severe storm impact, emphasizes the competing interests of colonial powers in the Mediterranean and the
Atlantic, the circumcenter, located in the Mediterranean Sea, identifies the storm's location and
symbolizes the chaos of colonial competition (Source: the authors).
Prospero, as a colonizer, has two temporary detention centers. The first detention location is a “filthy
mantled pool beyond Prospero’s cell” (4.1.182). It is a temporary prison until Prospero is prepared to
reveal their conspiracy. The filthy pool might refer symbolically to suitable punishment for those
triggered by the seven deadly sins (Knight 1989, 3:327). King and his followers, on the other hand, were
taken to further detention. “In the line grove which weather-fends Prospero’s cell” (5.1.10). The two
distinct imprisonments reflect the colonizer’s sovereignty. Although Prospero plays the role of the ideal
cartographic teacher in the play, his slaves and servants carry out what he dreams of. Like Ariel, Gonzalo,
recognized as Prospero’s agent, disclosed his inclination towards colonialism. He says “Had I plantation
of this isle, my lord” (2.1.146). The desire to have a plantation colony was addressed. Gonzalo called
attention to ecological imperialism, which falls within Prospero’s hidden occupancy concern. Throughout
the ages, all isles and straits are considered essential locations on the map and, therefore, a point of
advantage for the colonizers' military forces that endeavor to control them. These locations often fall into
the cycle of tension and conflict between the colonizer and the colonized. The countries of the European
continent have also been suffering from a scarcity of primary resources for industry, including energy,
which made them look for these resources outside their geographies. Their interests turned to building
their war capabilities first in the context of competition between the Western colonial empires over the
world's regions, whose mainstay was the naval forces in the race.
Understanding Prospero’s political map might be interpreted through the eyes of Gonzalo, who
worked once upon a time under his service. Since Prospero is the storm maker, he is a prime example to
the knowledgeable cartographer (Political map maker). His tactics might be mysterious unless they have
been understood by a brilliant figure such as Gonzalo, who helped Prospero and Miranda to escape from
Milan peacefully. Gonzalo prescribed the island with a maze, “My old bones ache: here’s a maze trod
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indeed”(3.3.2). The labyrinth symbolizes the intersection of the political and spatial concerns on the
island. It hints at Prospero’s political strategy that led to the integrated submission of his enemies.
Throughout the play, Gonzalo appears to be a much more meticulous person. He recognized the
advantageous economic locations and realized there are complicated labyrinthine counterplots. This keen
awareness of Gonzalo's, however, doesn't fully reveal Prospero's strategy.
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event. Ultimately, whether or not The Tempest is based on the Battle of Ibiza is a matter of interpretation
being discussed in this research. The logical inference of Ibiza's battle can be summarized as the
following. First, Prospero's character can be interpreted as similar to the Spanish King who ordered the
island invasion, as both men were motivated by ambition for power. Second, the rulers of Ibiza trace their
ancestry back to Africa, just like Caliban, which suggests that the battle was a clash between two cultures.
To Trinculo, Caliban's appearance—half fish, half monster —symbolizes the dominance of the Moors in
the Mediterranean. Nabil Matar's analysis of Shakespeare's The Tempest enhances our understanding of
the play by highlighting Caliban's identity as a “half Moor,” which adds complex cultural and historical
dimensions to the portrayal of Caliban and the exploration of colonialism and cultural conflict in the
Mediterranean (Matar 2005, 36–37). Thirdly, The Christians on the island, who helped Prospero, are
illustrated by Ariel's light, ethereal nature. Spiritual and immaterial signs represent the divine energy,
attributes, and sway in Christian symbolism.
Fourthly, according to Armstrong's book, The White Island, the dispute between the Moorish ruler
and his brother is caused by a pretty Catalan lady so that Miranda might be the enslaved European
responsible for the feud between the Moorish King and his brother. Finally, The Cathedral of Eivissa,
which could stand in for Ariel's abode, is located near Prospero's cell, representing Ibiza Castle. The
castle and the cathedral, Prospero and Ariel represent the King of Arogan and the Christian people.
Similarly, the official Catalan name for this Island is Eivissa, a transliteration of the Arabic word Yabisa
or, as it was used to be spelled, Iabisa. The Moroccan cartographer Idrisi named the island on his world
map 1154 “Iabisa” according to the geographical topography of the island, which later became well-
known as Ibiza. In addition to referencing Prospero's sense of wholeness, harmony, and balance during
his time in Milan, the number twelve may also allude to historical events that took place in the
Mediterranean when Muslim forces drove the European Christians out of the eastern Mediterranean after
multiple invasions in the twelfth century, preventing them from retaking Jerusalem and other holy places.
It also signified the overthrowing of Muslims on Ibiza Island in the 12th century when the Norwegian
King Sigurd I invaded Ibiza while he was on his route to Jerusalem to join a crusade; his army sieged the
island, and after tremendous losses from both sides, Christens beat the Muslim defenders on the island in
1110 (Baadj 2015). Shakespeare inspired his play by the colonial attacks on Ibiza.
Muslims were also exposed to slavery on this island, similar to the actions of The Tempest. There
were many different types of them. In addition to enslaved people held because of debt, captives were
imported (Harvey 1990, 116). When Aragonese King James I conquered Ibiza in 1235, Muslims were
persecuted. Their resistance and insistence on resistance were embodied through the opposition of
Caliban. This hypothesis is both plausible and logical, given Shakespeare's extensively documented
tendency to adopt and enhance ideas and stories from the theatrical works of other artists. His skill in
improving these stories through his remarkable poetic talent is apparent throughout his works,
showcasing not just his literary competence but also his ability to turn universal concepts into deep
explorations of human nature and emotion. This academic viewpoint is consistent with the wider
perception of Shakespeare as a dramatist who showed exceptional skill in the practice of adapting existing
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stories, infusing them with a unique and profound significance that was unmistakably his own. He was
more knowledgeable about the past and may have referenced Ibiza and the Crusades.
Consequently, the numbers refer to hints that Shakespeare targeted Ibiza. Eivissa, called Ibiza, was
most popular with captivity and slavery during the medieval age, primarily when Christians conquered it.
Enslaved people and captives were exposed to human exploitation. They were forced to harvest the
grapes from the vines and work on constructing public buildings under the rigid schedule for agricultural
and salt output (Ferrer Abárzuza 2016, 565). Caliban claims to dig the pignuts with his nails, referring to
his agricultural duties as a servant on the island so that we can figure out a similarity between enslaved
people’s duty on Prospero’s Island and Ibiza island. Both practiced agricultural deeds, which is another
evidence that “Iabisa island” was where Shakespeare set the setting of The Tempest play.
Moreover, the church during the twelfth century established slavery law, which prohibited Christians
from enslaving Christians and allowed Christians to enslave non-Christians (Allen 2017, 75). The church
canon inspired Shakespeare to elucidate the escalating events on Ibiza island. As a servant, Caliban was
persecuted and tortured, so Caliban’s torture and humiliation were similar to what happened to the Moors
in Ibiza island. Moors were black, and Caliban was as well. Both were enslaved; consequently, the
identical characteristics between Evissa (Ibiza)island and Prospero’s Island in all historical, political,
geographical, and social aspects were not purely coincidental for Shakespeare. Moreover, Shakespeare
was influenced by the Mediterranean Sea more than the Atlantic Ocean. For instance, the setting for most
of his literary works was the Mediterranean sea, such as The Tempest, Antony and Cleopatra, The
Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, and Othello. This is another
clue to determine the island's location.
