There has been manifold discussion among Kipling critics, as far as his attitude towards imperialism is concerned. Not only that – the author’s political involvement has been conceived as a disturbing factor in enjoying his literature, even complicating the appreciation of his artistic talents. Why is this so? Why do some critics find it harder to forgive Kipling his political commitment than other writers? And why is it important to scrutinise this matter at all in the first place? It looks as if the motivation here – which is probably the case with any serious enquiry of significant literature – is rooted in the desire to understand the hidden force behind the deep impression Kipling’s work has obviously made on so many of his contemporaries and to come up with an answer as to whether this force is something to approve of or not. It is around this point the whole imperialism dispute seems to circle. Thus, an explanation for the controversy with which Kipling’s accomplishments as a writer are discussed might to a certain extent be found in his strongly debated political attitude and his perception of reality connected with it.
The following study presents a brief investigation into the question of Kipling’s stance on colonialist rule as it appears in his short story Beyond the Pale. It goes without saying that only a few aspects of relevance in the context of the issue at hand can be touched upon here for the limited available space does not allow a more thorough examination. Kipling has been criticized as a crusader of colonialism, but whether this short story allows such a reading remains highly questionable and will have to be examined more closely on the following pages. Did he actually consider the work of Britain in India a “huge, macabre joke” and only use the idea of imperialism as a kind of garment to cover his personal philosophy with or is it rather as SCHEFOLD proposes that Kipling’s writing is peppered with racist and imperialist allusions, implying the notion of British racial superiority over – amongst others – India?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Kipling and Imperialism
3. Beyond the Pale
3.1. Levels of Narration
3.2. Representation of Colonial Rule
3.2.1. The Imperial Character
3.2.2. Reflections of Empire
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper investigates the representation of colonial rule in Rudyard Kipling's short story Beyond the Pale, aiming to determine whether the text serves as a vehicle for imperialist ideology or offers a more nuanced, critical exploration of the colonial encounter and its inherent contradictions.
- Analysis of Kipling's political stance and historical critical reception.
- Examination of narrative techniques, specifically the reliability of the storyteller.
- Exploration of the cultural encounter between the British protagonist and the Indian female character.
- Investigation into the metaphorical significance of space and "the unknown" in colonial settings.
- Evaluation of whether the story advocates for imperial doctrines or reflects on the human cost of empire.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1. The Imperial Character
The behaviour of the male protagonist, Christopher Trejago, stirs up connotations of a dominating force exercising its superiority and knowledge to take control of an inferior counterpart, e.g. when he refers to Bisesa as a “child” that is “ignorant as a bird” and making “funny little gestures with her roseleaf hands”, with “little feet, light as marigold flowers, that could lie in the palm of a man’s one hand.”23 The passages these quotations are taken from create the impression that the encounter with Bisesa is something like a game to Trejago. He is introduced as a character who knows his way around the city and with women as well, using “the old Arabian Nights” for “practical purposes”,24 i.e. to get into contact with the native girl. This does obviously work out just fine, at least from Trejago’s point of view. He gets what he wants and seems to be enjoying himself: Bisesa is described as “an endless delight” to him.25 LOW speaks of Trejago usurping “the two most important positions in patriarchal exchange” – those of father and lover.26 It is very tempting to see the colonial intruder here, who grabs what he can get and doesn’t take a genuine interest in his vis-à-vis, but uses his knowledge and power to exploit the other, seeking only to quench his insatiable desire for material possession.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the ongoing critical debate surrounding Kipling's political attitudes and outlines the study's focus on his short story Beyond the Pale.
2. Kipling and Imperialism: This section examines the controversy of Kipling as a "crusader of colonialism" versus the possibility that he viewed British imperialism with critical irony.
3. Beyond the Pale: This chapter provides a plot summary and establishes the narrative framework of the story, focusing on the cross-cultural relationship between Christopher Trejago and Bisesa.
3.1. Levels of Narration: This section analyzes the complex narrative structure and the necessity of distinguishing between the narrator and the author’s own views.
3.2. Representation of Colonial Rule: This chapter scrutinizes the introductory moral statements and their role in framing the story's colonial context.
3.2.1. The Imperial Character: This section explores how the protagonist's behavior mirrors colonial power dynamics and the exploitation of the "other."
3.2.2. Reflections of Empire: This section discusses the symbolic meaning of the "dark" and the "light," interpreting the story as a reflection on the impenetrability of cultures.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, suggesting that the story reflects the author's struggle with colonial boundaries rather than simple imperialist endorsement.
5. Bibliography: This section lists the editions and secondary literature used for the analysis.
Keywords
Rudyard Kipling, Beyond the Pale, Colonialism, Imperialism, Anglo-Indian literature, Narrative technique, Christopher Trejago, Bisesa, British India, Cultural encounter, Imperial character, Literary criticism, Discourse, Post-colonialism, Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing Rudyard Kipling’s short story "Beyond the Pale" to understand how it represents colonial rule and whether the author's stance is essentially imperialist or critically nuanced.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the critique of imperialism, the complexity of cross-cultural relationships in colonial India, the narrative style of Kipling, and the power dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized.
What is the research objective?
The objective is to move beyond a simplistic reading of Kipling by examining whether the text supports colonial ideology or if it captures the ambiguity and personal struggle inherent in the colonial experience.
Which scientific method is applied?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, integrating secondary research from Kipling scholars to interpret narrative discourses, character behavior, and symbolic subtexts.
What content is covered in the main section?
The main section covers the levels of narration, the persona of the imperial protagonist (Christopher Trejago), and the deeper reflections on the instability of the British presence in India.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Significant keywords include Rudyard Kipling, Colonialism, Imperialism, Beyond the Pale, Narrative technique, and Cultural encounter.
How does the author interpret the protagonist's relationship with Bisesa?
The author highlights how Trejago's behavior reflects a colonial mindset of exploitation and patriarchal dominance, while also noting that the tragic outcome complicates a purely heroic or colonial reading.
What is the significance of the "introductory moral" in the story?
The paper questions whether the moral serves as an authorial creed or an ironic device used by Kipling to challenge the reader's assumptions about colonial morality.
- Quote paper
- Fritz Hubertus Vaziri (Author), 2007, The representation of colonial rule in kipling’s 'Beyond the Pale', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/113299
