Vindicating Sycorax’s Anti-colonial Voice. An Overview of Some Postcolonial Re-Writings from The Tempest to Indigo

Authors

  • Xiana Vázquez Bouzó Universidade de Vigo

Keywords:

The Tempest, Sycorax, Indigo, anti-colonialism, anti-patriarchy

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to place the Shakespearean character Sycorax as a symbol of anticolonia and anti-patriarchal resistance. Throughout the analysis of this figure in The Tempest and its re-writings, I suggest a change from the theories that turned Caliban into an antiimperial symbol towards a consideration of Sycorax for this role. I analyse the possibilities that this character opens in terms of re-writing, as well as the relation of the figure of the witch with her community. I also compare the ideas that Caliban personifies (including sexual violence), with those represented by Sycorax (the struggle against imperial and patriarchal forces). I ultimately defend that Sycorax fits better the position as a resistance symbol, since the struggles against masculine dominance must be addressed at the same level as those against imperialist oppressions.

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Published

2016-10-01

How to Cite

[1]
Vázquez Bouzó, X. 2016. Vindicating Sycorax’s Anti-colonial Voice. An Overview of Some Postcolonial Re-Writings from The Tempest to Indigo. Lectora: Journal of Women and Textuality. 22 (Oct. 2016), 185–198.