The White Man’s Burden
Take up the white man’s burden,
Send forth the best ye breed;
Go send your sons to exile
To serve your captives’ need;
To wait in heavy harness
On fluttered folk and wild;
Your new‑caught, sullen peoples
Half devil and half child.Take up the white man’s burden,
And wait in patience to abide;
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple
An hundred times made plain
To seek another’s profit
And work another’s gain.Take up the white man’s burden;
The savage wars of peace,
Fill full the mouth of famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch Sloth and heathen folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.Take up the white man’s burden;
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper;
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead!Take up the white man’s burden;
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better
The hate of those ye guard;
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah slowly) to the light;
“Why brought ye us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?”Take up the white man’s burden;
Ye dare not stoop to less,
Nor call too loud on freedom
To cloak your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.Take up the white man’s burden;
Have done with childish days,
The lightly proffered laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood,
Through all the thankless years,
Cold‑edged with dear‑bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
Summary of The White Man’s Burden
Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden” was written in response to the United States’ annexation of the Philippines after the Spanish‑American War. The poem urges the United States to assume the responsibility of governing and “civilizing” the newly acquired territories. The “burden” refers to the perceived duty of white nations to uplift and guide those considered “inferior” races, despite the hardship and lack of gratitude that often follow.
The central idea is that those with a perceived superior culture and governance have a duty to lead and improve the lives of others, even if it means sacrificing comfort, resources, and accepting resentment in return. The poem is not a celebration of imperialism but a justification for it, framed as a self‑less, though arduous, undertaking.
It is important to note that the poem is highly controversial and has been widely criticized for its racist undertones and for justifying colonial domination. Understanding the historical context is crucial to appreciating the poem’s complexity, but it does not excuse its problematic message. The phrase “The White Man’s Burden” itself became a rallying cry for imperialists, symbolizing the arrogance and prejudice that fueled colonial expansion.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in The White Man’s Burden
Kipling masterfully employs a range of literary devices to imbue his poem with persuasive power and emotional resonance. These techniques are essential to understanding how the poem constructs its argument and how it attempts to appeal to its audience.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain ideas. For instance, the repeated “e” sound in “Send forth the best ye breed” subtly underscores the poem’s emphasis on quality and lineage.
- Alliteration: The close repetition of consonant sounds adds to the poem’s rhythm and memorability. Consider the phrase “heavy harness,” where the repeated “h” sound emphasizes the weight and difficulty of the task.
- Consonance: Similar to alliteration, consonance focuses on the repetition of consonant sounds within words, but not necessarily at the beginning. An example is found in “silent sullen peoples” where the repeated “s” sound creates a sense of brooding resentment.
- Imagery: Kipling uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the colonized lands and the people being governed. Phrases like “fluttered folk and wild” and “sullen peoples” evoke strong emotional responses and reinforce the poem’s portrayal of these populations as needing guidance.
- Metaphor: The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor, equating the task of governing colonized lands with a “burden” – a heavy weight to be borne by the “white man.” This metaphor frames imperialism not as exploitation but as a self‑less sacrifice.
- Personification: Abstract concepts, such as “Sloth and heathen Folly,” are personified as active forces that threaten the success of the colonial endeavor. This lends a moral dimension to the poem, portraying the colonized populations as susceptible to negative influences.
- Rhetorical Question: The line “Why brought ye us from bondage / Our loved Egyptian night?” represents the supposed complaints of the colonized. It is designed not to elicit an answer but to preempt criticism and frame the colonists’ actions as ultimately beneficial.
- Symbolism: The “burden” itself is a powerful symbol of the responsibilities and sacrifices associated with imperialism. Other symbols, such as the “laurel” (representing honor and glory) and the “judgment of your peers” (representing societal expectations), contribute to the poem’s complex and nuanced message.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The White Man’s Burden
Beyond the literary devices, Kipling employs specific poetic techniques to shape the rhythm, sound, and overall impact of the poem.
- Diction: Kipling’s word choice is deliberately elevated and formal. Words like “harness,” “sanguine,” and “bid” contribute to a sense of authority and gravitas, reinforcing the poem’s message of duty and responsibility.
- End Rhyme: The poem employs varied end rhyme schemes that give each stanza a musical flow. While many of the rhymes are perfect, some are slant rhymes, adding subtle complexity.
- Repetition: The recurring refrain, “Take up the White Man’s burden,” is a powerful example of repetition. It serves as a constant reminder of the poem’s central message and reinforces the idea of duty and obligation.
- Refrain: The repeated line “Take up the White Man’s burden” acts as a refrain, providing a unifying element throughout the poem and emphasizing its core theme.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem’s rhyme scheme varies between stanzas but remains consistent within each stanza, contributing to its formal structure and melodic quality.
- Stanza: The poem consists of eight octaves—eight‑line stanzas—that provide a consistent and organized structure.
- Tone: The tone of the poem shifts throughout. It begins with a sense of solemn duty, progresses through warnings of hardship and resentment, and ultimately culminates in a call for stoic perseverance. The tone can be described as paternalistic, didactic, and at times assertive.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly revealing of the poem’s central arguments and problematic assumptions:
Take up the White Man’s burden—
Have done with childish days—
The lightly proffered laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold‑edged with dear‑bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
This passage encapsulates the poem’s central argument – that true manhood is defined by selfless service and the willingness to endure hardship for the benefit of others. It also suggests that imperial endeavors are not motivated by greed or power but by a sense of duty and a desire for recognition.
Understanding “The White Man’s Burden” requires careful consideration of its historical context, literary devices, and problematic message. While the poem can be analyzed as a complex and nuanced work of literature, it is essential to acknowledge its racist undertones and its justification of colonial domination.