An Espier Of The Empire's Future: Kipling's Change From A Bard To A Prophet Of The Empire

Rudyard Kipling (1865—1936), the first English winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. has been a controversial writer. As"the Bard of Empire", he has always been identified with imperialism. Meanwhile, his India fictions best show his connections with India. Some critics insist that Kipling is an idealist writer. However, it is not fair-and-square to stamp"imperialism"or"idealism"on Kipling's works. A right valuation needs systematic studying to his works. So this paper studies Kipling's works in different stages and finds an ideological changing process of his attitude to imperialism and East-West relationship. This thesis consists of three chapters.Chapter one introduces the Kiplingesque imperialism and his persistence that, is best paraphrased by Law in Jungle stories. The law requires people to struggle for living, obey rules and be loyal to duty. It is a law depending on power, meanwhile, suggesting metaphorically that the Whites are born superior over the natives. Obviously, the law is of imperialist tendency and embodies Kipling's ideal notion of imperialism. However, the real contemporary imperialism stated in the later part is more of cruelty than"law". By comparison it is clear that Kipling's notion of imperialism is ideal and absolutely different from the real imperialism.In Chapter Two Kipling's change from loyalty to questioning to Imperialism and the reasons are analyzed. Colonists' ravage to India, deep identity crisis and intensifying East-West conflicts make Kipling doubt whether colonialism is right. Then, while Indian is growing, the colonial domination is wavering. All these facts prompt Kipling to question the imperialism. At this stage Kipling is not only in identity crisis but in an embarrassing situation as to whether to embrace imperialism or not. In his works he keeps on researching the questions.Chapter Three analyzes the process that Kipling's ideas of reconciliation budded and then become mature, finally Kipling become the prophet of the Empire. He has made a lot of try in many early works; however, all end in failure. But during the long time he creates Kim determining change happens to his ideas. The imperialist tendency is eliminated; tolerance and brotherhood to the East are emphasized. Creation of the figure Kim is successful. In this period his ideas of reconciliation of the East and the West and transcendence of racism are becoming mature and the way-out of the Empire in dilemma is found.To criticize such a great writer as Kipling with a certain ism is not fair. This thesis prompts readers to consider Kipling's works in a context of ideological changing process and provides a new dimension of view to understand and assess Kipling. His prophetic ideas of cultural reconciliation and racial transcendence predict developing direction of the Empire and have great meaning for the peace of present world. Kipling can be regarded as"an espier of the Empire".