There is no doubt that Prospero engages in white magic rather than necromancy or black magic since
it represents a Christian thought. His magical skills include calling upon ghosts to perform practical work,
putting on amusing displays, and controlling the weather. He does not use spells or torture but threatens to
trap Ariel inside the oak tree's twisted core. Therefore, the oak tree that grew up in Ibiza is another
evidence that Shakespeare intended Ibiza, not Bermuda. Prospero tells Ariel, “ If thou more murmur’st, I
will rend an oak /And peg thee in his knotty entrails till /Thou hast howled away twelve winters”(1.2.294-
296). The Oka trees are primarily associated with brackish environments, so they are prominent in Ibiza
and Formentera.
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Figure 2: Illustrated map of Ibiza Island and what matches in the Tempest Play (Source: the authors)
Pine forests are not limited to the southern parts of Portugal and Spain; we can also find them in the
mountains of Cuenca and Albarracin, the countryside of Tortosa, and the island of Ibiza. Large swaths of
Andalusia were covered in oak trees(Glick 2005, 110). Holm oaks may be able to establish their
territories in areas optimal for agriculture. Since ancient times, these regions have been used for farming,
replacing the natural oak forests. Over the years, certain wooded areas have been maintained to provide
fuelwood and coal, but even these have steadily disappeared due to increased farming (Ioannis N.
Vogiatzakis, Gloria Pungetti 2008, 277). Therefore, the growing demand for firewood in Europe and
Prospero’s explanation to Marinda that they needed Caliban to serve them in bringing firewood suggests
the connection of the island's trees to the colonizer’s ambitions. Prospero declares how he found Ariel on
the island: “When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape/The pine and let thee out” (1.2.291-2).
Consequently, Prospero’s arrival on an island full of pines is emphasized, and this is enough
evidence to prove that Ibiza and the other Balearic Islands used to be called the islands of pines. The
name Balearic was given to the entire group of islands: Gymnesia (Majorca and Minorca) and / Pityusa
(Ibiza and Formentera); hence these islands are known as Balearic. The name Pityusa is believed to be a
Greek term derived from the abundance of pine trees on the vast Island (Long 1841, 322). Below is an
example of two ancient Ibiza trees mentioned by type in The Tempest of Shakespeare.
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(Figure 3: “Ancient Trees in Ibiza” Online) (Figure 4: Administrator The biggest holm oak on
Ibiza island Bellotera de Can Carreró )Online image
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Tempest
wasteland governed by the profane until Prospero arrived(Marx 2017, 205:52). This argument refers to
colonialism's logic, which declared that any part of the world did not have an honest being unless white
Europeans had sighted it and affirmed its presence. The colonial invaders exploit foreign people and their
lands under the justification that their extreme solicitude stands out in terms of lofty principles or values,
such as the "civilized message" or the "white man's burden" and the emergency response to improve the
living conditions that exhausted the colonialized, stripping them of superstitions and freeing them from
oppression and tyranny (Campo 2010, 47, 156). Prospero tells Miranda, “We cannot miss him: he makes
our fire” (1.2.311). Prospero, well-versed in books, acknowledges that his knowledge of the island is
limited. He needs Caliban's help to learn about the island's geography and history, as Caliban is an expert
on these matters. Shakespeare may have referenced the Moor's Cartography through Caliban, who could
represent Al-Idrisi, the Moroccan geographer. In contrast, Prospero represents Roger II, who recognized
the genius of al-Idrisi and requested him to write the first comprehensive geography of the world's most
populous cities, “Nuzhat al-mushtaq fi ikhtiraq al-afaq, also known as Tabula Rogeriana.”
In The Tempest, colonized people were exploited methodically and thoughtfully. The colonizer
exploited the natives inhabiting the island flexibly and gradually until he had controlled all of the island's
residents and established his dominion over them, then resorted to using excessive force to preserve his
interests and to ensure the continuity of his survival and suppress any counter force threatening their
survival. Prospero besieged Caliban in the worst part of the island:
For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own King; and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me The rest o’ th’ Island (1.2.341-43).
In this immoral behavior, it is conceivable to see the results of Caliban's encounter with Prospero—
the results of nurture rather than nature. It is argued that the colonial experience is the foundation for the
interaction between the European master and the native servant. The philosophical and political
dimensions of Caliban's claim to the island have much significance throughout the play, even though the
dramatic action may seem to minimize the issue of his legitimate standing. They impact Prospero's
authority, Caliban's rights, and all rulers' characteristics and sources of authority (Shakespeare 2008, 24).
In a significant way, Caliban is the one who gives Prospero's power legitimacy. Caliban argues that
authority is ultimately derived from the people who are governed, not from any divine source, whether
voluntarily or involuntarily. He tells his master, "I am all the subjects you have" (I.2.34 I). Though
Prospero knows Miranda would prefer a world devoid of Caliban.
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As stated above, Prospero dominated the most important part of the island,while Caliban was exiled
to a barren, rocky area isolated from the fertile island characterized by the manifestations of life. A rocky
archipelago off the coast of Ibiza, called Es Vedrà, could be symbolized by the hard rock of Caliban since
its location applies to the hard rock description. It has a sharp pyramidal rock that no cartographer might
have visited the island and could ignore since it represents a fortified shield for the island, and many
myths and legends were narrated about, particularly in the sixteenth century. Therefore, this does not
exclude the possibility that Caliban’s rock in The Tempest might be Ibiza’s rock that Shakespeare referred
to.
Nostradamus prophesied in the sixteenth century that when a nuclear catastrophe destroys most of
life on Earth due to a predicted worldwide war, Ibiza would be the only location that might be the last
safe on Earth: “Ibiza will be Earth’s final refuge” (Williamson 2014, 73). Spreading out this myth in the
sixteenth century around Europe might have made Ibiza a significant and mysterious location in
Shakespeare's literature, as it is closely connected with the prediction of the fateful life a French
pharmacist and astrologer predicted in his book Prophecies. Caliban’s home is also described as a cave in
a hard rock, revealing how Shakespeare's The Tempest shifts its audience to a broad imagination towards
an artificial island. Nevertheless, this Space is characterized by a vast, unique world, similar to rocky
pools, isolated caves, and lush orchards. It also refers to the Space where the monster inhabits the cave
and makes his home in the 'Hard Rock' (Laoutaris 2008, 121).
Additionally, Ibiza has the topography that The Tempest describes for Prospero's Island, with
freshwater springs, brackish pools, desert, fertile areas, and everything else. Regarding the location of the
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Island, Ibiza is the only island with a river in the Balearic Islands called the Santa Eulària river.
“Although the Santa Eulalia, the only true river in the Balearics, ceased to run after 1965”(Bellard 2010,
444). Ibiza's location and Caliban’s African roots represent the point of the evacuation of Africans from
the Mediterranean Sea because the colonial campaign was aimed at Africa, and the colonial powers had
mapped Africa before the expansion era. The critical transformation around the colonization of the new
world portends a counter-revolution. Shakespeare pointed out that all the islands near Europe should be
tightly controlled before embarking on colonizing the new world because the danger threatening Europe
comes from the Mediterranean Sea and not from the Atlantic Ocean. Caliban says, “Be not afraid; the isle
is full of noises” (3.1.139). We conceive how the outsiders exploited insiders to reveal the mazes of the
Space and the territory positions.
Caliban emphasizes the island's submission by assuring the colonizer that what he is hearing is
merely the voice of nature and that there is no resistance on the island. This reassurance helped the
colonizer to expropriate the island from its inhabitants. Caliban also states, “I’ll show thee the best
springs; I’ll pluck thee berries;/I’ll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough” (2.2.167). The colonial power
in The Tempest embodied the colonizer's commercial ambitions in the Middle Ages with the search for
agricultural products, cotton, leather, inscriptions, and antiquities, down to gold, silver, copper, and other
metals, and domination upon the prominent locations. Similarly, the colonial powers turned to oil in
modern times, and waves of wars and barbarism are held against countries rich in oil and minerals with
the same methodology identical to the colonizer stereotypes in Shakespeare's play.
