Ideas of ‘Managing’ Natives in Stevenson’s "The Beach of Falesá" and Buchan’s "Prester John"

Essay , 2007 , 5 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Early industrialization, overproduction at home and the resulting economical pressure to locate new markets had forced English people to explore far away shores all over the globe. During the imperial period the British Empire consisted of manifold countries and British colonialists encountered as many different native races. Due to advanced European technological achievements and military power natives were regarded inferior to the culture of white men. Ruling them and exploiting natural resources seemed to be very profitable at this time, but dealing with native cultures was not that easy. On the one hand, the proud British people claimed their cultural superiority and leadership. But on the other, it was not possible to enforce cooperation, or rather compliance, by any means, just because native populations clearly outnumbered British settlers in most colonised countries. It was vital for British people to think about ‘managing’ natives in a particular way to gain as much benefits as possible out of the colonies and, on the other hand, to avoid native uprisings.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Ideas of 'Managing' Natives in Stevenson's The Beach of Falesá
• The Degradation of Native Women
• The Impact of British Cultural Superiority
• The Exploitation of Native Resources
• And Buchan's Prester John
• The Exploitation of Native Resources
• The Mistrust Between Whites and Natives
• The Suppression of Native Uprisings
• The Fatal Side Effects of Civilization

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text examines how English colonialists in the 19th century sought to manage and exploit native populations in their colonies. It analyzes the attitudes and practices of British colonial officials and settlers towards native peoples, focusing on the themes of cultural superiority, exploitation, and suppression.

• The perceived cultural superiority of the English and the degradation of native cultures
• The exploitation of native resources and labor for economic gain
• The use of military force and intimidation to suppress native resistance
• The negative consequences of European colonialism on native societies
• The complex and often hypocritical relationship between colonial powers and native populations

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The text explores the treatment of native populations in two novels: Robert Louis Stevenson's *The Beach of Falesá* and John Buchan's *Prester John*. The analysis centers around how English colonialists viewed native cultures and sought to manage them for their own benefit.

• The first section examines Stevenson's *The Beach of Falesá*, focusing on the degrading treatment of native women and the pervasive sense of British cultural superiority. The author highlights the narrator's objectification of native women and the disregard for native customs.
• The second section explores Buchan's *Prester John*, examining the exploitation of native resources and labor for the benefit of the British Empire. The text delves into the hypocrisy of the English in promoting civilization while simultaneously suppressing and manipulating native populations. It also highlights the constant fear and suspicion that existed between the two groups.
• The third section continues the analysis of *Prester John*, examining the British policy of suppressing native uprisings through military force and intimidation. The text emphasizes the brutality and disregard for native life that often characterized colonial practices.
• The final section of the analysis focuses on the unintended consequences of European colonialism on native societies, such as the introduction of European vices and diseases, which often had devastating effects.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of the text include colonialism, cultural superiority, native populations, exploitation, suppression, British Empire, cultural exchange, and the impact of colonialism on native cultures.

• College: University of Reading (English Department)
• Course: Colonial Explorations
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Stefan Küpper (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 5
• Catalog Number: V145335
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640567201
• Language: English
• Tags: Robert Louis Stevenson, The Beach of Falesa, John Buchan, Prester John