The White Man's Burden And Cry The Beloved Country

The White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling and Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton are two historical based stories about the colonization of indigenous people and the effects of the white man taking over their land. Although both authors address the same situations, each story is based in different times and places. They both convey many similar thoughts such as theme,and overall message but their tones and symbolisms slightly differ. The theme of ignorance can be seen in both texts, however Kipling portrays this through his tone and opinion on colonization; which he believes is a “burden” for the white people but a support for the indigenous instead of a disruption to the culture. Whereas Paton perceives the story of how the natives are affected by this
In Kipling's poem he says that “When your goal is nearest (the end for others sought)watch sloth and heathen folly.Bring all your hopes to nought.” which is stating how the indigenous people are like animals,heathens,and savages;with no purposes. The people's worth is nothing to Kipling, but only because his ignorance is what is truly making him feel this way. In Cry the Beloved Country the ignorance is slightly different but still apparent.”What was there evil, in their desires, in their hunger.That man should walk upright in the land where they were born and be free to use the fruits of the earth, what was there evil in it. They were afraid because they were so few and such fear could not be cast out but by love.’’ Again it also relates to fear and how white people, especially during the apartheid time were outnumbered but their rule was strict because of fear and ignorance. Whites felt by taking over the land it makes this unknown territory better by their standards, but in reality it's not the case. Coming into one's land and a place where it is all that they know,tears apart the civilization and true