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the Renaissance, particularly Algerian and Spanish Muslims. The play seeks to explore how
demonological maps and classifications of that era influenced cultural perceptions. The portrayal of
Muslims as demons in The Tempest involves scrutiny of the influence of literary and demonological
cartography on the construction of cultural and religious identities. By immersing ourselves in The
Tempest's imaginative maps and visual representations, we can deepen our comprehension of how the
Renaissance era shaped the depiction of various groups, including Muslims, within the framework of
demonic imagery and beliefs. Nevertheless, researchers frequently ignore this research gap as a result of
the prevalence of “New World” interpretations that give priority to colonial contexts and disregard the
play's connections to the Mediterranean and North Africa, which belong to the “Old World”. This
rejection arises from a tendency to associate these geographic elements with older, romanticized
interpretations, leading to a one-dimensional understanding of The Tempest that ignores the significant
political and cultural dynamics of England's involvement in the eastern Mediterranean during the
Renaissance (Brotton 2003, 30).
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Analyzing the name of Sycorax, a mysterious character in The Tempest, from the cartography
perspective, it might refer to an actual location on the map. Her dead body symbolizes the territories of
the Umayyad Caliphate, which was expanded from Syria to Spain. Sycorax has two syllables, “Sy” and
“Corax.”: The first syllable, “Sy,” refers to the region of Bilad al-Sham, known as “Syria” in
Western literature. It was ruled by the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid caliphates, and it was
known as the headquarters center of the Islamic state. The second syllable, “Corax,” refers to a
raven(Dictionary 1879). The whole meaning is Syrian ravens, which might represent the black African
Muslim soldiers who were a vital part of Muslim forces in the Levant and Africa since the early
beginning of Islam. Prospero indicates to African troop’s involvement in the colonial encounters through
Sycorax when she invades the island for the first time “This damned witch Sycorax,/For mischiefs
manifold, and sorceries terrible/To enter human hearing, from Argier” (1.2.263-265).
The play might be read as a metaphor for the greater historical context of European colonization and
the Muslim invasions that preceded its time. Sycorax’s connection with Algeria highlights African
soldiers' historical presence and contributions in effective military campaigns, notably when about 800
black warriors served in Tariq Ibn Ziyad's forces, which invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 A.D (Ali
2018, 44). Ali also mentioned that “An elite unit of forty black slaves formed Harun al-Rashid's
bodyguard, while his son, al - Amin, created the Ghurabiyya, or the “ Raven Corps,” which was
composed of Ethiopians” (Ali 2018, 44). Sycorax was named seven times throughout the play, each time
being referred to with increasingly horrible and repulsive attributes, even though she did not speak a
single word. Only other characters, such as Prospero, Ariel, and Caliban, were privy to her backstory
since she passed away in the years before the action of this play. Similar to the expedition of Tariq ibn
Ziyad, which also began in Algeria, we learn from Prospero that Sycorax originated there. Sycorax's
absence is indisputable proof of the decline of the Umayyad state in Africa and Syria. Prospero refers to
the power of the Umayyad Caliphate through Sycorax, “His mother was a witch, and one so strong That
could control the moon” (5.1.269-270).
In the same way that Prospero was overthrown for being too engrossed in his studies to govern his
kingdom, Sycorax was exiled from Algeria to a remote Island in the Mediterranean for practicing magic.
Shakespeare’s prejudice was declared by describing Prospero as the white magic practitioner and his
books as the books of knowledge while Sycorax is the practitioner of black magic(Shakespeare might
represent Christianity as Prospero’s book while Islam as Sycorax’s sorcery). Sycorax stands as the
political body of the island that was stolen and changed by European colonizers who dedicated their
efforts to change beliefs, language, and culture.
The portrayal of Caliban raises questions about how colonizers view and justify their power over the
colonized. Caliban's African origin doesn't help him break free; instead, it's responsible for his
enslavement, dehumanization, and exploitation at the hands of Prospero and others. Therefore, Caliban's
physical description and backstory are deliberately left vague by Shakespeare. Prospero claims Caliban
was born to an Algerian witch and the devil, but his appearance and origin are never fully revealed,
making him difficult to categorize. He was demonized; he lost his physical body, and his physical body
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Tempest
could be represented as Sex, desire, food, irrationality, and anger. The real physical body was depicted as
half-human and half-demon. He was given various forms in art ranging from "beast-man" to "fish man" to
"wild man" to "deformed man." He was described as "moon-calf," "devil," "freckled whelp, hag born,"
"earth," "natural," "monster," “beast,” “demi-devil,” “cat,”, “knave,” “malice,” “tortoise,” “savage,”
“villain,” “slave.” He possessed the characteristics of both monsters and humans.
We can comprehend Prospero’s purpose when he describes Caliban as misshaped and he is half-
human and half-demon. There is a symbolic significance to splitting Caliban's original character into two
parts: human nature and demonic nature. The half-demon represents Muslims in Africa who have the
right to settle in its territories as Shakespeare might have intended, and the half-human represents
Muslims in Spain who are considered settlers on European territories born and raised in Spain; the
Mediterranean represents a buffer zone. Caliban’s body was divided into two parts: upper body and lower
body. The upper body represents native Spanish Muslims as humans, particularly in the Umayyad
Caliphate, which was part of Spain and its islands. In contrast, the lower body represents African Muslims
as demons of the Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, and Suzerainty of Abbasid.
The monster references in The Tempest provide a unique perspective from which to analyze
Caliban's ambiguous character. The beast is intended to be interpreted as a potential threat and a different
sign, but this persistently resists any attempt at a comprehensive explanation that accurately identifies its
meaning (Traub 2016, 720). For Europe, a long and well-documented tradition in Christian history and
mythology describes Islam as a continual danger to its civilization, and Islam was described as a demonic
religion(Said 1979, 59). Physically, Caliban is portrayed as hideous and monstrous. His monster
reputation stems in part from this physical deformity and his untamed and uncivilized temperament.
Culturally, Caliban is considered an alien because of his different culture from that of the island. His
childhood on the island separates him from the European characters in the play because he is the son of
Sycorax, a witch who was exiled there. The European characters see Caliban as "other" or "monstrous"
because his native language, beliefs, and practices differ from theirs. Therefore, Caliban’s physical
appearance and cultural differences enhance our argumentation with evidence that Ibiza Island was
targeted for two reasons. The first reason is that Africans founded Ibiza. The Carthaginians established a
colony on the island of Ibiza around 654 B.C., almost 160 years after the establishment of Carthage
(Boardman et al. 1992, 3:537).
The second reason is that Ibiza flourished under the Moorish administration, becoming a thriving
port with lively markets. During the Moorish administration, it was called Yabisa. The island adopted the
Arabic language, and Islam was introduced as a new religion. Ibiza The harbor area of the town is
protected by a ring of formidable defensive walls, most of which were built by the Moors. Because of his
familiarity with the island's language, culture, religion, and inhabitants, Caliban is portrayed as a native.
According to almost every geographical clue in Shakespeare's The Tempest, Caliban seems to be almost
undoubtedly from the Old World since he is thought to have been born to an Algerian witch and an
unknown father on an unidentified island between Tunisia and Naples, maybe off the Sicilian coast
(Lupton 2000, 6).
