The Tempest, Act II and Act III: What is a Savage?

In the article, "Cultural Studies," by Charles Bressler, an interesting question is asked: "how...do we come to agree upon public and social concerns...if reality is different for each individual?" This is where the idea of hegemony emerges. This term states that “the dominant values, sense of right and wrong, and sense of personal self worth” that are contained within a society are unique to that culture; those that are a part of a culture must conform to the prescribed hegemony. This idea represents white settlers and their ability to conquer land throughout America along with its primary inhabitants. The natives that previously owned the land are looked upon as savages because they do not speak the same language or look similar to the white race. This article relates to the Tempest in the form of the character of Caliban. He is portrayed as a foolish, unintelligent creature that is below the rest of the island's inhabitants. This can be seen as Prospero makes Caliban feel lowly in Act I when he constantly states that he is the one the taught Caliban words. Miranda too sees Caliban as a savage because he did not know their language when they first arrived at the island. Caliban was on the island first, so maybe in his eyes, Prospero and Miranda were the savages. In Act II, as Stephano stumbles across Caliban for the first time he questions, "What’s the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon ’s with savages and men of Ind, ha?" Because Caliban does not look the same way that Stephano does, Stephano automatically assumes that he is some type of monster when in reality they are both human, yet merely separate races. This concept is also reflected in the video "How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native Americans." As far back as Hollywood films date, Native Americans have been stereotyped as savages and inferiors to the Euro Americans. This has taken place for so long that it is hard to see the Native Americans in a more positive light. Movie after movie, the Native Americans have been degraded, mocked, and humiliated, and simply because they had a different way of doing things. One white man stated the the indians were "not even human." Their clothes were different, as well as their utensils, weapons, and languages, and the Euro Americans came on their land, saw this, and felt the need to conform these "savages" into their own way of living. They believed that they were more intelligent and advanced, yet they were all equal. The technology of the white people may have been more advanced but is that what sets a savage apart from a human? Is it technology, is it appearance, or is it certain intellectual aspects? I believe that a savage is not based on either of these. The dictionary's definiton is: uncivilized; barbarous. In my opinion, a savage is someone that is out of control and facing moral corruption, regardless of race. Every person has their own interpretation of what is uncivilized and barbarous, and to Stephano, Prospero, and Hollywood's white colonists, anything that is not of the white race is savage.

and i dont know how to un-hilight this so if you know, comment below please haha.