The Representation of Imperialism in Rudyard Kipling’s 'Plain Tales From the Hills' E-Book

Nadja Grebe

• Herausgeber: GRIN Verlag
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald (Institut für Fremdsprachliche Philologien), course: Imagining the Nation: From the British Empire to Multicultural Britain, language: English, abstract: One of the most influential and well-known authors during the time of the British Empire and still today is without doubt Rudyard Kipling. Whether or not his political views can be agreed upon, he nevertheless represents a great part of English literature. He wrote numerous novels, short stories and poems and was even awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. (cf. Green 22) Along with this great success, however, came also a spate of criticism leading to an “ambivalent attitude towards the author and his work” (Gilbert: xvii). Herein lays the prominent reason for writing a paper on colonialism: in the controversial portray of Rudyard Kipling. Some authors like Henry James view him as “the most complete man of genius [to be] ever known” (159) whilst others see him as a “jingo imperialist […] morally insensitive and aesthetically disgusting” (Orwell 74). The majority of Kipling’s work has been written during the peak times of the British Empire and takes same one as thematic playground. Kipling is said to have created “not only the best but almost the only literary picture [of Anglo-India].” (Orwell 82) and thus resemble a suitable foundation for analysis. Hence, it shall be examined what picture of Imperialism with particular reference to Indian colony and its inhabitants as subjects to the Royal government as well as the role of the English in India, is created in Rudyard Kipling’s work. Is it really as Fabian Schefold proposes, that Kipling’s writing is furnished with racist and imperialist ideas, presenting Britain as racial superior to India? (cf. 59-60) Or is it as Edgar Mertner suggests, that Kipling was rather critic of the British rule in India considering it “a huge macabre joke” (145).

Leseprobe

Table of Content

1. Introduction.

2. Rudyard Kipling in Context

2.1. The British Empire: India.

2.2. Kipling and India

3.1. Lispeth

3.2. Beyond the Pale

3.3. To Be Held for Reference

4. Kipling Reconsidered

5. Conclusion

6. Bibliography.

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Universität Greifswald Institut für Fremdsprachliche Philologien Anglistik/Amerikanistik

Hauptseminar: Imagining the Nation: From the British Empire to Multicultural Britain

SS 2010

Topic of term paper:

The Representation of Imperialismin Rudyard Kipling’sPlain Tales From the Hills

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1. Introduction

Imperialism-a topic that has been approached from countless different directions; has been analysed in various respects and has not yet lost any of its prominence. Thus, I find it even more important, although rather difficult, to explain if not justify the approach taken by this essay. It mainly narrows down to two aspects.

First of all, the ramifications of the British Empire are stilla concern of today‘s worldand especially of the modern United Kingdom. Issues of racial discrimination, class divisions and the concept of a multicultural Britain1have been largely coined by the British Empire. Only recently has David Cameron criticised Britain's attempt at promoting multiculturalism as a complete failure and argued that―theUK needed a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to all kinds of extremism‖(Wright,Taylor). Thus, a closer analysis of the past, particularly regarding cross-class, -race and -gender interactions might help in understanding present multi-cultural issues in the United Kingdom. To this end, it seems just plausible to draw on sources in the analysis which grant an authentic and complex picture of the period in question. Medium of choice are in this concern literary documents; not only because they outnumber every other medium and are thus rather easy to access, but also because they provide the most diverse views and contemporary insights.2

One of the most influential and well-known authors during the time of the British Empire and still today is without doubt Rudyard Kipling. Whether or not his political views can be agreed upon, he nevertheless represents a great part of English literature. He wrote numerous novels, short stories and poems and was even awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. (cf. Green 22) Along with this great success, however,came also a spate of criticism leading to an ―ambivalent attitude towards the author andhis work‖(Gilbert: xvii). Herein lays the second and more prominent reason for writinga paper on colonialism: in the controversial portray of Rudyard Kipling. .Some authorslike Henry James view him as ―the most complete man of genius [to be] ever known‖(159) whilstothers see him as a ―jingo imperialist […] morally insensitive and

1In the following the termsBritain, Great Britain and the United Kingdomas well as the abbreviation

UKare used synonymously and refer all to the United Kingdom.

2At this point it shall be noted that the focus of this essay is on the English reception and presentation of

the British Empire. Thus, literary achievements by native inhabitants of the colonies do not serve as an

appropriate source for this research.Page | 2