The White Man's Burden by Rudyard Kipling
ASSALAMUALAIKUM ❤
THE WHITE MAN’S BURDEN BY RUDYARD KIPLING
The White Man’s
Burden by Rudyard Kipling is a poem that conveyed the sense of colonialism
and imperialism. This is because, this poem emphasizes on how colonization could
actually bring greater good for civilization. A sneak peek into this poem, it
was written during 19th century and involved two countries which
were United States and Philippines. Among the literary criticism that we can
find in this poem is colonialism. A white man’s burden significantly regarded
to the whites who actually help people to reach civilization through
colonization. Besides, it is also a tribute for the American colonization
of the Philippines who recently won from Spain in the Spanish-American war. Importantly,
this is a poem that Kipling wrote for Theodore Roosevelt in order to help him
persuade many doubting Americans to seize the Philippines. Also known as “An
Address to The United States”, this poem can be viewed as a way for Kipling to
share the virtues of British colonialism with Americans.
Racism is also another literary criticism that we can see
in this poem. This is because, The White
Man’s Burden also bring about messages of racism. This is because the poem
suggest that U.S armies should take up the ‘burden’ as had by the British and
other Europeans countries. Based on our reading, we felt that the White is in
control in ruling other people that they viewed lesser than them. They thought
that it is their responsibility to bring civilization to other races but in the
end we strongly believe that one race or one particular culture has their own
way of doing things and it is just not right to label them or other races as
uncivilized. Furthermore, they also thought that they are the greatest above
all and other races should be like them which is hundred percent not true. They
viewed themselves as superior to others and hold the responsibility to make
them follow their lead.
Looking at Kipling’s idea from an Islamic perspective can
help us to realize that this poem promotes negative messages that we should not
follow. In Islam, Allah has forbids all of us to not being racist. In surah
al-Hujurat verse 13, Allah has said
“O
you men! Surely, We have created you of a male and female, and made you tribes
and families that you may identify each other; surely, the most honourable of
you with God is the most righteous of you”.(49:13)
Thus,
we need to always remember that no race or tribe is superior to another as
Allah has made us equal. The only thing that differentiate all of us is ‘taqwa’.
Being either Black or White and even 'Coloured' is a blessing to all of us.
Comments
Post a Comment