Monday, December 9, 2013
Elements of "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling found in Shakespeare.
"The White Man's Burden" is a controversial and offensive poem written by Rudyard Kipling at the height of imperialism. The Tempest was written at the beginning of England's colonization of other lands. How are elements of Kipling's views present in The Tempest? By showing the treatment of characters like Caliban, is Shakespeare condoning or merely pointing out evidence of the white's superior attitude towards peoples from different lands? Read the poem closely to ensure that you understand Kipling's point of view before you start. Use specific examples from the play and poem to substantiate your argument.
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When discussing racism, in this case Caliban, historical context is essential for a proper argument. Caliban's first description belittles from the start; “A freckled whelp, hag-born not honoured of a human shape… Dull thing I say so; he that Caliban. Whom I now keep in service” (Act 1.2 lines 283-286). The reader eventually learn of Caliban's mother Sycorax, a witch. This is where historical context comes into play. When the Tempest was written, and for most if not all of Shakespeare's life, bloodline played a major role in ones "social ranking". Shakespeare makes a direct strike at Sycorax and Caliban's bloodline soon after his initial belittlement of Caliban; “Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself...” (Act 1.2 line 319). Sycorax is compared to one of the worst figures in human history, the Devil. Caliban's bloodline is clearly shown to be of considerably poor standing. The reason Caliban is portrayed as a slave and lesser than the "white men" could very well be a statement on racism; however, if this was the case, Caliban's mother would be left out of the play entirely as she holds no importance in the plot of the story. The reason Caliban's mother is mentioned is to prove Caliban was a slave due to bloodline and not race.
ReplyDeleteOkay, but there is still the aspect of Prospero's personality that shows that when he arrived on the island, he felt the need to "educate" Caliban in terms of language and religion, and then enslave him anyway. Stephano and Trinculo too have various comments about Caliban's inferior form and intellect.
DeleteRudyard Kipling's poem and Shakespeare's play both portray the theme of imperialism and how white people treated the natives they found. In The Tempest, Trinculo and Stephano both call Caliban a fish monster, which shows how they are rude and disrespectful to the native of the island. In White Man's Burden, Rudyard Kipling says, "Your new-caught, sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child." (Kipling 7-8). These lines also show how they treat the children like monsters because they are different from white people and because of this they aren't normal humans. In the beginning of every stanza in White Man’s Burden, it says, “Take on the white man’s burden”, which means take on the white man’s laborious work. This is portrayed in The Tempest also because Prospero makes Caliban go get wood and other supplies in order for Prospero and Miranda to survive, not for Caliban’s sake. These two pieces both portray imperialism and how the white man treated the conquered natives.
ReplyDeleteExplain what taking "on the white man's burden" entails? You're translating literally. What does it really mean? It's not about taking on the white man's "laborious work" entirely. It's much greater than that, as the poem details. Keep thinking.
DeleteAlthough I agree that Prospero's treatment of Caliban was partially due to bloodline, I do not think that all of the "white men" were judging him based on this. Other characters in the play, particularly Stephano and Trinculo, clearly felt superior to Caliban without any knowledge of his background.They based their thoughts only on what they could see, which was his race. Therefore, much racial discrimination can still be seen throughout the play.
ReplyDeleteIn the "White Man's Burden," two main themes are racial discrimination and superiority. These themes can also be seen in "The Tempest," especially when Shakespeare's characters talk to Caliban or describe him. In the "White Man's Burden," Kipling says, "Your new-caught, sullen peoples,/ Half-devil and half-child" (7-8). This represents many of the Europeans thoughts about the native people they conquered, which was that they were evil and ignorant. This is very similar to how Stephano and Trinculo speak to Caliban. For example, Stephano says to Caliban, "Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee" (Act 3.2, line 7). Calling Caliban a monster makes him seem non-human, just like when Kipling says the conquered people are half-devil. By forcing him to drink when he tells him to, Stephano is expressing his control over Caliban's thoughts. As seen in these two pieces, Europeans often believed that it was their right to control the natives, because they thought the natives were too underdeveloped to make decisions on their own. In conclusion, thoughts of racial superiority were very common among European people during this time period.
Also discuss Prospero's treatment of Caliban. Does Prospero believe it is his duty? Look closely!
