Spirits mow and chatter at Prospero as he hopelessly curses Caliban. Caliban utters curses hoping to have him fall ill from bogs, fens, and flats. In The Tempest, Caliban’s description of the island as a hostile environment where Prospero is slowly becoming diseased can be seen as a metaphor for the dangers of unchecked technological power because, as discussed by Zuboff and Desmet, with the prevalence of surveillance capitalism and mass formation, sense of individuality diminishes and all the negativity associated with society as a whole add up and destroy a sense of self.  

In Act 2, Scene 2 of The Tempest, Caliban describes the island as a place where “the air bites shrewdly” and “all the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him by inchmeal a disease.” (Act 2, Scene 1, lines 184-187). This description creates a sense of isolation and desolation, emphasizing the harsh conditions of life on the island. The description of the “infections” that the sun collects implies that the island is a breeding ground for disease and illness and that even the powerful Prospero, who has magic at his disposal, is not immune to the negative effects of the island. The use of the phrase “by inchmeal” also creates a sense of gradual deterioration, suggesting that the island slowly wears down even the most powerful inhabitants. This highlights the sense of danger and threat that the island represents to those who live there. This scene, in relation to surveillance capitalism and mass formation, indicates that no one can escape its far-reaching grasp. This scene foreshadows that Prospero will get trapped within the mechanics of his own “machine” and explains how far-reaching companies/organizations’ powers can be. 

Zuboff argues that the rise of “surveillance capitalism” has created a new form of power, which she terms “instrumentarian power.” This form of power is based on the constant monitoring and manipulation of individuals by collecting personal data, which is then used to shape their behavior and decisions. Zuboff states, “The belief that we can choose our destiny is under siege, and, in a dramatic reversal, the dream of a technology of behavioral prediction and control—for which Skinner had endured such public scorn—is now a flourishing fact,”(Zuboff, 240). In this, Zuboff emphasizes the idea that our behaviors are not our own but rather manipulated projections of what corporations want us to do. Zuboff is referencing earlier ideas of Skinner which were reflections of his fears for the progression of society. In The Tempest, the island can be seen as a metaphor for the digital world, where individuals are exposed to various forms of infection in the form of targeted advertising, fake news, and other manipulations.

Similarly, Desmet discusses the psychological effects of mass formation, which can occur when individuals are subject to manipulation and propaganda. He argues that mass formation can lead to a loss of critical thinking and a sense of individual identity, which can be dangerous in the context of totalitarian regimes. Desmet states, “If a society fails to respect these fundamental rights of the individual, if it allows fear to escalate to such an extent that every form of individuality, intimacy, privacy, and personal initiative is regarded as an intolerable threat to “the collective well-being,”(Desmet, 156). Desmet compares individual well-being to Lorenz’s waterwheel. The waterwheel has unpredictable movements but follows certain principles and phenomena. Desmet explains that we must stick to our principles, and if we begin to focus on the superficial appearances of life, life will be experienced as meaningless chaos. Focusing too much on collective well-being and relinquishing personal rights would be like focusing on the superficial appearance of the wheel and would cause people to lose a sense of their individual selves. In The Tempest, Caliban can be seen as a metaphor for individuals who are oppressed and exploited by those in power, whether it be through surveillance capitalism or other forms of control.

When compared to the ideas of Desmet and Zuboff, the passage from The Tempest can be seen as a warning about the dangers of unchecked power, whether in the form of Prospero’s magical control over the island or the technological control exerted by surveillance capitalists. Just as Caliban and Ariel are subject to Prospero’s power, individuals in the digital world are subject to the power of corporations and governments who use technology to monitor and control their behavior. To resist this power, individuals must cultivate critical thinking and a sense of individual identity, as advocated by Desmet. Additionally, as seen in the play, the power of magic or technology must be renounced in favor of human connection and forgiveness, as advocated by Prospero’s decision to forgive his enemies rather than seek revenge.

Overall, The Tempest offers a powerful metaphor for the dangers of unchecked power, whether it be in the form of magic or technology. By analyzing specific passages from the play in relation to the ideas of Zuboff and Desmet, we can see how the play’s themes continue to be relevant in our current digital age. To resist the dangers of surveillance capitalism and mass formation, individuals must cultivate critical thinking, individual identity, and empathy for others, as well as recognize the value of human connection and forgiveness.