Colonialism in Rudyard Kiplings Poem - Essay Example

Rudyard Kipling’s poem starts by exhorting the Westerners to take up the responsibility to help the poor and the ignorant in other parts of the world. The poem thus starts by hailing them as “white men” which in itself differentiates them with the others. In addressing them thus, Kipling encourages “cultural imperialism”. The Europeans had a racist attitude which is evident in the use of the words, “the while man’s burden”. In using the word ‘burden’ Kipling stresses that the Western ideas could play a significant role in lifting the poorer non-Westerners out of poverty and ignorance. It is urging the while people, rather it is a command to the whites to take over the burden and colonize the people of other nations. The Europeans virtually looked down upon the Africans and the Asians condescendingly. They considered the non-Western culture and traditions as inferior to theirs and this European ascendancy is known as “cultural imperialism”. The Europeans had the attitude that they were destined to rule over the non-Western countries. The White men were culturally and technically advanced and always carried that air that they were superior to others. This in itself provided a motivation for the Europeans that they were destined to take care of the under privileged. This is driven by the feeling of superiority which has been confirmed by the Darwinian Theory that the “strong survive”. It promotes the idea that the white European race was superior to others. The Europeans were more advanced in culture compared to other races. The ‘survival of the fittest’ is the rule of the game and as believed by Kipling, the Europeans being superior were the fittest. The second motivation comes from the evolutionary theory, which believes that nature is a "kill-or-be-killed" system. It is based on the principle that if necessary, kill others to save your self. Those that cannot keep are either left behind or cut off. Even the Nazis claimed that murder of the Jews in World War II was an act of cleaning out the inferiors. To protect themselves, the superiors could even exterminate an entire race of people. It is not possible for people of two different races to survive in harmony and rather than be killed, it is better to kill them. As the others are uneducated and lack culture, they could turn savage and kill the Europeans and before they do that, the Europeans are urged to make the move. Rather than live with the “burden” it is better to kill them. Any war takes place with the motive of attaining peace at the end and hence Kipling called it as “The savage wars of peace”. The poet urges the Europeans to fight for the sake of peace and Ye dare not stoop to less – implying that they should not bow down before the non-Westerners. It again fills the minds of the Europeans that they are superior. The poet indicates that this war could cost the Europeans cost then many if their people when he says, “And mark them with your dead" but he convinces them that at the end peace would be theirs. Self-interest should be the prime concern in carrying out the war and hence it is necessary to either kill them or hold them as slaves. In the paragraph, “And reap his old reward”, the poet implies that the non-Westerners are not ready for civilization while the Europeans are enlightened. He says it is difficult for the two races to survive together and before they can kill the Europeans, the Europeans should dominate and eliminate the race altogether. The third motivation was a philanthropic view - Western thought will bring non-western countries out of poverty. Kipling believed that the rich have a moral duty and obligation to help the poor "better" themselves whether the poor want the help or not. One of the European motivations to acquire imperial possessions was to “serve” the “captives’ needs”. The Europeans felt since they were superior in every respect to the Asians and the Africans, they had a moral duty to help the economically and culturally poor nations to develop themselves. The White Men felt they alone were responsible and could contribute to the upliftment of the poorer nations as they were technologically and politically sound. The ‘white men’s burden’ itself implies that it is their responsibility to take care of those technically, economically and culturally behind the Europeans. The poor had nothing and nowhere to fall back upon and if they were made slaves of the Europeans, this would at least guarantee them the basic necessities and the Europeans could thus help the under privileged to survive. He urges them not to be bothered about the loss of lives that their countrymen would have to undergo and not even expect any rewards or thanks in return when the poet says, “The blame of those ye better, The hate of those ye guard”. Kipling says, in addition, the non-Westerners may even blame the Europeans for taking care of them; they could be blamed for slavery but it is still the duty of the advanced nation to take care of the weaker nations. He says the colonists never receive any rewards for their labor but this should not deter the colonists from fulfilling the duty that God has entrusted them with. They would derive satisfaction in such benevolent deeds as helping those who have not been bestowed with them. Thus this poem makes clear the prevalent attitudes that permit colonialism to proceed as it is necessary to maintain the development in the world. It serves several purposes – because the Europeans are the superior lot, they have a moral obligation and duty to take care of the other nations. Any war is for the sake of peace at the end and if they do not wage a war against the savages they might be killed and hence in self-protection, killing others is not a sin. Hence, without looking for rewards in any form, they should move ahead and “serve the captives’ needs” thereby serving their own need of survival. Read More