According to the poem what are the three reasons why American should take up the white man’s burden
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The poem “The White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling presents an argument that it is the responsibility of the Western powers, particularly the British Empire, to “civilize” and uplift the so-called “uncivilized” populations in colonized lands. The poem’s speaker calls on the American people to take up this burden, which is portrayed as a noble task. The three reasons for taking up this burden, according to Kipling, are:
- To Civilize “The Savage”: The poem asserts that the colonized peoples are in need of guidance and education. Kipling portrays them as “half-devil and half-child,” suggesting they are primitive and require the discipline and structure of Western civilization. The idea is that the colonizers’ superior culture and institutions will help these populations improve their way of life.
- To Face the Challenges and Sacrifices of Empire: Kipling acknowledges that the task is difficult and filled with hardships. The colonizers will face ridicule, resistance, and even physical harm from the people they are trying to “help.” However, he argues that the duty to improve the world and spread Western civilization justifies the hardships.
- To Secure the Future of Western Civilization: The poem suggests that the success of the Western world depends on the spread of its values and systems to the rest of the globe. By bringing the light of Western culture to other lands, the United States, in Kipling’s view, would secure its place in history as a leader of moral and cultural progress.
In this poem, Kipling promotes the idea of imperialism as a selfless endeavor, with colonizers taking on the burden for the benefit of those they colonize. However, modern readers often criticize the poem for its racial and cultural superiority, as well as for its justification of imperialism, which many view as exploitative and oppressive.