Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Tempest

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

8 reviews

sunkernplus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This play is still very interesting for all that could be unsaid (yaaaaay poststructuralist theory yaaaaaaaaaay) but unfortunately, I don't find it as compelling as I once did when I read it at 12-13 years old. The characters are fairly flat, and the characters who aren't flat (namely, Prospero) are misogynistic, spiteful, hypocritical pigs (though arguably, that's the point: don't go after me for being a typical Goodreads user who lacks reading comprehension, I do have a fair bit of that). I particularly dislike the portrayals of Caliban and Miranda; Caliban has some sympathy points with me for being an enslaved African (and always had sympathy with me), but I lost interest in him once I realized that Shakespeare had created him to be a flat caricature of Afro-Indigenous slaves on purpose: carnally sexual, so stupid that he didn't even have the will to learn to read, and barely human. Miranda fared better, but she's barely a character, so I could hardly comment on her. I'd honestly give it about 3.5 stars. The mercury had probably gotten to Shakespeare's brain by this point.

Content Warnings

camillebergeron's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Content Warnings

duarshe's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I really dig the overall vibe and the magical elements. I also find interesting the epilogue and the way it relates with the theme of slavery and freedom. Just like Caliban and Ariel were Prospero's slaves looking for freedom, he tells the audience in the epilogue to free him, as if he were their slave, too.

Besides, i like reflecting on the intricate meaning of the play. Not only seeing it as a pastoral play, but as a text with a heavy colonial context.

Content Warnings

thatrunninggirl's review against another edition

Go to review page

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

kananineko's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny informative fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

remuslibrary's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

unibadger's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Content Warnings

literary__mary's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I went into this play not knowing much about it, and found it very strange but still enjoyable. If you like chaotic and fantasy stories you'll probably like this

Content Warnings

More...