DeleteShakespeare's play "The Tempest" and Rudyard Kipling's poem 'White Man's Burden" both portray the theme of imperialism and how terribly the white man treated the natives they saw when exploring new territories. In The Tempest, Trinculo and Stephano see Caliban and call him a "strange fish" and a monster (25-30). This compares to when white men were exploring new continents and environments and how they treated the natives that they saw. They treat them like they are not even human and they degrade and discriminate against them just because they look different. In White Man's Burden, Rudyard Kipling says, "Your new-caught, sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child." (7-8). These lines also show how white men treated the natives like monsters that aren't even human because they are different from white people. Another realization of this is in the beginning of each stanza in White Man’s Burden, that says, “Take on the white man’s burden”, which means to take on the white man’s tedious work. The natives are forced to do the white man's bidding because they are struck with awe and see them as God's for they haven't seen people as different as the white men before. This is shown in "The Tempest" when Prospero makes Caliban go get firewood for himself and Miranda, not for Caliban’s sake. Caliban performs services for his "master" without any regard for himself and personal gain. These two pieces both portray imperialism and how the white man degraded and enslaved conquered natives.
ReplyDeleteIt's about more than the literal translation of "tedious work." It's about the white man believing that his ways are the right ways. Look more at the interactions between Prospero and Caliban. Stephano and Trinculo are not such serious characters, whereas Prospero is the true imperialist.
DeleteKipling’s views on imperialism, as presented in “White Man’s Burden”, are closely related to the ones found throughout /The Tempest/. Both works dehumanize slaves as incompetent, wild, evil, and constantly angry. Kipling states this in lines 4-8, “to serve your captives’ need; to wait in heavy harness. On fluttered folk and wild-your new-caught, sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child”. Right from Caliban’s first appearance, this is the audience’s impression of whom Caliban embodies. “As wicked dew as e’er my mother brush’d with raven’s feather from unwholesome fen drop on you both! A south-west blow on ye, and blister you all o’er!” (Act 1 Scene 2, 322-324). The idea that white men have the responsibility to correct these destined-to-be captives is also shown. Prospero and Miranda display this perspective when teaching Caliban astronomy, how to read, and providing him liquor when they first meet. Kipling wrote about condescending upon natives with “open speech and simple” in order to gain a profit later on (13). An example of this is the profit gained by Prospero and Miranda from being friendly toward Caliban. In return, Caliban showed them all the springs and fertile lands of the island.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Sycorax held no importance toward the plot. She was the reason that Ariel was so obedient to do everything Prospero told her to do. Without her, the tempest wouldn’t have happened and, therefore, /The Tempest/ wouldn’t have either. Sycorax also held importance in other ways, separate from the plot. She provided a parallel to Prospero and his acts of controlling others. This made it easy to compare and contrast, since there are many similarities between their characteristics (controlling, power-hungry) and magical capabilities.
You have some great fodder for an essay in your first section.
DeleteSycorax is a direct parallel to Prospero, without a doubt. Is it significant that Prospero is the survivor? Does that further the cause of your essay?
Racism and leadership/power are both important themes in "The White Man's Burden" and "The Tempest". Racism is shown in "The White Man's Burden" when Kipling says, "The ports ye shall not enter,/ The roads ye shall not tread..." (29-30). He's stating the restrictions on the people being discriminated against by the whites. This is similar to the way Caliban is treated by Prospero. Caliban used to be in charge of the whole island before Prospero got there and took it all over. Prospero almost did exactly what the white men did in Kipling's poem. He thought he could intrude an island with a native(s) on it and take control of it. Both pieces show thirst for power and racism.
ReplyDeleteNilofar,
DeleteI'm not sure that's the best quote to use from Kipling. Take a deeper look and see if there is more to use that would be better.
In both "The Tempest" and "The White Man's Burden" imperialism and superiority are evident when Europeans came across new land. In "The Tempest" Caliban is discriminated by Prospero as well as Trinculo and Stephano. When Prospero first discovered the island, Caliban's mother Sycorax ruled, but after she passed Caliban was the only one of his kind left. Prospero is cruel now, calling him a "poisonous slave, got by the devil" (Act 1 Scene 2 Line 318). Even Miranda refers to Caliban as an "Abhorred slave" (Act 1 Scene 2 Line 352). While Caliban was happy to get away from Prospero, he was still being mistreated by Trinculo and Stephano and also taken advantage of. Until Caliban planned to overtake Prospero that was when Stephano told Trinculo to "keep a good tongue in your head." (Act 3 Scene 2 Line 34) in order to stay on Caliban's good side. In "The White Man's Burden" Kipling talks about these native people as "Half-devil" (Line 8). Kipling also says "Go bind your sons to exile to serve your captive's needs" (Line 3-4). Prospero, Stephano, and Trinculo all mistreated Caliban which was similar to Kipling talking about how Europeans treated natives. This showed how Europeans felt above many Natives during this part of history.
