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Comparing The Cultures of The Tempest and Ours in The Tempest by William Shakespeare

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Comparing The Cultures of The Tempest and Ours in The Tempest by William Shakespeare

"All men are created equal" is one of the declarations that American culture is built on. This declaration means that all men no matter of race, religion, or creed are equals in the eyes of society, as well as the law. This was not always true in history, especially not in Shakespeare's day and age.
During this time, society had levels of classification where men were considered
"superior" to other men. Shakespeare gives us a taste of this hierarchical culture through his play The Tempest. He shows us how "superior" men perceived themselves in contrast to lesser beings due to their race, financial status, and gender. We also are shown …show more content…

Financial status also plays a major role in social classifications.
During the time of The Tempest, Dukes and Earls, who were among the nobles, were considered to be superior even to other members of their own race. The nobles had servants and commoners who worked for them. Shakespeare shows us an example of this with the relationship between his characters of Sebastian and Antonio and of the Boatswain and the sailors. Sebastian yells at the sailors "A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!"(I,i,40-41), implying that they are inferior and are there to serve him. Antonio also shows he believes himself superior by stating to the Boatswain "Hang, cur! Hang, you whoresom, insolent, noise-maker. We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art."(I,i,43-45) These men were of the same skin color, hair texture, and eye color, but were treated inferior due to their financial status and "inferior" blood line. Women had also fallen victim to this hierarchial society. During this era women were considered to be objects and were treated as property.
Shakespeare presents this in the treatment of Claribel, daughter of Alonso, and
Miranda by their fathers. Claribel was married of to the King of Tunis, an
African nation, merely for the gain of Alonso, the Duke of Milan, and his Lords.
Their feelings are clear in Sebastian's words "Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return." (II,i,69). And for Miranda,

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