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Shakespeare's employing the term "primitive man" suggests he is not aiming to precisely
portray creatures from the New World(Hankins 1947, 793). Therefore, these historical facts refute any
argument that demonization targeted the new world due to the lack of clear evidence to imply that
Shakespeare meant America. However, the interpretations presented by critics are based on speculation
that has nothing to do with the facts. Shakespeare’s demonization was oriented against Muslims. The fall
of the emirate of Andalusia in 1492 had a significant impact on the way that Muslims were portrayed in
European literature. The play features several characters who could be seen as negative stereotypes of
Muslims, and the parallels between the Iberian Peninsula's historical events and The Tempest's actions
and characters are striking. The play can be seen as a metaphor for the conquest of Andalusia, and it
reinforces the negative stereotypes of Muslims that were prevalent in Europe at the time.
Following centuries of Moroccan caliphal dominance over the Iberian Peninsula, Ferdinand, and
Isabella, with the support of Sixtus IV, launched the Spanish Reconquista as a Catholic reformation effort
to eradicate non-Christians (Haugen 2022, 322). After the Spanish Reconquista, Muslims were
eradicated, and Latin replaced the Arabic language. The Spanish Reconquista and The Tempest can be
seen as two sides of the same coin. The Reconquista was a violent and oppressive act of conquest, while
The Tempest is a more subtle exploration of the power dynamics of colonization. In both cases, the
dominant culture attempts to erase the native culture and impose its own values and beliefs. Caliban is
more than just a savage; he may argue that the main benefit of knowing another language is the ability to
curse. His ability to curse in his language and Prospero’s language demonstrate the power dynamics of
acquiring different linguistic spaces. He embodies the consequences of this spatial domination and
linguistic assimilation. After being enslaved, having his island stolen, and learning the language from
Prospero, the misshapen Caliban reprimands him in this way: “You taught me language, and my profit
on’t / Is, I know how to curse.” (1.2.363-364).
According to Jahn, Caliban is a bilingual. He speaks his language, as well as the language of
Prospero (Jahn 1969, 242). The bilingual nature of Caliban, as hinted by the critics' assumption that his
name might have Arabic origins, adds an intriguing layer to the character's complexity in Shakespeare's
play The Tempest. Critics from the 18th and 19th centuries, drawing from their understanding of language
and historical influences, speculated on the possible linguistic roots of the characters. Notably, the
assumption that Spain was a region where Arabic and Latin were official languages adds weight to
Caliban's bilingualism. Furthermore, exploring the name "Prospero" and its Latin origin aligns well with
the character's narrative arc, reinforcing his journey from exile to regaining power.
Similarly, analyzing the name "Miranda" ties it to her innocence and wonder-inducing nature.
However, interpreting "Caliban" as potentially derived from the Arabic term for "vile dog" in the later
18th and 19th centuries presents an alternative perspective, implying a derogatory portrayal of a North
African entity. Ultimately, this linguistic and historical analysis enriches the interpretation of
Shakespeare's characters, showcasing the playwright's deliberate naming choices and their contribution to
the thematic depth of The Tempest (Vaughan and Vaughan 1991, 26,33). Based on the 18th and 19th-
century arguments and the resemblance between The Tempest’s actions and Spain’s events after the
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Tempest
Spanish Reconquista, we argue that Caliban's bilingualism is evidence of his mixed heritage. He spoke
Arabic, which his ancestors brought from North Africa, and Latin, which he was forced to learn after the
Spanish Reconquista. This suggests that Caliban is the product of two cultures: the North African culture
of his ancestors and the Spanish culture of the colonizers.
Caliban's bilingualism is also a symbol of hope. It shows that resisting and creating a new culture is
possible even in the face of colonization. Finding a way to speak that is not controlled by the oppressor is
possible. It is a powerful reminder that language is not just a communication tool. It is also a tool of
power. It can be used to control, to oppress, and to silence. This bilingualism is a sign of Caliban's escape
from Prospero's control. Prospero's language no longer limits him. He has created his language, free from
Prospero's influence. When a Muslim rebellion in 1499 was put down, Christians settled in Granada. The
Arabic language was banned, and ornaments with Islamic markings were forbidden to be worn by
members of the Royal Chapel Congregation. The Moors were forced to leave or to be underground in
Spain by the sixteenth century. Caliban’s rebellion against Prospero matched the Muslim rebellion in
1499 and a revolt in 1568 when most of Granada's Moors were banished and exiled (Lieberman 2013,
77). Ultimately, through the interplay of literary cartography, demonological cartography, and the
portrayal of Caliban's experiences, The Tempest raises awareness of the impact of spatial and cartographic
strategies on marginalized groups' demonization and identity formation.
In The Tempest, Caliban says, "And teach me how To name the bigger light, /and how the less, that
burn by day and night" (1.2.335-6). This request can be interpreted as a commentary on the superiority of
European technological advances in astronomy over the Arab knowledge of the same subject. When
Shakespeare wrote The Tempest, European astronomers had significantly advanced their understanding of
the cosmos. They had developed new instruments, such as the telescope, which allowed them to observe
the heavens in greater detail. They had also developed new theories about the structure of the universe. In
contrast, Arab astronomers had made significant advances in astronomy centuries earlier. They had
created accurate tables of planetary motion and had made important contributions to the study of
trigonometry. However, by the time of Shakespeare, Arab astronomy was no longer at the forefront of the
field. Caliban’s request can also be seen as a metaphor for his desire to learn about European culture and
knowledge, as the stars symbolized knowledge and power in the Renaissance. This desire to learn is often
demonized in the play, as Caliban is seen as a wild and untamed creature unworthy of such knowledge.
This demonization of Caliban is recognizable as a reflection of the European colonial mindset, which saw
indigenous peoples as inferior and needing to be civilized. Caliban's ignorance of Prospero’s knowledge
is also significant because it highlights the Eurocentric bias of Shakespeare's time.
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and groves,/ And ye that on the sands with printless foot/ Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly
him”(5.1.33-35). Prospero's control over Ariel and Caliban and his summoning of other spirits reflect his
mastery over this hidden dimension, akin to a cartographer charting the territories of the supernatural.
Characters in The Tempest are more accountable than any other element since they express ideas and
either control the events or are put in a similar direction to the author's aims, opinions, and views on many
issues to fulfill the audience's desires.
One interpretation of the multifaceted character of Caliban in Shakespeare's The Tempest is that he
resembles the Muslim leader Mujahid Al-mir. This interpretation is based on the geographical locations
referenced in the play and the characterization of Caliban as a "savage" and "monstrous" figure. The
play's geographical references to North African locations like Tunis and Algiers are significant in the
context of the 17th century when The Tempest was written. Europe interacted increasingly with North
African Muslim cultures during this period due to trade, piracy, and colonization. These interactions often
influenced literary works, including Shakespeare's (Loomba and Orkin 1998, 32). Caliban's origin in
Algiers and his African lineage set him apart from the European characters on the island. His
characterization as a "savage" and "monstrous" figure could reflect European perceptions of non-
European peoples, including Muslims. In his article "The Restoration Muslim Tangerines Caliban and
Sycorax in Dryden Davenant’s Adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest," Hussein A. Alhawamdeh
argues that recent scholarship has challenged the traditional interpretation of The Tempest as a play about
the colonial encounter with the Americas. Instead," Hussein A. Alhawamdeh reinterprets The Tempest,
suggesting it reflects England's intricate relations with Muslim Moors in the Mediterranean rather than a
colonial narrative. This highlights 16th and 17th-century interactions (Alhawamdeh 2021, 124).
Edward Said argued that the fear of Islam was a powerful force in European culture for centuries.
