Binary Opposition： A Comparative Study of Colonialism， Post—colonialism on Shakespeare’s The Tempest

（重慶大學(xué)外語學(xué)院，重慶 400000）

Binary opposition is a key concept in philosophy. Saussure holds that it’s the means by which the units of language have value or meaning. Typically， one of the two opposites assumes a role of dominance over the other.

The Tempest， the last work of Shakespeare， is known as the most splendid work. Centering on colonial and power theme， this essay analyzes it from colonialism and post-colonialism.

Colonialism is mainly accomplished with colonial exploitation， overseas trade and slave trade. The colonized， once the owner of their territory， becomes subjects to the later colonizer， will naturally revolt. Thus， the oppression/ anti-oppression relationship is a major theme of The Tempest.

Prospero， Duke of Milan， loved books and left all state affairs to his brother， was later expatriated and drifted to an isle with his daughter. After settling down， he plunders the isle by tricks from Caliban-the original inhabitant， and wield his magic power on all creatures to manipulate them. At first， Prospero is kind to Caliban， “When thou came first， Thou strokedest me and madest much of me…For I am all the subjects that you have， which first was mine own king： and here you sty me in this hard rock...” （I.ii.42） The criticism reveals tension between the two. Caliban thinks himself the true owner of the land， and he revolts against slavery in words and in action. He plans to murder Prospero with Trinculo and Stephano and promises to be their slave as long as they murder Prospero.

Post-colonialism refers to theories in philosophy and literature grappling with the legacy of colonial rule. Postcolonial literature may be considered a branch of postmodern literature concerned with political and cultural independence of peoples formerly subjugated in colonial empires. Post-colonialism doesn’t concern about colonial exploitation， rather it examines colonial literature， especially the social discourse between the colonizer and the colonized.

The conflict between Prospero and Caliban focuses on who should be the master and the struggle for discourse power. Prospero constantly claims his domination of and control over Caliban. He teaches Caliban his language to control him. So， Caliban loses his language and identity.

In the essay， the author analyzes The Tempest from two dimensions-colonialism on oppression and revolt between the colonizer and the colonized； post-colonialism on discourse power who share similarity in attitude to oppression/anti-oppression based on binary opposition.

Works Cited

Shakespeare， W. （2015）. The tempest （opera）.

索緒爾：《普通語言學(xué)教程》，商務(wù)印書館，2009年版.

作者簡介：李玲玲（1990.1-），女，籍貫，河南周口，單位：重慶大學(xué)，學(xué)歷，2014級碩士研究生，研究方向：英語翻譯。