The Hegemony Of Imperial Rule English Literature Essay

The Hegemony Of Imperial Rule English Literature EssayIt shall be prudent to begin by giving a sketch definition of what is meant by colonial discourse to begin with looking at the texts. compound Discourse the track in which the hegemony of imperial rule is conveyed within the text as a set of values, representations and be falsehoodfs that reinforce the ideology.It is a term brought into currency by Edward Said who saw Foucaults notion of a disclosure as worth(predicate) for describing that system within which that range of practices termed colonial come into being.1George Orwells Burmese Days has an array of imperialistic views which are held in opposing views with the main character, Flory, branding it the lie that were here to uplift our poor black brothers rather than rob them.Flory describes imperialism as the lie that were here to uplift our poor black brothers rather than to rob them2Colonial discourse is key within the novel which as a result raises the question of ide ntity and binary oppositions. None more(prenominal) so than in the crusade of Flory, in one breathe an honourable english gentleman enjoying the riches his new cultures has to offer and in the next berating the dirty nigger and dishwashing in the relief of being reveal of the stink for a time.3Flory is a contradiction who is torn between his British roots and his get laid of the Burmese culture, this love is surfacen via his friendship with Dr Veraswami. Flory is the personification of Gramscis idea of Imperial ideology as he believes that the discourse providing the hegemony is right yet he faces an ideological struggle within himself payable to his love of his new culture.It can be argued that due to his steadfast dedication to the British Empire, for whom he works, he is a loyal imperialist and is comfortable use and exploiting the Burmese for his own gain aswell as trying to impose his superior worth and colonise the Burmese. With his desire to do this along with integra ting himself into the Burmese way of life he succeeds merely in creating a juxtaposition coupled with binary opposition that ultimately leads to his demise.Heart of darknessHeart of tincture is subtract of a colonial discourse in which the African is represented by the European as savage, exotic, cannibal, primitivethey did not eat each other before my face page 93critics such as Chin Achebe in his essay An Image of Africa looked upon Conrads Heart of Darkness as a racist novel. He believed Conrad was using Africa as a prop in order to create a foil for Europe (always viewed by dint of Europeans eyes). Achebe believed that Conrad was making generalizations about Africa, therefore in like manner assuming that Conrad was the character of Marlow in the novel (through Marlows narration). In the novel, Achebe believed Europe came across as well developed, industrialized, and articulate while Africa was uncivilized, underdeveloped, unintelligible and animalisticThe term colonial disco urse was coined by Edward Syiad, it is the habit of representation as colonial posers represent cultures they encounter through imperialism.The men who work for the Company describe what they do as trade, and their treatment of native Africans is part of a benevolent project of civilization.Kurtz, on the other hand, is open about the fact that he does not trade unless rather takes ivory by force, and he describes his own treatment of the natives with the words suppression and exterminationhe does not hide the fact that he rules through violence and intimidation.Kurtz on the other hand shows no remorse whatsoever. He holds the absolute essential view to exterminate all the blacks. He holds the ideology of making the black race extinct. Hes a ruthless ivory trader, and arranges for the dead heads to displayed on poles. The white race use crude violence, and brute force. Very occasionally the natives show resistance, but their left largely helpless against the overpowering military co ntrol of the Europeans. They have no authority or voice. The colonists have become corrupted. They are blind by the notion that this is their sacred duty to uphold the superiority of the colonial empire and white heritage.Through Marlow disapproval, he shows and exposes the Europeans, is equally deameaning, offensive, and undermines their superiority. flabby white devils.. Critiques scrofulous European behaviour. Transcends such prejudice, shows him to rise above racism. Ridicules benevolent project of civilisation. Uses an ambivalent tone to show the violent colonial enterprise. Kurtz the ultimate satanic, racist. Has the heart of darkness.However if he is showing Africa to be the reason for the deterioration of the European mans morale, it merely becomes a backdrop which eliminates the African as human factor. They have become marginalised. This marginalisation shows moreover through Kurtz mistress. He is racist towards her, but not so to his white woman.It can be argued that He art of Darkness participates in an oppression of nonwhites that is much more sinister and much harder to remedy than the open abuses of Kurtz or the Companys men. Africans become for Marlow a mere backdrop, a human screen against which he can play out his philosophical and existential struggles. Their existence and their exoticism enable his self-contemplation.This kind of dehumanization is harder to identify than colonial violence or open racism. While Heart of Darkness offers a powerful condemnation of the hypocritical operations of imperialism, it also presents a set of issues surrounding race that is ultimately troubling.The noble and idealistic Kurtz situated in darkest Africa submits to alcohol, isolation and megalomania and ends up radiating darkness.4It seems improbable that a rule which now rests on avowedly upon force can endure.5E.M. ForsterCritics have debated whether Conrads novel perpetuated colonialist views of the alleged lower status of other peoples, or it questio ned the entire colonial project, dissenting from colonial discourses.6In 1975 Chinua Achebe controversially denounced Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness on the grounds that it proved how Conrad was a throughgoing racist.7 equip de sicle as Marlow links britains contemporary imperialist drives to the uncivialised.8