Imperialism as a historical fact has left quite contradictory traces in the memories of thousands of people. For many of them Empire was the key to glory and wealth that brought Britain many significant benefits and positively changed the economic landscape of the Indian subcontinent as well. It “had developed the largest railway system in Asia …, restored old irrigation systems and developed new ones. There were hydroelectric dams, harbourworks and bridges. There was also a considerable development of system of higher education …. [F]amines were diminished and agriculture tended to be commercialised.” Imperialism had also its passionate critics for whom Empire was the scandal that “produced ethnic violence, religious exclusion, political weakness, civilizational embarrassment, and national extremism.” For Rudyard Kipling Empire was a philosophy that assumed the superiority of British civilization and therefore its moral responsibility to bring law and enlightenment to “sullen peoples” of the world. Kipling is generally recognized as the apostle of Empire, “a spokesman for his age, with its sense of imperial destiny, [the] age is one about which many Britons ... now feel an exaggerated sense of guilt.” The Imperial Idea is seen by many literary critics as the inspiration for the most of his writings. His novel Kim, which appeared at a time historically recognized as “the turning point in Britain’s imperial connections, the start of England’s self-perception as ‘the weary Titan’” , is an excellent example of a pro-imperialist work which celebrates the authority and benevolence of British rule in India.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Western attitude toward colonial India
- West versus East
- Discourse of Orientalism
- Ideas of British predominance
- The dream of united colonialism and imperialism
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper aims to analyze Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim, exploring its pro-imperialist message and how it reflects British attitudes towards colonial India. It examines the novel's portrayal of racial hierarchy, Orientalist discourse, and the idealized vision of British colonialism.
- The portrayal of racial hierarchy and the superiority of British civilization.
- The use of Orientalist discourse to represent and categorize Indian characters.
- The depiction of British rule as beneficial and essential for India's development.
- The novel's celebration of British imperial power and its impact on Indian culture and society.
- The exploration of the relationship between the West and the East through symbolic representations.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the context for the analysis by discussing the historical background of British imperialism in India and introducing Rudyard Kipling as a prominent advocate of Empire. It argues that Kim, set during a crucial turning point in Britain's imperial history, exemplifies Kipling's pro-imperialist perspective.
The second chapter delves into Kipling's portrayal of the Western attitude toward colonial India. It examines how the novel presents a clear division between the white and non-white populations, highlighting the belief in British superiority. Key examples from the novel, such as Kim's dominance over his Indian friends and the symbolic representation of the museum curator as the epitome of Western knowledge, are analyzed to illustrate this division.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the research paper include: British imperialism, Rudyard Kipling, Kim, colonial India, Orientalism, racial hierarchy, pro-imperialist message, symbolic representations, British superiority, and the dream of united colonialism.
- Quote paper
- Katja Klass (Author), 2010, The Imperial Message in Rudyard Kipling’s Novel "Kim", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/168290
