Effects of Subjugation(Novels)
Throughout the ages, as men get more and more ambitious and confident in themselves, they begin to see themselves as superior to others. Thus, ever since there have been advanced civilizations, subjugation has occurred. Memmi's major points from The Colonizer and the Colonized are correct about the basic wrongdoing recognized by the subjugators. In books The Tempest, Heart of Darkness, and Things Fall Apart, and also "The Ugly Tourist", and "Shooting an Elephant", the basic principles behind the controlling of others will be examined, to reaffirm Memmi's thesis. Attaining comfort to the detriment of others has always been a main theme in suppressing others, but the benefactors of this comfort realize they are getting it at the expense of another human being. Classic images of colonizers being fanned by natives have pervaded society today, yet it is recognizably condescending. In The Tempest, Prospero saves the fairy Ariel in return for making her his slave. She does menial chores for him all day long. He is aware that she is unhappy about this as she complains frequently. Sarcastically she remarks to him, "All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail! I come to answer thy best pleasure," (Shakespeare 25).
It would be hard for the subjugators NOT to see the inhumanity in what they are forcing the conquered to do. Achebe writes, "They had built their church there, won a handful of converts and were already sending evangelists to the surrounding towns and villages," (Achebe 133). Eventually, the colonizers work their brainwashes and the subjugated begin to see them as their masters, but the colonizers know they are something much less than that. So seen here is the fact that because of maltreatment and being treated like children, locals start to feel the subjugators are their physical and mental masters. However he continues on, confidence in his abilities and selfishness keeps him from freeing her. Whatever the misdeed, being beaten would hardly be proper punishment. To bring basic comforts of life to the "benefactors," a large payment in blood and sweat needs to be made. This is the same as in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness, with the local peoples being subjected to the different laws of the subjugator. In this short story the narrator feels odd and wrong about the relationship between the British Empire and the Indian people, so Memmi's point about the oppressors realizing their wrongdoings is correct. The main point that the subjugators know their actions are wrong is true, as their actions could not lead to any other conclusion. Also, in Things Fall Apart, the violence of the subjugators is especially apparent. It would be hard for anyone not to see the evil in this. Orwell describes the scene, writing, "They were watching me as they would watch a conjurer about to perform a trick," (Orwell 938). He says this kind of action contributes to a sense of guilt, and it is proved in the novels.
Common topics in this essay:
Darkness Kurtz,
Tempest Prospero,
Fall Apart,
Heart Darkness,
Apart Christians,
Darkness Conrad,
George Orwell,
Shooting Elephant,
Umuofia Smith,
Subjugation Throughout,
fall apart,
heart darkness,
achebe writes,
shooting elephant,
ones own,
oppressed people,
tempest prospero,
memmi's thesis,
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Acceptance Essays