This fear was based on the real danger that the Ottoman Empire represented a tangible threat to Christian
Europe, but it also became exaggerated and distorted over time. As a result, Islam came to be seen as a
symbol of everything that was dangerous and threatening to Europe(Said 1979, 61). In this context,
Caliban might symbolize the 'Other,' embodying the cultural and religious differences that Europeans
associated with Muslims. Caliban's mother, Sycorax, arriving on the island from Algiers while being
"with child" adds depth to the argument. Sycorax could represent a figure from the North African Muslim
world who brings elements of Islamic culture and belief to the island through her relationship with
Caliban. This could be reflected in her magical practices and the potential influence of Islamic mysticism
on her character. The interpretation of Caliban as a representation of Mujahid Al-mir is supported by the
fact that Caliban is often portrayed as a violent and rebellious figure who is ultimately defeated by the
European characters. In this way, Caliban can represent Mujahid Al-mir's threat to the European Islands
in the 12th century.
This connection can be seen through the lens of demonization, as the character of Caliban is assumed
to represent the Muslim leader Mujahid Al-mir, who was formerly enslaved but later became a prominent
figure in Dania and Ibiza Island. Caliban is portrayed as a savage and uncivilized creature who is envious
of Prospero's power. He is also portrayed as a liar and a thief. These negative stereotypes are similar to
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Tempest
those that were often used to demonize Muslims in Shakespeare's time. Shakespeare's plays are a product
of the turbulent religious and political times in which he lived. The Ottoman Empire's territorial
expansion during the Renaissance in Europe intensified Christian fear of Islam. Starting from the Battle
of Nicopolis in 1396, through the fall of Constantinople in 1453, and the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, the
Ottoman Empire's triumphs heightened concerns among Western powers. Occasional attacks, such as
raids and abductions occurring between significant conflicts, maintained an atmosphere of fear and
hostility until the end of the 17th century (Feldhay and Ragep 2017, 31). It is possible that Shakespeare
deliberately portrayed Caliban in this way to perpetuate negative stereotypes about Muslims. This would
have been consistent with the anti-Muslim sentiment that was prevalent in Europe at the time. Mujahid
was “a Slav,” “bought, converted to Islam (his patronymic "Abd Allah" represents a semi-legal
formality, not his real father)” (Wasserstein 1993, 293). As a converted Slav, Mujahid may have faced
social and cultural challenges due to his background. Similarly, as a half-human monster, Caliban is
marginalized and oppressed by Prospero's authority and colonial power. Both characters might experience
a sense of otherness, struggle for identity, or navigate complex relationships with those controlling them.
By intertwining the concepts of literary cartography and demonization, one can analyze how the
geographical inspiration of Ibiza intersects with the portrayal of Caliban in The Tempest, potentially
reflecting the demonization of Muslims and their leaders. This perspective sheds light on the complex
dynamics between literature, geography, and the representation of different cultures in Shakespeare's
work. Shakespeare left hints to his audience to figure out the real character of Caliban by presenting some
facts that were exploited for demonization. For example, the absence of Caliban's father is a significant
detail in the play, and it creates narrative tension and ambiguity. Caliban is a complex character who is
both sympathetic and repulsive. He is a victim of Prospero's oppression but also capable of violence and
cruelty. His father's absence leaves us wondering about his origins and true nature. This might be the
main reason why Shakespeare referred to his mother. The absence of Caliban's father in the play and the
unknown identity of Mujāhid Al-mir's father can create narrative tension and ambiguity. The unknown or
absent father figure serves as a metaphorical map for the characters' identities and their struggle to define
themselves within the context of their familial and cultural backgrounds.
Prospero, who came from Milan, found Caliban on the island. Similarly, by 1015, Mujahid had
consolidated his power over the Balearic and attempted to invade Sardinia with a fleet of 125 ships and
1,000 horsemen (Fletcher 1993, 84). Sebastian referred to this conflict: "I fear, forever. Milan and Naples
have/Moe widows in them of this business' making /Than we bring men to comfort them” (2.1.135-7).
The conflict maps the power dynamics between different regions and the struggles for control and
domination. Gonzalo's statement highlights the potential consequences of rulers' actions and their effect
on the well-being and stability of their realms. In the case of Mujahid's attempted invasion of Sardinia,
one can draw parallels to the concerns expressed by Gonzalo. Both situations involve leaders making
decisions that have far-reaching consequences for their communities. Gonzalo's worries and Mujahid's
invasion attempt offer a valuable perspective for delving into the intricate aspects of colonialism, power
dynamics, and their effects on the indigenous population. Shakespeare's use of symbolism and imagery to
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convey these ideas can be better understood using literary cartography and the cartographic representation
of demonization, which map the geographical places and supernatural aspects in the play, respectively.
Similarly, the invasion of Sardinia by Mujahid al-Mir's forces, as part of the expansionist efforts of
Al-Andalus, would have had significant consequences for the local Christian population and their
communities. The island can be seen as a symbolic space representing both a physical location and a
metaphorical realm of magic, political interests, religious conflict, freedom, and potential chaos.
Gonzalo's fear of long-lasting grief and loss resonates with the potential ramifications of military actions
and political decisions undertaken by historical figures like Mujahid. The cartographic representation of
demonization helps draw connections between historical events, such as the invasion of Sardinia, and the
themes and motifs in The Tempest, ultimately enriching our understanding of the play's historical setting
and context.
The play portrays the characters, including Alonso and his companions, embarking on a journey
from Tunis in North Africa to Italy, evoking a Mediterranean backdrop. It is worth noting that
Shakespeare's portrayal could indicate the historical context wherein several Mediterranean islands were
under Muslim governance, including Cyprus, Crete, Minorca, Majorca, Ibiza, Malta, Sardinia, and Sicily.
Their journey represents a physical movement across different spaces, from a foreign land to a familiar
homeland. Meanwhile, historical accounts reveal that armies under Mujhid al-mir from eastern Muslim
Spain aimed to seize Sardina from the Christians, prompting a joint military expedition by the naval states
of Pisa and Genoa to counter this threat. These missions to Sardinia, seen by historians as proto-Crusades,
held significance due to their sanctioning and sponsorship by the Vatican(Tyerman 2007, 55). Thus, the
play's geographical reference and historical events reflect the interconnectedness of the Mediterranean
region and its influences on cultural narratives and military actions. Shakespeare might make alterations
to the original sources to represent the failure of Mujahid Al-mir when he could not maintain his
dominance on the island of Sardinia, which rapidly surrendered following his loss and captured his son
Ali. Just as the Mediterranean was a hub of cultural exchange and conflicts, the island in the play
becomes a microcosm of these dynamics.
In Shakespeare's play The Tempest, Caliban is a victim of cartographic demonization. He is the
native inhabitant of the island where the play is set, and he is described by the character Prospero as a
"savage and deformed slave" (1.2.320). This depiction of Caliban reflects the historical interactions and
power struggles among Mediterranean nations. In the early modern period, European explorers and
cartographers often demonized the lands and peoples they encountered to justify their conquest and
colonization. The depiction of Caliban in The Tempest is a reminder of this harmful practice, and it
continues to have relevance today. Caliban also said, “I must obey. His art is of such pow’r/It would
control my dam’s god, Setebos,/And make a vassal of him” (1.2.372-4). The demonization of Caliban
reflects the historical narratives of colonial powers dehumanizing and subjugating native populations in
their quest for dominance.
In the realm of literary cartography and the discourse of demonization, one can draw a parallel
between the plight of Caliban, an emblematic figure in Shakespeare's The Tempest, and the captivity of
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Tempest
Mujahid al-Mir's son following his capture in Sardinia. Shakespeare's fascination with demonization is
evident in Caliban. Caliban symbolizes the "Other," reflecting the era's prevalent biases. He is portrayed
as a savage and irrational creature, often compared to animals. This representation not only echoes the
11th century's view of Muslims as a Christian threat but also reflects Shakespeare's fear of the unknown.
