Kafkas Critique of Colonialism and Imperialism in the Penal Colony - Assignment Example

Lecturer: Kafka’s critique of colonialism and imperialism in the Penal Colony Introduction Regardless of the fact that In the Penal Colony does not clearly imply that it is parable of colonialism, a deeper look at the text makes a revelation of a surprising connection between its fictional occurrences and the mechanics associated with actual colonialism that was extensive in the nineteenth century European world1. Consequently, it achieves an intricate interweaving of aesthetic, literary and religious aspects that eventually expose the inspiration behind all the colonial goals, along with the brutal instruments the colonizing powers use against those who are colonized in as a means of communicating desires. Using a language of pain and punishment that is typified by the title of the text as well as the central object of the narrative, the extraordinary contraption of the machine, the colonizing power has the ability to deliver a totalizing structure characterized by technical, political as well as psychological domination. The aim of this essay is to identify the manner in which Kafka analyzes colonialism and imperialism in In the Penal Colony through considering the methods colonialism holds its power and main principles that drive the colonizing power to take over more land. This essay is also aimed at demonstrating the manner in which Kafka harshly criticizes colonialism through displaying the deterioration his grand narrative whereby the colonizer in unavoidably destroyed by the impracticality of the ideal itself. Kafka’s critique of colonialism and imperialism in the Penal Colony In reality, penal colonies existed and were mainly located on remote islands or areas that were hostile, and prisoners were condemned to these areas as a form of punishment where they would be exposed to poor living conditions under severe prison regimes. As a result, most of the prisoners typically died from neglect, going hungry and hard labor as well as attempts to escape. According to Kafka, the machine, which is an apparatus that does not resemble any other, comprises of three components; a bed, a harrow and a sketcher, where the condemned person is supposed to lie on the bed of cotton wool naked2. Using the harrow that has one short and one long needle, the sentence of the condemned person is inscribed on his skin, while the short needle squirts water that cleans away the blood that comes out3. It states that the person who is condemned is supposed to decipher his sentence with his own body through a language that is characterized by pain while the actual sentencing is considered illegible as it involves a maze of complex lines that the covers the entire area totally making it difficult to see other areas. Ideally, the different parts of the machine impart a divine revelation of the sins of the person who has been condemned through inflicting pain that is immeasurable. In the manner in which the machine works, colonialism is demonstrated as an unusual structure that involves invading the land of the indigenous by the colonizing force and so that the colonizing power can be able to successful colonized the people, he must first do away with the history of the colonized while replacing it with his own narrative. The narrative that replaces history is created from exactitudes associated with political and social backgrounds of his imperial origins in Europe as well as the rational principles of the west that he is a part of. The spirit of the colony becomes effectively bound when this replacement has occurred giving the colonizer the freedom to exploit the land for his selfish needs through creating a mobilized workforce that is imprisoned physically and psychologically. The ensuing labor is used to realize the needs of the colonizer in terms of military prestige as well as economic profitability among others in the world front. Since this invasion is fundamentally peculiar, the methods that characterize it have to be in the same manner, unnatural and this is in its simplest form, an impractical disruption of the normal order of being. Therefore, the colonizing power makes sure that his communication with the colonized is through a language characterized by physical violence, which may, be in the form of material tools like the chains that are used to bind the condemned man in the text, with the example of the mechanical arm. They may also be in the form of the whips that are employed in colonialism to suppress the locals. In regard to the text, this implemented by the machine through a complex structure of punishment which serves as c communication of the colonizing power’s narrative through a language characterized by pain. By incising the sentence on the body of the condemned man, the officer as well as the colonizer rubbishes all that has come previously, erases the past, as well as the culture and history inherent in the native people and replaces it with his perceptions that are only understood by himself. The times past, which is written by the colonizer, has no association with the country he is taking over, instead, it is the one associated with his original country in terms of all the aspects it stands for. While executing this corporal punishment, the machine is considered as the final silencer while the inscriptions that are delivered by the machine serve two purposes. These purposes include making the guilty aware that he is interfering with the grand narrative of the colonial principle through speaking in his indigenous voice and enforcing the already existing order through acting as a deterrent and making sure that its presence physically remains predominant. This predominant physical presence thus allows the colonizing power to have the freedom of exploiting his acquisition with the aim of furthering his own needs4. The colonial model that is presented by Kafka has an equivalent in the real colonial practices associated with King Leopold when he acquired Belgium Congo. During his initial invasion of Belgium Congo, King Leopold declared this area as vacant land, where vacant in this context denoted a blank script that did not have any form of writing associated with the colonizing power’s narrative5. Without considering the native people, the land is considered by the colonizers as prime ground for cultivating his own economy and in total disregard of the voice of the natives, the colonizing power does not allow their language to prevail. In the African context, oral heritage was an integral part of their identity as it functioned as a means of transmitting thoughts and important principles. Oral narration of stories instead of written word and passing on culture and folklore to the upcoming generation was a way of ensuring that the unique historical culture and literature would be inherited. Depriving them this language and replacing it with words that were incoherent therefore served as the ultimate form of antagonism as it destroyed the soul. The machine described by Kafka represents this in imprinting a bloodied tattoo on the back of the people who were condemned and this symbolizes the voice of the nonconformists of colonialism. In the same way that the officer and the condemned man have no communication in any apparent language apart from the use of violence, the African chief were required to append their signatures on long treaties that concerned the acquisition of their land without any awareness. Christian de Bonchamps who was in King Leopold’s service in Katanga is equivalent to the explorer depicted in the narrative who expresses his disapproval to this form of treaties. He states that the treaties are serious issues for the European powers only if any form of disputes came up regarding territories and they have no consideration for the independence of the natives who sign them. The colonizing powers does not consider the opinions of the colonized and continue to be driven by their own interests and the continuation of their own journey without considering if this has any impact on the sacred narrative of the indigenous people. In this context, language is the indication of the power that enforces order and dictates what will take place, which in the hands of the colonizing power, acts like the whip described by Kafka. The machine depicted by Kafka in its actuality brings together the two-fold characteristics of colonialism that involves physical invasion and the psychological ramifications that are associated with erasure of cultural heritages. Furthermore, the aesthetic motive of colonialism entails spiritual in depth and goes past material gains as it reinforces all the aspirations that are associated with colonialism. Conclusion In the Penal Colony by Kafka shares numerous parallels to the acts that were predominant in real colonialism. Nonetheless, Kafka does not simply address the physical aspects associated with colonialism; instead, he goes beyond and reveals the intricate network of ideas that are the causes of colonialism while pushing it towards realization. Therefore, In the Penal Colony can be equated to a dream based on its intertwining of symbolic ideas that carry a lot of meaning which need to be interpreted. By realizing these symbols, which involves separating the actual meanings from the metaphors, a stark portrait can be uncovered regarding the vicious characteristics of colonialism as well as the distressing impact it has on those who are colonized. Works cited Bloom, Harold, and Blake Hobby. Enslavement And Emancipation. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism, 2010. Print. Bloom, Harold, and Blake Hobby. Sin And Redemption. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism, 2010. Print. Kafka, Franz et al. In The Penal Colony. [New York]: Limited Editions Club, 1987. Print. Muiu, Mueni wa, and Guy Martin. A New Paradigm Of The African State. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. Print. Read More

