Running head: WEEK 1 IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION 1
Week 1 Imperialism and Exploitation
Chamberlain College of Nursing
WEEK 1 IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION 2
Social Darwinism was a philosophy that is used to give
...
Running head: WEEK 1 IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION 1
Week 1 Imperialism and Exploitation
Chamberlain College of Nursing
WEEK 1 IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION 2
Social Darwinism was a philosophy that is used to give civilized people more power and
lower people less power. This philosophy was use in Kipling’s poem “white man’s burden” by
describing how he used his race and white men power to take control over nation.
It was very hard poem to analyze and understand, but as much I understand the poem, I
think that Kipling spoke about the power people will gain by serving their prisoners need.
Another motivation is given by the title itself. White men get more motivation to take control
over the nation. Another motivation which is given by him to the white men was telling them to
advise their servant on how to serve. The consequence for advising the servant is “To veil the
threat of terror” (Kipling,1909) which means that the white men was able to make it clear that
they have the force to make them servant and tell them to serve. He states hope cannot be seen,
so you should not hold on to anything which can be one consequence. Another consequence
which is stated in the poem is “The roads ye shall not tread, Go make them with your living, and
mark them with your dead” (Kipling,1909) which means there are promises that are given but
that would not be given at the end.
Ethnocentrism considers that it is white men responsibility to help the enlighten nation
and culture to become like them. I identified some responsibility that was given to white men of
disaster like famine, sickness and disease for the subjugated countries. In this poem, Kipling
talks about new-caught, half-devil, half-child and sullen people. And it refers to prisoners and
have racism views toward them. In the poem he talks about filling the whole mouth by famine
and sickness. Which refers to the responsibility of the white men of disasters like famine and
sickness. This led to them to think that there are superior and other people are under and below
them.
WEEK 1 IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION 3
In this poem, Kipling refers to the Britain ruled and prisoners’ group by stating “Your
new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half child.” (Kipling,1909) It is a very unprincipled
statement because these people were locked up and no empathy was shown toward them. They
are civilized people, but Kipling viewed them uncivilized due to their color, culture and race.
Kipling considered Filipinos as half-devil and half-child. Half-devil because there are uncivilized
and half-child because there are not able to civilized themselves by their own. Kipling believed
that Philippines was a civilized nation because America take over Philippines. When America
was not ready to take control over Philippines, that time Kipling was into imperialism. But when
America take over, Kipling was admiring America for taking over Philippines which was half-
devil and half-child according to him.
WEEK 1 IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION 4
References
Brower, D., & Sanders, T. (2014). The world in the twentieth century: From empires to nations
(7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Kipling, J.R. (1909). Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know. Retrieved from
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30568/30568-h/30568-h.htm#VII_2
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