By scrutinizing these narratives, we can discern the overarching theme of demonization woven into their
tapestry and the interplay of geographical and cultural dimensions.
Shakespeare's portrayal of Caliban, often perceived as representing Muslims and Africans,
underscores the construction of the Other in early modern European literature. For example, in The
Tempest, Stam and Shohat argue that Shakespeare's character Caliban blended the characteristics of
African Moors and Native Americans (Stam and Shohat 2012, 155). Caliban said, “This island’s mine by
Sycorax my mother,/Which thou tak’st from me”(1.2.332-332). Caliban, symbolizing a demonic entity,
reflects the anxieties and biases prevalent in the European imagination during this era. Similarly, in the
case of Mujahid Al-mir's son, his captivity can be seen as a manifestation of the demonization of those
deemed culturally and geographically distinct. Literary cartography allows us to examine the marking of
metaphorical and actual borders. The Mediterranean serves as a backdrop against which these stories are
played out. Within this paradigm, Caliban personifies the ambiguous territory inhabited by Muslims and
Africans, an “infernal” region that intrigues and frightens the European consciousness. While Caliban
represents the darkness and barbarism of the Eastern world, Prospero embodies the brightness and civility
of the Western world. Shakespeare's brilliant use of these contrasting personalities illustrates the more
significant historical events and power dynamics that have defined the Mediterranean region. Caliban and
Prospero represent the two extremes of power and subjection, with Christian Europeans establishing a
position of dominance over the demonized “Other.” This stigmatization keeps Muslims and Africans on
the margins of society, where they are more vulnerable to enslavement and persecution, and contributes to
a false stereotype of the cultures and environments in which they live.
In Shakespeare's The Tempest, the storm serves as a pivotal event that sets the stage for the
subsequent actions and developments. Similarly, the historical event involving Mujahid's fleet and the
subsequent response of the Pisans and Genoese can be interpreted as a parallel to the tempestuous nature
of the storm in The Tempest. Just as the storm disrupts and alters the characters' journey, A thunderstorm
battered Mujahid's fleet over the enormous rocks of an inadequate harbor when it attempted to
escape(Bruce 2006, 136). Therefore, the threat posed by Mujahid's fleet and the concerns over their
victory spread throughout the Italian ports, including the Vatican, causing alarm and prompting a
response. Cartographically, the physical beauty of Miranda in The Tempest, which attracted Caliban,
represented the beauty of the Italian island -Sardina, and Prospero’s role might represent Pope Benedict
VIII, who unified the inhabitants of Pisa and Genoa to fight against Muslims. This connection suggests a
link between the narrative elements of the play and the real-world events surrounding the defense of
Sardinia against the Muslims. Moreover, Prospero's role in The Tempest can be compared to Pope
Benedict VIII, who unified the inhabitants of Pisa and Genoa to fight against the Muslim forces (Sardo
1963, 14). Prospero's ability to command spirits and manipulate events reflects the authority and
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leadership displayed by Pope Benedict VIII in rallying the Pisans and Genoese under the banner of the
Vatican to counter the threat posed by Mujahid's fleet. As Italy was the center of Christianity, Prospero's
longing to return can be seen in parallel to the desire to reclaim the region for Christianity. In contrast,
Spain held prominence as the center of Islam in the Mediterranean.
Ariel informed Prospero that he could finally take a break when the sixth day came. In response to
Ariel's inquiry, Prospero emphasized, “At least two glasses. The time ’twixt six” (1.2.240). At the end of
the play, Ariel also says, “On the sixth hour, at which time, my lord,/You said our work should cease”(5-
1.2-3). The fact that the number "sixth" appears several times in The Tempest and that it is always
associated with significant events suggests that the number is being used symbolically. The most likely
symbolism is that the number "sixth" alludes to the Battle of Reggio. This interpretation is supported by
the fact that the play is set on an island. The Battle of Reggio took place on an island, which may have
been Shakespeare's deliberate choice. Shakespeare may have been using the island setting as a way to
allude to the Battle of Reggio without explicitly mentioning it. Salvatori mentions that “The Pisans went
to war against the Saracens of Reggio (Calabria), and they were victorious on Saint Sixtus' day”(Salvatori
2002, 23). Moreover, the mention of Calabria, the location where the Saracens invaded and the Christians
triumphed, provides a possible connection to the character Caliban. The name "Caliban" could be derived
from Calabria, suggesting a potential association between the character and the historical context of
Muslim-Christian regional conflicts.
The Arab invasions of Calabria in the 10th and 11th centuries and the subsequent resistance by the
residents of Calabria against the Arab attempts to overthrow the Byzantine Empire (Baldwin and Setton
2016, 1-50). This provides a historical backdrop against which Shakespeare's play The Tempest can be
interpreted. This historical context enriches the understanding of the play's themes of colonization and
power dynamics. The Arab invasions of Calabria provide a historical context for interpreting
Shakespeare's play Since both periods were times of great political and social upheaval. In the 11th
century, the Arab invasions were a major destabilizing force in Europe. They led to the collapse of the
Byzantine Empire in southern Italy and the emergence of new Muslim states in Sicily and Malta. In
Shakespeare's time, England was also undergoing a period of political turmoil. The Wars of the Roses had
just ended, and the country was still recovering from the conflict. Both periods also witnessed the rise of
new religious movements. In the 11th century, the Crusades were launched to reclaim the Holy Land
from the Muslims. In Shakespeare's time, the Protestant Reformation was underway, which led to a split
in the Christian Church. The Arab invasions of Calabria and Shakespeare's world were also times of great
cultural exchange. In the 11th century, the Arabs brought new ideas and technologies to Europe, such as
algebra and irrigation. In Shakespeare's time, there was a growing interest in classical learning and
culture.
Both Caliban's mother and Mujahid's mother experience capture and imprisonment. Caliban's
mother, Sycorax, is described as a witch banished to the island, while the Pisans captured Mujahid's
mother and her grandson as they tried to flee from Sardinia. Mujahid’s mother's roots return to Calabria.
Even though Mujahid's mother was not mentioned in Latin literature again after her capture, a Majorcan
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Tempest
queen's grave is commemorated in an inscription on the Pisan church. As a prominent member of the
Calabria community, Mujahid's mother was given a grave inside the city's cathedral, while her name was
so respected that an inscription honoring her was installed on the building's façade(Bruce 2006, 138). In
both cases, the mothers are separated from their sons due to the circumstances surrounding their capture.
Caliban is left on the island when his mother dies, and Mujahid is likely separated from his mother during
her captivity.
In The Tempest, Shakespeare represented Caliban’s mother as African, not Italian. From our current
perspective, Shakespeare's demonization of Algeria may be related to the historical incidents of the era in
the Mediterranean Sea, when Shakespeare's Spanish companion Miguel de Cervantes got caught and
imprisoned by the Pirates' in Algeria. On September 26, 1575, Miguel de Cervantes was captured in
Algeria after returning from the Battle of Léponte with the Spanish army. He and his brother Rodrigo
spent several years in an Algerian prison after being arrested on spying charges and having secret maps of
Algeria in their hands(Baepler 1999, 44).
