West African Rubber Company Imperialism

There are consistent references to imperialism throughout the novel. One reference important in understanding the imperialistic allusion to England and its dominating class at the time is the company that the Wilcoxes own called The Imperial and West African Rubber Company. Margaret visits Henry’s office at his this company and begins to understand where his “main sources of wealth”(492) comes from. Forster depicts the office as having a large map of the entire continent of Africa in which it looked “like a whale marked out for a blubber” (492). This information reveals imagery and ideas associated with imperialism, such as the animalistic simile of Africa basically being a whale that is killed by humans and harvested for its blubber to sell. Moreover, Margaret describes the “ordinary surface scum of ledgers and polished counters and brass bars that began and stopped for no possible reason”(492) that is scattered throughout the office. Several paragraphs later, Margaret Schlegel admits she only sees the “Imperial side” of the company, explaining that “Imperialism always had been one of her difficulties” (493). There is nothing West African about the office, and it merely serves as a
This statement reveres the Wilcoxes as protectors of England. This declaration reminds us of the imperial aspects of England that were relevant for so long. Tying back to the idea of masculinity, imperialism, and nationality all being intertwined, Paul is emasculated when he exhibited fear and could not defend himself in front of his family when he got engaged to Helen. However, Paul is considered masculine because of his hegemony over the natives in Africa. With that being said, Margaret and Henry being married is an overt symbol of the once masculine forces, that kept England afloat for so long, somewhat giving in to the feminine ways of the liberal