Caliban and Latin American Philosophy: The Persistent Storm

Abstract

Since the end of the 19th century, the plot and characters of The Tempest have been a reference for essayists and philosophers to point out the opposition between barbarism and civilization, using the image of Caliban to illustrate it. The rereadings have shown that unresolved issues, such as stigmatization, are a sign that critical and alternative thinking paths are required that take advantage of the legacy of Calibanism without falling into ideologizations, to establish the bases for a respectful dialogue. In this essay, some interpretations of the meaning that Shakespeare's work has for Latin America and the Caribbean are reviewed, with the intention of showing that Caliban is still valid as a figure that allows us to think about the vassalage still suffered and the need for a new writing of our history, locating the character from another vantage point.