Caliban’s education might represent Mujahid’s education. As Mujahid was a slave whom the Hajib
al-Manṣur taught, Caliban was an enslaved person educated by Prospero. As an uncommonly well-
educated slave, Mudjahid was in a prime position to inspire purely literary and actual scholarly
endeavors: Denia and Ibiza rose to prominence as major centers for religious study(Wasserstein 1993,
292). On the island, communicating and attaining knowledge is the key to control. Prospero has a wide
range of knowledge and experience, while Caliban’s knowledge is demonized. Despite their differences,
Caliban can understand Prospero and Miranda. Having the capacity to speak and comprehend Prospero's
speech is seen by him as the tool that deprived him of his independence. Therefore, he also feels confined
by the language.
Similarly, Mujahid’s language was Arabic, while Pope Benedict VIII’s Language was Latin.
Shakespeare can be seen as using Caliban and Prospero to represent the conflict between Spain's Arabic
and Latin languages. The Arabic language was associated with the Moorish conquerors who had ruled
Spain for centuries. On the other hand, the Latin language was related to the Christian Reconquista, which
eventually drove the Moors out of Spain. Caliban’s language also has connotations when he speaks in
verse, “Be not afeard: the isle is full of noises,/Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt
not”(3.2.140-141). During the time of Shakespeare, it was customary practice to write in verse for the
nobility and in prose for the ordinary people(Keenan 2008, 68). There is a possibility that Shakespeare
either read or heard about the history of Mujiahid and found his interest in poetry. “Mudjahid himself is
said to have written a work on the metre” (Wasserstein 1993, 292). Shakespeare might have read the
Chronicle of Pseudo-Isidore which renewed in the 16th century. The Chronicle of Pseudo-Isidore, often
referred to as Chronica Gothorum Pseudoisidoriana, is a Latin chronicle from the 12th century. It
provides a comprehensive account of the history of Spain, with a specific emphasis on the period
spanning from the descendants of Noah to the Arab conquest (Marvin and Dunphy 2010, 232). Although
the work has traditionally been assigned to Isidore of Seville, researchers suggest that it was really
authored anonymously in the region of southern France (Christys 2006, 12-370). Curiously, the Chronicle
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attracted greater interest in the 16th century, suggesting that it could have been one of the publications
that Shakespeare came across. Moreover, there are indications that the Chronicle had specific significance
for mariners because of its detailed portrayals of the Mediterranean coastline, including references to
cities ranging from Algeciras to Constantinople. This element adds an additional level of fascination,
considering the potential correlation between the nautical motifs seen in Shakespeare's works and the
material provided in the Chronicle.
Conclusion
During the Elizabethan era, European writers often demonized Muslims, perpetuating negative
stereotypes and reinforcing the idea that Muslims were barbaric and uncivilized ; von Sikorski, Matthes,
and Schmuck 2018, 3). In Shakespeare's play The Tempest, the demonization of Muslims is reflected
through several elements, including the characters of Caliban and Sycorax and the portrayal of the
Mediterranean islands and Spain, specifically the island of Ibiza. Shakespeare's portrayal of Muslims in
particular plays reflects the prevailing preconceptions and biases of his era, which were shaped by the
ongoing conflicts and tensions between Christian Europe and the Islamic world. Characters like Caliban
in The Tempest are often seen as representing colonial perspectives on non-European cultures. Caliban's
connection to darkness and moral degradation is said to mirror European views of indigenous peoples
seen during the Age of Exploration while we argued that this depiction targeted Muslims.
Representing Caliban as uncivilized and barbaric, especially in comparison to European Civilization,
enhanced the European thought that they were superior to other cultures and had a duty to civilize and
educate those deemed uncivilized. This portrayal reinforced the idea that Muslims threatened European
Civilization and needed to be defeated. Overall, the demonization of Muslims in Shakespeare’s The
Tempest reflects the prevailing attitudes of the time, which saw Muslims as a threat to European
Civilization and Christian morality. These negative stereotypes have had lasting effects on Western
attitudes towards Islam and Muslims, perpetuating a view of Muslims as the "other" and contributing to
ongoing prejudice and discrimination.
Several thematic connections linked Shakespeare's The Tempest to the broader historical and
political backdrop of England in the early seventeenth-century. One of these is the question of
colonialism, as embodied in the figure of Prospero and his relationship with the indigenous inhabitants of
that island. Shakespeare's colonial pattern in The Tempest suggests how Prospero, the source of power,
triumphs over Caliban, the source of weakness. It detailed how Prospero expanded his control over the
island to reap its economic, social, and cultural benefits and how he subsequently stole a large portion of
the island's wealth—wealth that the colonizers had helped establish through, for example, mapping the
island's natural sources by Caliban and delivering this knowledge to the colonizer for free. In its role, the
colonizer imposes the colonial culture as the only culture capable of shaping the indigenous people's
sense of self.
Another vital element of The Tempest is its engagement with ideas about cartography and mapping.
When Shakespeare was writing, there was a growing interest in exploring and mapping the world, fueled
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Tempest
partly by the English colonization of the New World. This interest in cartography is reflected in the play
through Prospero's magical ability to conjure up visions of far-off lands and seas and his command over
the spirits Ariel and Caliban who are associated with the natural elements of air and Earth. The play can
be seen as a commentary on the political situation of Shakespeare's day, particularly the fraught
relationship between King James I and his Scottish subjects. Prospero's return to Italy after years of exile
can be read as a symbolic representation of James's return to England after his exile in Scotland. At the
same time, the character of Caliban has been identified by some critics as an allegorical representation of
the Scottish people themselves, oppressed and marginalized by their English overlords.
The Tempest is a complex play that explores a variety of themes. One of these themes is the human
psyche and the way that this theme is related to the themes of demonization and colonialism. By
understanding the different levels of the psyche, we can better understand the ways in which these themes
can be used to dehumanize others. The play's characters represent the three levels of the psyche - id, ego,
and superego. Caliban is often portrayed as the embodiment of the id, part of the psyche driven by
pleasure and impulsiveness (Freud 2018, 15). Caliban's impulsive nature is evident in his immediate
reaction to Prospero's enslavement. He expresses his resentment and desire for revenge: "I must obey; his
art is of such power, / It would control my dam's god, Setebos, / And make a vassal of him."(1.2372-4).
He is depicted as an innately savage and violent creature consumed by his desires for revenge and
domination. His animalistic nature makes him a threat to the other characters and drives him to do evil.
Moreover, In Act 2, Scene 2, he conspires with Stephano and Trinculo to murder Prospero, reflecting
his violent and malicious tendencies. These actions, driven by his impulses and desires, align with the id's
emphasis on immediate pleasure and satisfaction. Prospero, the play's protagonist, represents the ego, part
of the psyche mediating between the id and the superego. He is rational and intelligent, exercising control
over his emotions and desires "I have done nothing but in care of thee, of thee, my dear one, thee, my
daughter” (1.2.21-22). He explains his carefully orchestrated plan to Miranda, displaying his rationality
and intelligence in manipulating events on the island.
Moreover, he uses his knowledge of magic and understanding of human nature to manipulate
Ferdinand and Miranda's relationship “I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together;/Sea water shalt thou drink;
thy food shall be” (3.3.38-39). He is also committed to maintaining social order and ensuring justice,
which aligns with the ego's function of keeping the individual in line with societal norms. Ariel, the spirit
bound to Prospero's service, represents the superego. The superego, part of the psyche, upholds moral and
ethical values and works to suppress the id's impulses(Freud 2018, 30). Ariel is depicted as obedient and
loyal, driven by a sense of duty to fulfill Prospero's mission. His adherence to moral principles and his
sense of responsibility reflect the superego's role in shaping the individual's conscience. Shakespeare's
The Tempest dramatically showcases the levels of personification through the characters of Caliban,
Prospero, and Ariel. These archetypes emphasize profound psychological insights about the human
psyche and help understand the nature of human behavior.
