Prompt: Compare and contrast the sort of adjectives Kipling uses to describe native people as opposed to Europeans; how does his very language usage convey his sense of white superiority?
Response: To convey his sense of white supremacy and superiority over other indigenous people and foreigners, Kipling uses different adjectives to describe different individuals of different skin color, emphasizing his view that imperial rule is mandatory in colonies such as the British one in India. Kipling first refers to the subject people of the British as a "breed," implying that the native Indians are animal like. Since animals must be tamed in order to be controlled and behave properly, Kipling is upholding his view that the British must "tame" the Indians metaphorically to keep stability in the region. Despite the fact that Kipling is attempting to justify British control in India, he is not stating that any type of rule is sufficient. He believes that the ruling should be orderly, not morally low or "tawdry".
To describe the Indians, on the other hand, Kipling uses diminutive and servile forms of adjectives. Kipling describes the Indians as "silent" and "sullen," indicating that the subjects of British hegemony are expected to obey, command, and respect those in control, the British. The word "sullen" indicates, however, that the Indian subjects were not fond of the British rule in India, despite the generous way in which they ruled.
The "burden" that the Imperial British are faced with as a result of their hegemony is described by many adjectives, leading the reader to believe that it was a great struggle for the British to provide India with order and imperial rule. The burden is metaphorically described as a "heavy harness," indicating that it took a lot of effort for the British to maintain order. Though India provided many trade opportunities for England, it also must have a heavy burden regarding other British affairs.
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