So I am going over the poem "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling, penned in 1899. This piece is all about the idea that Western nations had this duty, or "burden", to colonize and help non-Western nations. Kipling talks about the supposed responsibility to civilize and educate those they consider less advanced. It's a very controversial take that reflects the imperialist attitudes of the time, suggesting that it was both a noble endeavor and a heavy load to bear for the Western powers. Kipling's poem gets into the mindset of that time in its heavy advocacy for imperialism. This poem was all about justifying the colonization and rule over non-Western countries by Western powers, framed as a noble mission to civilize and help out. Kipling talks about how Westerners believed they had this duty to bring their way of life to others, thinking it would improve them. A line that hits the nail on the head is, "To seek another's profit, / And work another's gain" (Kipling, ). It suggests this whole idea of helping out is just about controlling and benefiting from others under the guise of being helpful. It's a …show more content…
He's arguing that it's their duty to bring their way of life, culture, and governance to these places, which he views as less advanced. The action he wants from the reader is to support or take part in this imperialist venture, believing it's for the greater good of those colonized. Using Kipling's words, "Go bind your sons to exile / To serve your captives' need" (Kipling, ), he's calling for people to commit themselves or their kin to this cause suggesting that such sacrifices are noble and necessary for the betterment of the colonized peoples. It's all about the paternalistic idea that the West knows best and must lead these "sullen peoples" to a "better" way of life regardless of the
In the “White Man’s Burden”, Rudyard Kipling claims that it is the duty or burden of the white men to civilize the non-whites, to educate them and to religiously lift them (lecture notes, 2/8). Kipling is specifically talking about the colonized non-whites (lecture notes, 2/8). The idea that the newly colonized non-whites were lacking and needing help from a greater society was common among American whites at this time (lecture notes, 2/8). Rudyard uses the whites’ public feelings towards the issue
Rudyard Kipling’s 1899 poem “The White Man’s Burden” epitomizes the European man’s view on imperialism, Euro-centrism and social Darwinism. Four centuries before 1899, such ideas were briefly hinted in the letter from Christopher Columbus to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, however by 1899 these attitudes strengthened and developed fully into their complete meaning. The U.S and Europe’s imperialism in the nineteenth century were the most influential ever in the history of human civilization. The
The white man’s burden addresses the white race as superior and therefore responsible of civilizing and educating other nations. It was up to white males to take this challenge on and depart to a foreign land; in this context to the Philippines in order to complete their mission. Through the poem the author emphasizes on four themes; race, masculinity, duty and sacrifice. In a way he wishes to persuade the reader into understanding the motives behind colonization and why it was necessary in order
In the “White Man’s Burden,” Rudyard Kipling explains that it is the duty of the white men to colonize and educate the non-whites living in the countries they were conquering. In this poem Kipling is referring to the colonization of the Philippines. However, this poem can be applied to any of the conquering done by the European’s, especially the most notable ones in the Americas and Africa, as they had the same mindset during their conquers. The burden expressed in this poem is the burden of having
The White Man's Burden and The Recessional In “The White Man’s Burden” and in “The Recessional”, Kipling outlines his idealistic concept of empire which is based on service and sacrifice. England sends some of their best man to defend and help India. The white man has the mission to civilize the Indians. It is their responsibility to culture them, to put them on the right path. They are there to make India a better place to live and bring the population up to date on the style of living. This
immortalized in a poplar concept, “The White Man’s Burden” by the British poet Rudyard Kipling who in 1899 urged America to “take up the white man’s burden” and colonize the Philippines. Kipling’s phrase is the essence of a racist view that the people in uncivilized worlds are victims, incompetent of helping themselves. His concept claimed the need of humanitarian imperialism intervention was a noble aim of allowing the spread of superior values; the responsibility of white Europeans to teach “proper” European
The White Man’s Burden is Rudyard Kipling’s seven stanza poem that served as a propaganda piece for encouraging imperialistic techniques. Kipling was one of the most renowned British writers in history. He was also the author of The Jungle Book and The Man Who Would Be King, which are two of the most recognized pieces in modern literature. The poem, The White Man’s Burden, was written and published in 1899. Written during the time period following the Spanish-American War when America took over
also affected social Darwinism and racism. This led society to believe that some races dominated over others like in The White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling and Black Man’s Burdens by Edward Morel. Kipling’s main argument in the poem is that the white man is superior to the other races. The line “Send forth the best ye breed-go bind your sons to exile,” means that the best white men needed to come forward to help the newly American control countries and people after the Spanish-American War. American
White Man’s Burden was originally a poem by Rudyard Kipling in 1899. This poem spoke to the way the black person’s life revolves around that of the white man’s lifestyle (Kipling, 2014). The film White Man’s Burden personifies this concept, while reversing the roles of black and white people in modern society. In this film there are several themes and ideals addressed: The dichotomy between races, primarily black and white; Class, the white collar rich verses the blue collar poor; the dynamic
Additionally, it is also one of the greatest human tragedies of the New World and the United States. The White Man's Burden: Historical Origins of Racism in the United States was written by Winthrop D. Jordan and tells the history of racism in the United States. The author discusses the very origins of racism and the nature of slavery within the United States through the attitudes of the white slave owners. In the book, the author addresses the problem of slavery through the negative stereotypes,
relied on the colonies for natural resources in order to maintain the newly made industries. One idea used in order to justify colonization was the “White Man’s Burden”. This idea stated that it was the duty of the “superior” power (being the European countries), to spread their ways of life to the “inferior”
The book, The White Man’s Burden, is a criticism of the Western countries’ arrogant efforts and political economic inefficiencies to improve the future of developing countries. It shows how the West failed and is still failing to put its utopian ideology plans aside in evolving countries. Sometimes irreverent, in other angry, but always farsighted and rigorous, Easterly argues that the West must confront its own history of ineptitude and draw its own conclusions, especially when the question of our
White Man’s Burden This movie is a story about societal race reversal. Everything, as we know the world to be is changed. Instead of White People being in control with the wealth and power, the world is opposite. Black people are the majority and control all of the wealth and power. White people are the oppressed race of people and prejudice is placed upon them. It begins with an elitist; Thadeus played by (Harry Belafonte who at a dinner party held at his home, says white people are genetically
William Easterly's The White Man's Burden is about what its author calls the twin tragedies of global poverty. The first, is that so many are seemingly fated to live horribly stunted, miserable lives and die such early deaths. The second is that after fifty years and more than $2.3 trillion in aid from the West to address the first tragedy, it has shockingly little to show for it. We'll never solve the first tragedy, Easterly argues, unless we figure out the second. The ironies are many: We preach
Imperialism, a serious event in history, affected many places all over the world. In Africa, Imperialism destroyed countries, ruined African traditions, and created a whole new society (usually not for the better good). Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The White Man’s Burden” provides a window into what Imperialism was like for the indigenous people. Before Imperialism, Africa was an entirely different world; people had different religions, ideas, and ways of life. Menelik II who’d grown up in Ethiopia helped develop