This paper sheds light on the appropriation of the concept of time in the imperialist discourse of Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling. Following a Saidian perspective, it shows that the writings of Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling appropriate time as an ideological tool so as to provide primary support for the British Empire. They do this by the dichotomy they draw between the primitive time of the non-Western people and the evolutionary time of the Westerners. Both writers show that the non-Westerners, in view of their primitivism and the advancement of the Westerners, need the intervention of the latter so as to promote their progress. They make some polyphonic appeal to other disciplines so as to achieve this purpose. Consequently, they, for instance, weave their texts with the teachings of anthropology, biology and history, hence the importance they grant to the concept of time as it is viewed in evolutionary thought of the nineteenth century.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Issue and Working Hypothesis
3. Discussion
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad utilize the concept of time as an ideological tool to justify the British imperial project and the expansion of Western power over the non-Western "Other."
- The appropriation of time from a Darwinian and evolutionary perspective.
- The dichotomy between Western linear time and the "primitive" cyclical time of the East.
- Allegorical representations of domination in literature, specifically in "Kim" and "Heart of Darkness."
- The intersection of colonial discourse with nineteenth-century anthropological and political theories.
- The legacy of these temporal constructions in contemporary political rhetoric.
Excerpt from the Book
Issue and Working Hypothesis
It is the purpose of this paper to explore the issue of time and the ‘Other’ in the writings of Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad. It aims at showing that both writers use time in such a way as to justify the imperial project and the expansion of the European powers to the territory of the ‘Other’. The idea is that they use time from a Darwinian or evolutionary perspective and distinguish between a Western conception of time and a non-Western one. One is evolutionary and the other is static or primitive, to use Fabian’s terms. (Fabian, 2002: 17, 18) These opposed conceptions provide a necessary support for imperial expansion. This idea is all the more interesting to explore in the sense that it inspires from the intellectual and geopolitical discourse of the colonial period in relation to India, the Dark Continent and other conquered parts of the world.
Indeed, in the nineteenth century, some ideas emphasized that the people of India needed to be governed by a superior race. For instance, John Stuart Mill in his essay Considerations on Representative Government points out that there exists a hierarchy of societies in the world. At the bottom are societies like India that are “backward”, “savage” or “barbaric”. These ‘backward’ societies cannot govern themselves properly (Mill, 1904: 321). This goes without saying that the doctrine of paternalism, which states that the so-called “backward and primitive” societies need the Western world, was contemporary to Kipling’s and Conrad’s works.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the literary context of the colonial encounter and introduces the critical debate surrounding how Kipling and Conrad represent the "Other" in relation to the "Self."
2. Issue and Working Hypothesis: This section presents the core argument that both authors utilize an evolutionary conception of time to legitimize imperial expansion and the "civilizing" mission of the West.
3. Discussion: This main part analyzes specific literary works, detailing how the authors create a dichotomy between static non-Western time and linear Western time to justify political and social domination.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that the appropriation of time serves as a fundamental ideological support for the British Empire, and briefly links these historic views to modern political discourse.
Keywords
Colonialism, Imperialism, Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, Othering, Evolutionary Time, Darwinism, Orientalism, Primitive, Civilisation, Hegemony, British Empire, Cultural Dichotomy, Postcolonial Theory, Historical Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad use the concept of "time" as an ideological instrument to justify British imperialism and the subjection of non-Western societies.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
Central themes include the dichotomy between Western and non-Western conceptions of time, the discourse of "backwardness" versus "evolution," and the justification of colonial intervention.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to demonstrate that both authors consciously employ a Darwinian or evolutionary view of time to distinguish between the "progressive" Western self and the "static" colonial other.
Which scientific or theoretical methods are applied?
The analysis draws on postcolonial theory, specifically Edward Said's concept of "Othering" and Johannes Fabian's work on how anthropology constructs its objects through temporal distancing.
What topics are covered in the discussion section?
The discussion covers the portrayal of Indian and African societies, the role of religion in hindering "time awareness," and specific allegories in works like "Kim," "Heart of Darkness," and "Lord Jim."
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Imperialism, Orientalism, Evolutionary Time, Othering, Colonial Discourse, and the works of Kipling and Conrad.
How does the author interpret the relationship between Kim and the lama?
The author views their relationship as an allegory of British Rule in India, where the interaction is based on mutual interests but ultimately signifies the domination of the "modern" white man over the "primitive" other.
What role does the "train" play in Kipling's "Kim"?
The train serves as a symbol of Western linear progress and the attempt to impose time awareness upon the Indian population to foster development according to imperial standards.
How does the paper link historical colonial discourse to contemporary politics?
It draws a parallel to a 2007 speech by Nicolas Sarkozy, suggesting that the categorization of African societies as "static" or lacking historical progress persists in modern political rhetoric.
What does the "Patna" represent in Joseph Conrad's "Lord Jim"?
The ship is analyzed as a metaphor for the Orient, where its "old" and "rusty" state reflects the author's perception of the East as primitive and in need of Western intervention.
- Citation du texte
- Maitre Assistant Mouloud Siber (Auteur), 2009, Time and the Other in the Imperialist Discourse of Kipling and Conrad , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/137241
