Throughout the play “The Tempest” by Shakespear, themes of imperialism and colonialism are discussed. Through depicting hierarchy and class, the play’s characters communicate imperialism and colonialism. The intimate interpersonal interactions between the text’s central characters, “The Tempest,” apply the imperialist connection between America and England. Due to the idea in this discovery period, the island offers visitors a sensation that they may take the area for themselves. Many people were drawn to the concept of holding authority over a sizable population by the thought of dominating territory or a colony. As a result, numerous characters develop a master-servant relationship, a significant theme in the play. Individuals in a position of authority or influence and another under that authority are present in almost every scene in the play. For instance, Caliban portrays the indigenous cultures that European society and colonists like Christopher Columbus subjugated, while Prospero is compared to Caliban in terms of position and personality.
The Balinese performance was more impressive than the Utah Valley University play because Shakespeare would have chosen the far more delicate quality of this performance to emphasize his ideas on the colonialism theme in “The Tempest.” The Utah Valley creation of the tempest was a high-octane event that made it difficult to perceive and comprehend. The lighting in the confined stage area felt claustrophobic and obtrusive at times, making it hard to comprehend whatever the voice actors were saying. Despite not using actual performers to speak, the voice actors were visible throughout the whole performance. They did little more than cast doubt on the actors’ talent in the eyes of the audience. Despite being deliberate, the dramatization served to divert and did not further the play’s theme. Overall, Utah Valley’s performance was overshadowed by high-intensity performances meant to highlight the performers’ extraneous acrobatic skills rather than the play’s intended message.
Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” was performed in a considerably more restrained and powerful manner in the Balinese version, which also reflected the anti-colonial sentiment of the time. The articulation and language were both well-delivered and clear, and every character’s tone effectively reflected their level of authority. This did not detract from the play’s core premise while showing position and power. For instance, the voice of Prospero’s persona gives him an authoritative air and reveals his affiliation with the imperialists. Even though they were depicted using shadow puppets, each figure had a general look that was somewhat based on the human shape and highly human traits. Overall, the message was powerful and simple to understand.
In conclusion, Shakespeare’s ideas and objectives for the play were better carried out through the play’s inherent framework in the Balinese performance. Shakespeare’s indictment of the colonization of the planet by European powers was possibly ahead of its time, and the Balinese performance effectively expressed it. Shakespeare was recognized via the Balinese performance because he was a skilled playwright with an ear for nuances. I believe the Balinese artist successfully interpreted the play by collaborating with a composed and conscientious group of actors to maintain the play’s goal genuinely. The primary purpose of The Tempest’s writing was to demonstrate how the narrative’s characters are connected to colonialism and imperialism. While each presentation offers a unique interpretation of how Shakespeare might have intended the play to be delivered, Balinese more effectively conveys Shakespeare’s intent from the tone, appearance, and behaviour were all done with the intended results.