Imperialism sprung from an altruistic and unselfish aim to take up the white mans burden and wean [the] ignorant millions from their horrid ways. These two citations are, of course, from Kiplings White Mans Burden and Conrads Heart of Darkness, respectively, and they splendidly encompass what British and European imperialism was about at least seen from the late-nineteenth century point of view. This essay seeks to explore the comparisons and contrasts between Conrads and Kiplings view of imperialism in, respectively, Heart of Darkness and White Mans Burden and Recessional. In a historical context, the two texts differ greatly: Heart of Darkness is Conrads autobiographical description of his trip up the river of Congo and his encounter with the atrocities of European rule in Africa. Conversely, Kiplings White Mans Burden was written to welcome the United States of America to the club of imperialistic nations. The event that prompted Kipling to write this poem was the United States intervention in the Philippines.
Under the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the Philippine sovereignty was transferred from Spain to the United States and thus the United States emerged as an imperialistic nation dedicated to progress. This is the core of the matter progress. Kipling speaks of a Law in his poem Recessional. The code of behaviour and the enlightenment that Kipling wished to be aggrandised to all primitive nations. In other words: Progress in the means of railroads across continents, telegraph lines over deep seas, commerce beyond boundaries and steam boat lines criss-crossing the earth. Imperialism was at its height in this period.
The Essay on White Mans Burden
... in the United States had adopted the phrase white mans burden, which was a euphemism for imperialism in order to ... made plain, to seek another's profit (Kipling, Rudyard. "The White Man's Burden.") These words state that the population of colonies should ... this the White Mans Burden. India was very negatively affected by Great Britain. The White Mans Burden by Rudyard Kipling was published ...
In 1897, the year before the Spanish-American War, Queen Victoria had reigned half the world for sixty years. This was the occasion for which Recessional had been written, and it celebrated a vast empire that had dominion over palm and pine, and a far-flung battle-line. The poem speaks of lesser breeds without the Law, and it is this law that if, drunk with sight of power, must not be forgotten. It is a prayer for the eternal altruistic mission that the white man had been destined for, as well as a hopeful prayer that England should not decline: Far-called, our navies melt away On dune and headland sinks the fire Lo, all our pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, Lest we forgetlest we forget! The call to extend the Law continues in Kiplings poem The White Mans Burden. However, such an extension calls for a definition of a white man. By this term, Kipling refers not only to those with white skin colour.
Charles Carrington points out in his biography that in the late 19th century white people included all men with the moral standards of the civilised world. Carrington convincingly cites Kiplings own poem Gunga Din about an Indian water-carrier, in which Gunga Din is the finest man I knew. I have elaborated upon Carringtons example: [When] aservin of Er Majesty the Queen, Of all them black-faced I knew [though] for all is dirty ide, [Gunga Din] was white, clear white inside The mission for the white man was to raise those ignorant millions from their horrid ways, and, as it is phrased in the second stanza of White Mans Burden, his purpose was altruistic, and merely to seek another’s profit, /and work another’s gain. As the whole, and especially the fifth stanza, of the poem suggests, the only satisfaction for the white man would be that the deed was worth doing. It was definitely not for material goods: Take up the White Mans Burden And reap his old reward: The blame of those ye better, The hate of those ye guard The cry of hosts ye humour (Ah Slowly!) toward the light This stanza gathers perfectly the essence of what Kipling saw as the white mans mission. It can hardly be said that it is a reward to be blamed, hated and cried at for improving, guarding and leading someone toward the light.
The Essay on Heart Of Darkness Kurtz Marlow Remarkable
Each person has a different definition of what the term 'remarkable' means; each unique definition, holds a significant link to the other. This link is that the term is always given to a person that holds certain characteristics that are superior to the average individual. The set of characteristics that are observed tend to subscribe to the specific set of values of the person issuing the remark. ...
It is a mission of this type on which Kurtz is sent on in Heart of Darkness. Through Marlows dialogues with Kurtzs cousin, his Intended and a journalist in the last part of the story, we learn that Kurtz was not only a skilful orator but also a musician and a potential political leader a universal genius. In other words, the best ye breed has been sent forth. We are also told that Kurtz has been sent out not only to trade and gather ivory, but also to write a report for the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs. Although this report ends with the extremist exclamation exterminate all the brutes!, Marlow implies that this last part must have been written in a feverish condition for the curious part was that [Kurtz] had apparently forgotten all about that valuable postscriptum, and believed it might further his future career. But above all, the report was a moving appeal to every altruistic sentiment, and Kurtz almost copies Kipling when, in his report, he writes that by the simple exercise of our will we can exert a power for good practically unbounded. This is an echo of Kiplings Law.