ReplyDeleteGraham,
DeleteYou are clearly thinking on the right track. But what does that line, "Go bind your sons to exile to serve your captive's needs" really mean? Make sure you can explain it thoroughly.
The idea of power is very common in "The Tempest" and in "The White Man's Burden". In "The Tempest", power is clearly established by Prospero because of his abilities to use his magic to change everyone else's life. A moment in the story in which Prospero controlled the circumstances for other people was in the very beginning of the story where he places the people on whichever part of the island he wants. In the animated movie, Prospero is represented by a white male. This idea that white people are superior to all others is shown in "The White Man's Burden" when Rudyard Kipling says "And when your goal is nearest / The end for others sought, / Watch sloth and heathen Folly / Bring all your hopes to nought." Kipling says that although you have done all this for the white men, and gone through so much, in the end your goal will never be reached. White people clearly have the upper hand in this situation, as well as in "The Tempest".
ReplyDeleteNick,
DeleteThat's an interesting line that you chose to use. Find the line in Shakespeare where Prospero, in disgust, feels what Kipling is expressing and you might have something.
"The Tempest" and "The White Man's Burden" are similar because both pieces revolve around a similar theme of power and imperialism. The idea of power is initially settled in "The Tempest" when Prospero is introduced along with his magical abilities that allow him to control nature and its effect on others. However, the "power" Prospero possesses cannot be related to the power showcased in "The White Man's Burden." Instead, the idea of white supremacy that is displayed when Trinculo and Stephano disrespect Caliban's appearance for being a non-white native of the land can be directly related to "The White Man's Burden." In his poem, Rudyard Kipling says "Your new-caught, sullen peoples, / Half-devil and half-child." (7-8) This is significant because it refers to even non-white children as less than human. This can be directly connected to "The Tempest" because of how Stephano consistently referred to Caliban as a "monster", defining him as sub-human, as done by Kipling in "The White Man's Burden"
ReplyDeleteYes, and by the end of the play, Caliban has been "caught" twice. You may be onto something here. Keep thinking.
DeleteIn The Tempest, Kipling's views are present through the use of Shakespeare pointing out the natural subservientness of Caliban and through their cruel treatment of him. In Rudyard Kipling’s poem “White Man’s Burden”, the natives were considered “Half-devil and half child”. This is similar to how Caliban is seen as “being but half a fish and half a monster” (Act 3 Scene 2, 28) by Trinculo, and ultimately as not even a being a human. Kipling’s poem also had views of superiority and Shakespeare shows this through the naturality of Caliban’s willingness to serve Stephano such as when he said “let me lick thy shoe” (Act 3 Scene 2, 23) and called him “lord” (Act 3 Scene 2, 30), showing that Caliban is considered beneath them just like the views present in Kipling’s poem. Caliban is considered as a servant and has had to serve Stephano and Prospero. With imperialism, the Europeans thought that they were superior to the natives because of the differences between each other physically. Shakespeare shows that what Caliban was doing and how he was to serve was considered normal and acceptable back then by the people.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that in Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Take up the white man’s burden” means the natives were required to do the White’s man laborious tasks. It speaks of “To serve your captives’ need”. Rudyard Kipling was writing about the burden Europeans had to “civilize” the natives. The natives were the captives, so Rudyard Kipling could not have been referring to the to them taking up the White Man’s burden because if they were the captives then Rudyard Kipling was referring to them having to serve themselves.
Yes, Earnest! You are right! So look to the part where Prospero attempts to civilize Caliban in the beginning. Perhaps skip the part about the jokers, since they are simply in the story for comedic relief. Focus on the part about Prospero's attempt to civilize Caliban and how he changes when his attempts do not work.
