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• Jamil Hossain Sujon

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Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad and Colonialism Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and Rudyard Kipling's Kim are in essence descriptions of what happens when Europeans attempt to force their cultural values on other countries. Both have something important and valid to say. They place their characters as the speakers, but the authors' voiced are also heard in these pieces. Rudyard Kipling's book is much milder and less cautionary than Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Kipling's Kim is a character that takes on many characteristics of both sides, the British and the Indian. The reader sees the result of what happens when cultures can blend. Therefore, the reader understands the downside of colonialism but also the fact that Kipling views this colonialism as "right." On the other hand, Kurtz in Heart of Darkness absolutely shows the reader the horrors and evils that colonialism inflicts on the colonized. However, both of these authors have something important to say about colonialism. Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim presents two sides of colonialism in the British rule of India, but the British side is presumed right as much as Kipling did not want to be labeled racist. In this novel, the white man has the burden of ruling the dark and therefore inferior races. Kipling wrote this novel at a time when British rule was, in fact, being questioned. As Mistry says in a critique, "These characters enable Kipling to explore the way colonialism defined its own social boundaries and Kipling uses this to show how native mentality and British supremacy often came into confrontation. (Mistry). These two forces are in conflict as Kipling writes the book. Kim is a little of both, British and Indian. Kim is a white boy who has grown up with Indian ways. At the beginning of the book he sees himself as almost exclusively Indian and yet the reader sees him sitting on a cannon in a game of "king of the castle" In this game he stops other boys (Muslim and Hindu) from ousting him from his position of superiority. He has already taken on the superior attitude of the British in many ways. He also sees himself as the rightful owner of the lama. "The lama was his trove, and he proposed to take possession" (Kipling 60). The idea of one country taking possession over another is shown in this simple children's game. Another possible danger of colonialism is lack of identity. Kim questions his own identity in "Oh, Mahbub Ali, but am I a Hindu? (Kipling 67) or from Chapter 15 "I am Kim. I am Kim. And what is Kim? His soul repeated it again and again" (331). He feels that he should identify with one group or the other. Is he British or is he Indian? Kim is Kipling's attempt at trying to warn the world of the power of the Indian people, and the fact that they do want to reclaim their country. Kim embodies the belief that it was "right" fro the British to rule in India. This is not questioned in Kipling's mind. As seen in Chapter three when the soldier makes a coment on the Great Mutiny of 1857, his claim is dismissed as "madness." "A madness ate into all the army, and they turned against their officers (Kipling 100) This is Kipling's own feeling interjected here as is "the Curator smiled at the mixture of

old-world piety and modern progress that is the note of India today (59). This is not to say that Kipling does not have great love for India based on personal experience, it is just that like many of his contemporaries, he never questioned the rightness of the British rule of India. Kipling does present the British for criticism as well. For example in Chapter 5 when Kim finds "Nine hundred first-class devil, whose God was a Red Bull on a green field," Kim is captured by the soldiers. Kipling uses this scene to show the Indian viewpoint as opposed to the British. Kipling ridicules Christian ministers as "ministers of the creed that lumps ninetenths of the world under the title of heathen (Kipling 136). Reverend Bennett shows the worst kind of leader of the white man's burden when he says "You will be what you're told to be," said Bennett; "and you should be grateful that we're going to help you" (Kipling 141). He does show ignorance and racism in these colonizers. "The distinction Kipling is actually making is between those Europeans, such as Creighton, and Kim himself, who have been in India a long time and know the country well, and those 'uncurried donkeys' (Ch.5 p.136) who have recently arrived, knowing nothing about the country, bringing with them all that was worst in the British mentality. (Said) There are also parts of the novel that seem to be a mix of both the British and the Indian. In the chapter called The Two-Sided Man, Kim is able to use his skills from both worlds. When Lurgan attempts to "brainwash" him, he is able to resist this by repeating mathematical tables he learned. So while Kim is attracted to the unregimented Indian ways, he is able to use the regimentation of the British to outsmart Lurgan. This might be described as the hybrid that British India would become. So Kim changes in that he uses both sides of himself to create a better mix just as colonialism itself would have to adapt. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a much harsher condemnation of the terror and oppression that result from domination, particularly European domination of Africa. Conrad, like Kipling had personal knowledge of his subject matter. He had been to the Congo in the 1890s and presents the view through Marlow, who must see this horrible truth that he is forced to witness in the Congo. "Shocked by his experiences in the 1890s, Conrad views colonialism as a moral vice and a cultural bully of the Europeans, clearly elucidating the vices of western culture in Africa" (Teisch). Conrad tells the reader over and over again that imposing the structure of western culture on Africa is useless much as the railway truck that is sitting on its back and is described as an animal carcass. Kurtz becomes totally corrupted by the power that he has, as is representative of the people who colonize. "Kurtz serves as the embodiment of man's potential for evil, a symbol of the