Marlow also expounds on his views on imperialism. Just before he starts his narrative, he says: The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea something you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to. This passage is very important as it contains Conrads brilliant ability of conveying two different perspectives in one and the same statement. On one hand, he regards imperialism as a scrupulous conquest of the world.
The Essay on Heart Of Darkness Marlow Imperialism Africa
Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness presents two main themes, which are relevant to the story. The first of which is imperialism and the second is racism. This novel takes place in the late 1800's on the Congo River in Africa, which Conrad uses to help illustrate these two themes. Charlie Marlow, the main character, is a sea captain whose exploration leads him to Africa on a ...
On the other hand, he makes allowances for having the high ideal of doing something for the common good; Kurtz and Marlow are, in other words, the gang of virtue, so to speak. This is common to Kiplings Law. However, Marlows experiences on the Congo suggest something else which is definitely NOT idealism: Patrick Brantlinger explains this is his excellent essay Heart of Darkness: Anti-imperialism, Racism or Impressionism? The true nature of European philanthropy in the Congo is revealed to Marlow by the chain gang and the and the black shadows of disease and starvation, left to die in the greenish gloom from the moment he sets foot in Congo, Marlow is clear about the meaning of the merry dance of death and trade This explicitly suggests that Heart of Darkness deals with anti-imperialism. Through Marlows eyes we get other indications. The Eldorado Exploring Expedition is the perfect analogy of what colonialism was really about: To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe. Marlow furthermore hints that the backbone of the expedition is the company in Brussels: the uncle of [the] manager was leader of that lot.
I believe this will suffice in explaining the contrasts between Kiplings poems and Heart of Darkness. I have pointed out some similarities between the two writers, especially between Kiplings Law and the prevailing attitude of the late 19th century of the higher aim of imperialism as sometimes expressed in Heart of Darkness. However, the sharpest contrast is Conrads ambiguity, irony and ability to prevent us from seeing the contrasts without also seeing the similarities. It is easy to classify Kipling as Imperialistic Poet, but Conrads narrative unfolds slowly and leaves it to the reader to navigate its waters; for like a river it flows deeper and deeper, and the moment one believes one has reached the source, it turns out that it goes even deeper; into the earth itself; into the heart of an immense darkness. Bibliography Brantlinger, Patrick. Heart of Darkness: Anti-Imperialism, Racism or Impressionism? in Joseph Conrad; Critical Assessments, Keith Carabine, ed., Volume II: The Critical Response: Almayers Folly to The Mirror of the Sea (Mountfield: Helm Information Ltd., 1992) Carrington, Charles. Rudyard Kipling: His Life and Work (London: MacMillan London Ltd., 1955,1978) Conrad, Joseph.
The Essay on Heart of Darkness 19
Achebe, Chinua. "An image of Africa: racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness". Heart of darkness: an authoritative text, backgrounds and sources, criticism / Joseph Conrad. 3rd Ed. Robert Kimbrough. New York: Norton, 1988.252-258. Sighn, Frances B. "The colonialistic bias of Heart of Darkness". Heart of Darkness: an authoritative text, backgrounds and sources, criticism / Joseph Conrad. 3rd Ed. ...
Heart of Darkness in The Norton Anthology of English Literature, M.H. Abrams, general editor. (London: W.W. Norton, 1962, 2000) Islam, Shamsul. Kiplings Law: A Study of His Philosophy of Life (London: The MacMillan Press Ltd., 1975) McClure, John A. The Rhetoric of Restraint in Heart of Darkness in Nineteenth Century Fiction, Volume 32, Issue 3 (Dec.
1977), pp. 310-26 available through www.jstor.org Raskin, Jonah. The Mythology of Imperialism (New York: Random House, 1971) Rudyard Kiplings Verse, Definitive Edition (London: Hudder & Stoughton, 1940) Watts, Cedric. A Bloody Racist: About Achebes View of Conrad in Joseph Conrad; Critical Assessments, Keith Carabine, ed., Volume II: The Critical Response: Almayers Folly to The Mirror of the Sea (Mountfield: Helm Information Ltd., 1992).
