The Tempest of Shakespeare in the Construction of the Southamerican Identity in the XXth Century. The Ariel (1900), of J.E. Rodó, and Inglaterra, una fábula (1999), of L. Brizuela

Abstract

The Argentine and other Bicentennial celebratory events in our Iberoamerican world have prompted a generalized challenge of the concept and meaning of the so- called «american» identity. Shakespeare, the poet that has for a long time defined British cultural identity, in his last play The Tempest seems to provide a wonderful opportunity to examine the impact that his genius caused on the intellectuals that chose to reflect on the problems andissues arising from the complexity of reality all along the xx century within the framework of globalization. In this paper we have sought to single out intertextual relationships between the shakespearean play and some productions in English and Spanish with a view to identify perceptions that were later to enter the colective imaginary of our societies. To such ends we have dwelt on such sources as Roberto Fernandez Retamar, Isak Dinesen, Bruce Chatwin, Lucas Bridges, press & personal interviews (Leopoldo Brizuela) as well. Different editions and performances were explored and both Rodo and Brizuela were read in context with a view to compare their discursive practices from a post-colonial perspective. The developmentof the figure/concept «Ariel» in both texts was studied in order to ascertain its interest in changing educational models.