European colonist in Conrad's eyes" (Teisch). The reader is left with the futility of forcing our beliefs on other cultures. Marlow shows us that anyone can be drawn into the web of colonialism. Kurtz has been completely drawn into the lust for power and greed and has turned into a monster. Marlowe can at least understand Kurtz a little, which is what makes his character so disturbing. This quote shows show easy it might be to be drawn into this web. "...In some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him--all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men. There's no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is detestable. And it has a fascination, too, which goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination--you know. Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate." Part 1, pg. 4 in the end, the greed for profit takes over. The need for ivory became more important to Kurtz than the mission to civilize the natives--he began using violence and power to get more ivory and hence more money. And in fact, he civilizes them not at all. The view of colonialism itself is seen in this quote: "The old river in its broad reach rested unruffled at the decline of day, after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks, spread out in the tranquil dignity of a waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth... Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth!...The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealth, the germs of empires" (Conrad 2). This is the reader's opening view of colonialism as seen through the eyes of Conrad. This old river and these people are exploited by "hunters of gold" or "pursuers of fame." This is what colonialism will eventually lead to. Marlow discusses some of the dangers in this quote: "The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much" (Conrad 4). That really sums up Conrad's view of colonialism as a taking away from a society, as an exploitation. The rulers dislike the native people and have no problem exploiting or even killing them. "The danger of colonialism is seen again: "'When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages--hate them to the death" (Conrad 15). In colonialism, it is very easy to get caught up in the greed for power and profit, which is shown by Kurtz. When Marlow asks another character why he has come to the Congo, the

greed is shown in his answer. "I couldn't help asking him once what he meant by coming here at all. 'To make money, of course. What do you think?' he said scornfully." (Conrad 16). and in one very bold statement without even trying to hide greed a little. 'He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then cleared out of the country, because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, and there was nothing on earth to prevent him killing whom he jolly well pleased." (Conrad 50). The reader can clearly see what can happen to people with no one to stop them. For this reason alone, colonialism is very dangerous. The dangers of corruption are seen here as well: "Everything belonged to him--but that was a trifle. The thing to know was what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own. That was the reflection that made you creepy all over. It was impossible--not good for one either--trying to imagine. He had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land--I mean literally. You can't understand--how could you?" (Conrad 43). the direct boldness of this statement is unimaginable and is exactly what Conrad is cautioning the reader about. The theme of darkness also plays a part throughout the novel along with the title itself. These things express Conrad's thoughts about colonialism as a "dark" venture. The closer the reader gets to Kurtz, the farther into the native culture, the scarier it gets. The reader knows that Kurtz has overextended his power and only because he can. There is nobody there to stop him and the natives both revere and fear him. "The reaches opened before us and closed behind, as if the forest had stepped leisurely across the water to bar the way for our return. We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness." (Conrad 30). Quote 26: The reader is shown again the darkness of this colonialism and the darkness of the men involved in it. It is good for no one, according to Conrad. "I raised my head. The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky--seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." (Conrad 69). Probably the scariest part of the book is the fact that people like Marlow can be drawn into this power and greed. Not that Marlow agreed with Kurtz at all, but the reader understands how this travesty may have happened. Marlowe shows this when he says," I turned to the wilderness really, not to Mr. Kurtz, who, I was ready to admit, was as good as buried. And for a moment it seemed to me as if I also was buried in a vast grave full of unspeakable secrets. I felt an intolerable weight oppressing my breast, the smell of the damp earth, the unseen presence of victorious corruption, the darkness of an impenetrable night" (Conrad 55).