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.
Table of Contents
1. Ideas of ‘Managing’ Natives in Stevenson’s The Beach of Falesá And Buchan’s Prester John
2. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the colonial power dynamics and racial attitudes depicted in Robert Louis Stevenson’s "The Beach of Falesá" and John Buchan’s "Prester John." It analyzes how the British Empire justified its dominance through the perceived cultural and intellectual inferiority of native populations, exploring themes of exploitation, the "civilizing" mission, and the imposition of Western social structures.
- Analysis of colonial exploitation and trade schemes
- The role of "civilizing missions" and the failure of Christianization
- Depiction of native women and the degradation of indigenous life
- British perceptions of intellectual and cultural superiority
- The use of military power and suppression of native uprisings
Excerpt from the Book
Ideas of ‘Managing’ Natives in Stevenson’s The Beach of Falesá And Buchan’s Prester John
“It was the mission of the Anglo-Saxon race to penetrate into every part of the world, and to help in the great work of civilisation. Wherever its representatives went, the national conscience should go also […].” This quotation, made by Thomas Hodgkin (cited in Porter, 50), wholly expresses the general procedure of the English colonial rule. The 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.
Summary of Chapters
1. Ideas of ‘Managing’ Natives in Stevenson’s The Beach of Falesá And Buchan’s Prester John: This section investigates the colonial strategies used to control indigenous populations, focusing on the degradation of native culture and the justification of British supremacy through economic exploitation and ideological manipulation.
2. Bibliography: This chapter lists the primary and secondary literary sources used to substantiate the arguments regarding British colonial policy and racial attitudes.
Keywords
Colonialism, British Empire, Stevenson, Buchan, Indigenous Populations, Cultural Superiority, Exploitation, Civilizing Mission, Racial Attitudes, Imperialism, Native Uprisings, Trade Schemes, Christianization, Military Oppression, Power Dynamics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the colonial methods and racial attitudes portrayed in the literature of the British Empire, specifically analyzing Robert Louis Stevenson’s "The Beach of Falesá" and John Buchan’s "Prester John."
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the exploitation of native resources, the perceived intellectual inferiority of indigenous people, the failure of the "civilizing" mission, and the use of violence to maintain colonial order.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to analyze how British colonial narratives constructed a justification for imperial dominance and the subjection of native populations.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a literary and critical analysis of colonial-era texts to extract and examine prevailing attitudes toward race, trade, and cultural hierarchy.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body addresses the treatment of native women, the economic exploitation of colonies, the role of education in undermining indigenous traditions, and the use of military force to suppress resistance.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
The work is defined by terms such as Colonialism, British Empire, Cultural Superiority, Exploitation, Imperialism, and Native Resistance.
How does the author interpret the role of "Christianization" in the colonies?
The author interprets Christianization as a "farce," noting that while it was introduced to civilize "heathens," it failed to establish any real equality between Europeans and indigenous converts.
How is the "intellectual inferiority" of natives depicted in the texts?
The texts depict white characters as ignoring the education or intellect of native leaders, consistently reducing their worth based on skin color and adhering to chauvinistic beliefs.
What significance is given to the "trade scheme" between empires and natives?
The trade scheme is portrayed as a tool for exploitation, where valuable resources were extracted in exchange for low-quality goods, ultimately leading to the destruction of indigenous ways of life.
- Quote paper
- Stefan Küpper (Author), 2007, Ideas of ‘Managing’ Natives in Stevenson’s "The Beach of Falesá" and Buchan’s "Prester John", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/145335
