Colonialism and Darkness Essay

Colonialism and Darkness Essay Colonialism and Darkness Essay CONRAD Heart of Darkness; KIPLING Beyond the Pale (Plain Tales from the Hills) Writing in the latter part of the nineteenth century, Heart of Darkness and Beyond the Pale (Plain Tales from the Hills) were published in Blackwood’s Magazine for an implicitly colonial and masculine readership.1 Both writers draw upon autobiographical experience, with Conrad employing his 1889 experience as a sailor in the Belgian Congo, and Kipling his six year childhood and adult return to British India. The two writers demonstrate distinct philosophies and styles, and the extent to which this is manifest shall be the centre of this essay’s debate. While RASKIN contends a fundamental dissimilarity between the two2, contemporary critics such as SYMONS frequently reviewed the writers together, famously Captain Courageous and Nigger of the Narcissus.3 This essay examines the two works within three frames of reference: a) the purpose of the work; b) narrative technique; and c) imagery and symbolism. It will demonstrate that Conrad and Kipling promote fundamentally distinct views towards the Scramble for Africa- the Pole criticises the colonial project itself, while the British Imperialist criticises its implementation. Nonetheless, upon close examination the writers cannot be labelled as wholly dissimilar to the extent argued by RASKIN, as both warn against the integration of White Man into the Native community and question the authenticity of fiction itself. While Heart of Darkness refers prima facie to the impenetrable jungle at the heart of the ‘dark continent’4, it alludes also to the darkest side of human nature, seen in the brutal colonists and ivory traders. YALE SCHOLARSHIP proposes it matters little whether the novella is ‘set in Africa, Chipping Ongar or Baden Baden’.5 The fact that Africa and Congo are never named, instead referred to as ‘some ghastly nowhere’, supports the notion of the novella’s transferability, and Conrad himself remarked, ‘people read me [not for subject matter], but the effect my work produces’.6 ATTELL disagrees. To strip the novella of all its context demonstrates great ignorance.7 Heart of Darkness at its core offers a scathing critique of the ‘horrors’ of nineteenth century colonialism (examined further below), and Conrad’s sailor experiences in the Colonies suggest the subject choice quite deliberate. The balanced and convincing view is that the novella is both philosophical and historical, whereby the problems of colonial domination are used to expose deeper philosophical implications. Similarly, the title Beyond the Pale purports a deeper meaning and refers to the uncivilised Irish population of the fourteenth century, who lay beyond the boundaries of English control in Greater Dublin, ‘The Pale’. Kipling hereby grounds the story upon critical undertones of colonialism and notions of separatism between the Colonist and Native. Beyond the Pale distinguishes itself from Heart of Darkness as it is a moral fable in nature rather than mere philosophical exploration. The opening two paragraphs warn to observe correct behavioural codes, whereby ‘White go to White and Black to Black’. However, this moral message of separatism is riddled with ambivalence, arguably stemming from Kipling’s deep-rooted affinity with India, having lived there as a child until the age of six.8 The division between the White and Native is qualified by the Hindu proverb, which acknowledges the potency of love, and the delivery of the crucial moral punishment seems hesitant, with Trejago receiving a cautiously described ‘slight stiffness’. Thus, Beyond the Pale and Heart of Darkness are distinct in their philosophical aims, but not to the extent critics presume. In Heart of Darkness, the narrative frame imbues the novella with a universal, parable-like quality. Pervasive in medieval tale-telling of CHAUCER and BOCCACCIO, Conrad transforms the technique to enable the narrators to be distant observers of events. The

Free Essays on Onegin

of good ... Free Essays on Onegin Free Essays on Onegin In the original â€Å"Eugene Onegin† was written in Russian by A.S. Pushkin. Pushkin was a famous Russian writer known for such novels as â€Å"Queen Of Spades†, â€Å"Belkin Tales†, â€Å"Eugene Onegin†, such poems as â€Å"Ruslan and Ludmila†, â€Å"Tzar Sultan†, and many others which greatly influenced the 19th century literature of the Russian culture. There were four translations during 125 years since Pushkin’s death. From the early age Pushkin lived in the highest Russian social and intellectual circles. He was educated in Tzarskoe selo where he was prepared to take on high responsibilities. Pushkin’s aristocratic background was reflected on Eugene Onegin. Just Onegin Pushkin was engaged in dancing, gambling and dueling. However, in the end of the first chapter, Pushkin pointed out that even though he applied some characteristics of his own to the Eugene’s character, Onegin was not drawn from Pushkinâ€⠄¢s self. They are two different individuals that should not be compared. In the first chapter, Onegin was taking care of his sick uncle, who was at the death’s door. He set next to his bed every day and night, brought him medicine, spoke to him and just made him feel better. Onegin soon left his home and went to Saint Peterburg. In the city Onegin began to party, went to theaters, balls and lived his life in his pleasure. Throughout the whole chapter, everybody around thought very well of Onegin and respected him. He seemed intelligent, smart and delicate. Many women were interested in Eugene, many admired him. He liked to capture women’s attention and liked to be noticed. He delicately flirted with women making them smile. However, for Eugene, women’s attention and admiration was only a game, and all of them were short, by passing romances. In the end of the first chapter, Onegin get’s an epistle from his home which says that his uncle is dying and wants to say his last words of good ...

Labor power Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Labor power - Assignment Example The intrinsic value of a commodity, which is labor related, determines its exchange value, a concept he calls â€Å"the law of value.† are robbed of their rightful sweat. This is indeed the reason why Marx called for the elimination of profits and for workers to conquer of capitalists. the value of labor-power manifests as subsistence means. According to Marx, profit originates from exploitation of workers by capitalists. He explained that profits result when capitalists pay workers less than the actual value they add to the commodities they produce. Marx explains the main distinction between societies by arguing that the difference in the â€Å"mode in which the surplus-labor is in each case extracted from the actual producer, the laborer† (Marx and Engels 241). Despite the fact that capitalist workers, they (workers) cannot stop to work because they have no choice. Workers own labor but lack the means like tools, and raw materials to execute labor. For them to acquire these resources, they have no alternative but to sell their labor-power to the exploitative capitalists. In Marx’s model, profits keep falling because of increased efficiency in production, which translates to less labor utilization and spending more on labor-saving, efficient machinery. As such, the capitalists own attempt to increase prof it result into falling rate of