Ideally, the different parts of the machine impart a divine revelation of the sins of the person who has been condemned through inflicting pain that is immeasurable. In the manner in which the machine works, colonialism is demonstrated as an unusual structure that involves invading the land of the indigenous by the colonizing force and so that the colonizing power can be able to successful colonized the people, he must first do away with the history of the colonized while replacing it with his own narrative.

The narrative that replaces history is created from exactitudes associated with political and social backgrounds of his imperial origins in Europe as well as the rational principles of the west that he is a part of. The spirit of the colony becomes effectively bound when this replacement has occurred giving the colonizer the freedom to exploit the land for his selfish needs through creating a mobilized workforce that is imprisoned physically and psychologically. The ensuing labor is used to realize the needs of the colonizer in terms of military prestige as well as economic profitability among others in the world front.

Since this invasion is fundamentally peculiar, the methods that characterize it have to be in the same manner, unnatural and this is in its simplest form, an impractical disruption of the normal order of being. Therefore, the colonizing power makes sure that his communication with the colonized is through a language characterized by physical violence, which may, be in the form of material tools like the chains that are used to bind the condemned man in the text, with the example of the mechanical arm.

They may also be in the form of the whips that are employed in colonialism to suppress the locals. In regard to the text, this implemented by the machine through a complex structure of punishment which serves as c communication of the colonizing power’s narrative through a language characterized by pain. By incising the sentence on the body of the condemned man, the officer as well as the colonizer rubbishes all that has come previously, erases the past, as well as the culture and history inherent in the native people and replaces it with his perceptions that are only understood by himself.

The times past, which is written by the colonizer, has no association with the country he is taking over, instead, it is the one associated with his original country in terms of all the aspects it stands for. While executing this corporal punishment, the machine is considered as the final silencer while the inscriptions that are delivered by the machine serve two purposes. These purposes include making the guilty aware that he is interfering with the grand narrative of the colonial principle through speaking in his indigenous voice and enforcing the already existing order through acting as a deterrent and making sure that its presence physically remains predominant.

This predominant physical presence thus allows the colonizing power to have the freedom of exploiting his acquisition with the aim of furthering his own needs4. The colonial model that is presented by Kafka has an equivalent in the real colonial practices associated with King Leopold when he acquired Belgium Congo. During his initial invasion of Belgium Congo, King Leopold declared this area as vacant land, where vacant in this context denoted a blank script that did not have any form of writing associated with the colonizing power’s narrative5.

Without considering the native people, the land is considered by the colonizers as prime ground for cultivating his own economy and in total disregard of the voice of the natives, the colonizing power does not allow their language to prevail. In the African context, oral heritage was an integral part of their identity as it functioned as a means of transmitting thoughts and important principles. Oral narration of stories instead of written word and passing on culture and folklore to the upcoming generation was a way of ensuring that the unique historical culture and literature would be inherited.

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