DeleteRudyard Kipling's poem and "The Tempest" exhibits the early European attitude of superiority towards the natives of other countries. Kipling states that the burden that white men carry is the burden of teaching foreign populations the right way of living. The colonizers see these alien societies as savages or weird. They believe that colonizing them would make the natives' lives more suitable or better. Kipling says, "send forth the best ye breed...to serve your captives' need" (2-3). Kilping's explanation is that only the strongest can colonize or teach foreign Individuals, and these people are the "white men." When Caliban tries to rebel against Prospero's command, Prospero says, "a born devil...on whom my pains...quite lost" (Act 4 189-190). Prospero strives to help Caliban become a better being; however, he declares that Caliban is dreadful after his slave becomes traitorous. People who are oppressed by individuals with sovereignty will have the tendency to revolt. The poem and the play exhibit a grim view on the natives from European cultures. Early colonizers regard themselves as beings with supercilious intellectual and the only ones who can ordain distant societies. Shakespeare's "The Tempest" evidently indicates the horrible attitudes of early colonizers to inform its readers; but, it is not clear that he agrees or disagrees with this treatment. He points out the terrible things colonizers can do, but he also points out that this is for their own good. All in all, Shakespeare's play and Kipling's poem unveil the early colonizers' views on imperialism and foreign countries.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so you're onto something. Pull it together and organize these ideas into an essay!
DeleteIn “The Tempest”, when characters Trinculo and Stephano first meet Caliban, they mock him for his unusual appearance. By mocking them, this directly relates to Kipling’s poem when he says, “Your new-caught, sullen peoples,/Half devil and half child/Take up the White Man’s burden/In patience to abide/To veil the threat of terror/And check the show of pride;” (7-12). Kipling is saying that imperialists mock these people because they are different, new, and for a sense of superiority. Trinculo simply mocks him because he finds him strange, while Stephano does for a false sense of power. It is not completely clear whether or not Shakspeare and Kipling are condoning it, but it seems as if they are just pointing out what was happening at this time. Imperialists felt superior to the people of the New World, and Shakespeare and Kipling were trying to inform people of that issue.
ReplyDeleteLook more to Prospero's role. The jokers are not to be taken seriously, although they do treat Caliban with their superior attitude.
DeleteKipling’s views were presented in The Tempest by the manner in which Caliban is treated by the rest of the characters. Caliban is distinctly always the odd one out, and seems to be characterized as stupid, naive, and odd. He is Prospero’s slave, and the idea of slavery is something I believe Shakespeare is trying to tell his audience is normal. Shakespeare uses Caliban’s characteristics to tell people that they are superior to other races. He portrays this by setting up the situation in which Trinculo calls Caliban a fish and express how much money he would get if he were to take Caliban back to home. Shakespeare then writes about the situation in which Stephano gives Caliban liquor and he begins to say, “That’s a brave god, and bears celestial liquor.I will kneel to him,”(Act 2 Scene 2 17-18). Shakespeare degrades Caliban’s character even more when Caliban believes that Stephano is a God. He wants people to believe that anyone who isn’t from England is dumb and gullible. When reading Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden, right off the bat the poet degrades anyone that is not “white” by saying, “On fluttered folk and wild--/Your new-caught, sullen peoples,/Half-devil and half child,”(Kipling, 6-8). Both writers believe that their race is superior to the rest.
ReplyDeleteWhen Shakespeare has Stephano and Trinculo treat Caliban as they do, they actually look like fools. And yet, their behavior mirrors Prospero's. You have a start here. Keep going.
Delete"The Tempest", by William Shakespeare, and "The White Man's burden", by Rudyard Kipling, both express Europe's feeling of superiority over other peoples at this time. "The Tempest" reveals this idea in a more metaphorical way by using Caliban, where as "The white Man's Burden" is much more straightforward. Kipling refers to the people of the Philippines as being "Half-devil and half-child" (Kipling 7-8). This is very similar to how Caliban is portrayed in this play, showing how early Europeans reacted to anyone who looked differently than they did. As a matter of fact, Prospero even says to Caliban “Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself...” (Act 1.2 line 319). Both of these early European writers refer to these foreigners as the devil. This "Burden" Kipling is referring to is the burden of having to teach these aliens to be civilized and to help them out. This is symmetrical to how Stephano and Trinculo are attempting to help out Caliban, by giving him liquor and telling him to leave Prospero. Both of these early European works have very similar messages.
ReplyDelete-Mitchell Byron