Skip to main content

In "The White Man's Burden" how are imperialized people viewed by the writer?

The poem "The White Man's Burden" was written to encourage the United States to take up the task of annexation and "civilization" of the Philippines, newly won in the Spanish-American War. In the poem, Kipling's view of imperialized people is condescending and contemptuous. He describes them as "half-devil and half-child," and claims that their "sloth and heathen folly" will bring all efforts to "civilize" them to "nought." Indeed, Kipling suggests that the people of the...

The poem "The White Man's Burden" was written to encourage the United States to take up the task of annexation and "civilization" of the Philippines, newly won in the Spanish-American War. In the poem, Kipling's view of imperialized people is condescending and contemptuous. He describes them as "half-devil and half-child," and claims that their "sloth and heathen folly" will bring all efforts to "civilize" them to "nought." Indeed, Kipling suggests that the people of the Philippines, like all colonial peoples around the world, are racially and culturally inferior to Anglo-Saxons, and that they are too primitive to understand the benefits of civilization in the first place.  The reason, Kipling claims, that imperial nations should take up the "white man's burden" is to win the "judgment of your peers." So "The White Man's Burden" is shot through with racist assumptions about the capabilities of nonwhites. The implication is that whites should struggle to "civilize" non-whites because of the ennobling nature of struggle itself, not really for the benefit of colonized peoples. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more