The island in Shakespeare's The Tempest is often interpreted as representing the New World
discovered by European explorers during the Age of Discovery. The play was written when Europe was
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expanding its global reach, and the island can be viewed as a metaphor for the various exotic and strange
lands discovered during this time. Moreover, the references to cartography in the play are prominent, as
the main character, Prospero, was once a Duke of Milan who used his knowledge of astronomy and
cartography to study the stars and the seas. This suggests that the island may have been conceived as a
symbol for exploring and mapping the unknown world. Caliban's association with spirits in the play is not
a logical justification for portraying him as a savage but rather reflects a biased perspective that
demonizes non-Christian belief systems. This portrayal reflects the European bias against Muslims during
the time of the play's writing, as Islam was seen as a sinister force that needed to be conquered and
subjugated. However, the play's themes and symbols can provide valuable insights into the cultural and
intellectual context of the time when it was composed.
Mapping the physical locations of the play offers a unique and comprehensive analysis of it by
incorporating spatial elements and mapping techniques to shed new light on its themes and characters.
While this cartographic approach provides a fresh perspective, it may not be the most effective method
for analyzing the nuanced themes of demonization and colonialism present in The Tempest, which
encompass a wide range of socio-political issues that may require a more interdisciplinary approach
involving historical, cultural, and literary analysis. While mapping character movements and locations
can visually represent the power dynamics, hierarchical structures, and impact of colonialism depicted in
the play, it may oversimplify the complex issues and fail to capture the depth and subtlety of the
demonization and colonialism themes, which also encompass psychological, moral, and philosophical
dimensions that cannot be adequately conveyed through maps alone.
The integration of cartography with literary analysis in a study of Shakespeare's work demonstrates
an interdisciplinary approach that can offer new insights and enrich understanding within broader
historical and cultural contexts. However, it is crucial to ensure that the study of cartographic
representation does not overshadow the core textual analysis, as the focus should remain on the textual
nuances, language, and character development that contribute to the demonization and colonialism
themes. While the study of cartographic representation has the potential to engage a wider audience,
including those with limited knowledge of Shakespearean literature, it is essential to strike a balance
between engaging visuals and academic rigor to maintain a high standard of literary analysis and
scholarly rigor, ensuring that the study of cartographic representation enhances rather than overshadows
the depth of textual interpretation required to fully comprehend the complex themes of demonization and
colonialism in The Tempest.
Analyzing the play concerning the broader field of literary criticism, its specific modes of
representation, and its influence reveals several vital aspects. The research paper's interdisciplinary
approach to literary criticism, which integrates cartography into the study of demonization and
colonialism in Shakespeare's The Tempest, challenges traditional interpretations. By combining spatial
elements and mapping techniques with textual analysis, the study offers a visual dimension to literary
criticism, allowing for a visual exploration of power dynamics, hierarchies, and colonialist themes. This
visual representation enhances engagement with the text and provides tangible symbolism for the
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Tempest
complex themes being analyzed. The focus on spatial elements also highlights the intersection between
literature and geography, revealing how physical spaces shape character dynamics and adding a
geospatial dimension to literary criticism.
The use of cartography reflects the evolving methodologies within literary criticism, embracing
interdisciplinary approaches and alternative modes of representation. The research paper's blend of
cartography and literary analysis can influence future studies, paving the way for further exploration of
spatial analysis, digital humanities, and interdisciplinary approaches to interpreting literary works. It
encourages scholars to engage with visual and spatial aspects of texts, expanding the scope of literary
criticism and fostering new avenues of research. Ultimately, this cartographic representation study
contributes to the field by employing innovative methodologies, exploring the intersection between
literature and geography, and inspiring further interdisciplinary approaches in literature.
اﻟﻤﻠﺨﺺ
ﺗﻬﺪف ﻫﺬه اﻟﻮرﻗﺔ إﻟﻰ ﻓﺤﺺ ﻣﺴﺮﺣﻴﺔ ﺷﻜﺴﺒﻴﺮ "اﻟﻌﺎﺻﻔﺔ" ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل ﻋﺪﺳﺔ ﻋﻠﻢ اﻟﺨﺮاﺋﻂ ﻻﺳﺘﻜﺸﺎف ﻣﻮاﺿﻴﻊ
وﺗﺮﻛﺰ أﻳﻀًﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ.اﻟﺸﻴﻄﻨﺔ واﻻﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎر وﻛﻴﻒ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ أن ﺗﺆدي إﻟﻰ ﺗﺠﺮﻳﺪ اﻷﺷﺨﺎص ﻏﻴﺮ اﻟﻐﺮﺑﻴﻴﻦ ﻣﻦ إﻧﺴﺎﻧﻴﺘﻬﻢ
ﻟﻢ ﺗﻘﻢ اﻟﺪراﺳﺎت اﻷﻛﺎدﻳﻤﻴﺔ اﻟﺴﺎﺑﻘﺔ.ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﺗﺤﻮﻳﻞ ﻏﻴﺮ اﻷوروﺑﻴﻴﻦ إﻟﻰ وﺿﻊ دون إﻧﺴﺎﻧﻲ ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﻳﺘﻌﻠﻖ ﺑﺎﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻴﻦ
ﺣﻮل ﻣﺴﺮﺣﻴﺔ ﺷﻜﺴﺒﻴﺮ "اﻟﻌﺎﺻﻔﺔ" ﺑﻔﺤﺺ اﻟﻌﻨﺎﺻﺮ اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﻴﺔ وﺗﻤﺜﻴﻼت ﻋﻠﻢ اﻟﺨﺮاﺋﻂ ﺑﺸﻜﻞٍ ﻛﺎفٍ واﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻜﻤﻦ وراء
ﺗﺤﻘﻴﻖ اﻟﻤﺴﺮﺣﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺸﻴﻄﻨﺔ واﻻﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎر ؛وﻟﺬﻟﻚ ﻓﺈن اﻟﻬﺪف اﻷﺳﺎﺳﻲ ﻣﻦ ﻫﺬه اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ ﻫﻮ دراﺳﺔ اﻟﺮواﺑﻂ
." واﻟﺘﺼﻮﻳﺮ اﻟﻤﻌﻘّﺪ وﻋﻮاﻗﺐ اﻟﺸﻴﻄﻨﺔ واﻻﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎر ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺮﺣﻴﺔ ﺷﻜﺴﺒﻴﺮ "اﻟﻌﺎﺻﻔﺔ،اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﻴﺔ واﻟﺘﻌﻘﻴﺪات اﻟﺨﺮاﺋﻄﻴﺔ
أﺻﺒﺢ،"ﻋﻨﺪ ﻣﻌﺎﻟﺠﺔ ﻟﻐﺰ ﺟﺰﻳﺮة "ﺑﺮوﺳﺒﻴﺮو" ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل اﻟﻔﺤﺺ اﻟﻤﻨﻬﺠﻲ ﻟﻺﻃﺎر اﻟﺨﺮاﺋﻄﻲ اﻷدﺑﻲ ﻟﺸﻜﺴﺒﻴﺮ "اﻟﻌﺎﺻﻔﺔ
وﻳﺪﻋﻢ اﻟﻤﺆﻟﻔﻮن ادﻋﺎءﻫﻢ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل ﺗﻘﺪﻳﻢ أدﻟﺔ ذات ﺻﻠﺔ،ﻣﻦ اﻟﻮاﺿﺢ أن "إﻳﺒﻴﺰا" ﻫﻲ اﻟﺠﺰﻳﺮة اﻟﺘﻲ أﻟﻬﻤﺖ ﺷﻜﺴﺒﻴﺮ
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