'The 'Eathen' by Rudyard Kipling
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The 'eathen in 'is blindness bows down to wood an' stone;
'E don't obey no orders unless they is 'is own;
'E keeps 'is side-arms awful:'e leaves 'em all about,
An' then comes up the regiment an' pokes the 'eathen out.
All along o' dirtiness, all along o' mess,
All along o' doin' things rather-more-or-less,
All along of abby-nay, kul, an' hazar-ho, *
Mind you keep your rifle an' yourself jus' so!
* abby-nay:Not now.kul:To-morrow.hazar-ho:Wait a bit.
The young recruit is 'aughty -- 'e draf's from Gawd knows where;
They bid 'im show 'is stockin's an' lay 'is mattress square;
'E calls it bloomin' nonsense -- 'e doesn't know no more --
An' then up comes 'is Company an' kicks 'im round the floor!
The young recruit is 'ammered -- 'e takes it very 'ard;
'E 'angs 'is 'ead an' mutters -- 'e sulks about the yard;
'E talks o' "cruel tyrants" 'e'll swing for by-an'-by,
An' the others 'ears an' mocks 'im, an' the boy goes orf to cry.
The young recruit is silly -- 'e thinks o' suicide;
'E's lost 'is gutter-devil; 'e 'asn't got 'is pride;
But day by day they kicks 'im, which 'elps 'im on a bit,
Till 'e finds 'isself one mornin' with a full an' proper kit.
Gettin' clear o' dirtiness, gettin' done with mess,
Gettin' shut o' doin' things rather-more-or-less;
Not so fond of abby-nay, kul, nor hazar-ho,
Learns to keep 'is rifle an' 'isself jus' so!
The young recruit is 'appy -- 'e throws a chest to suit;
You see 'im grow mustaches; you 'ear 'im slap 'is boot;
'E learns to drop the "bloodies" from every word 'e slings,
An' 'e shows an 'ealthy brisket when 'e strips for bars an' rings.
The cruel-tyrant-sergeants they watch 'im 'arf a year;
They watch 'im with 'is comrades, they watch 'im with 'is beer;
They watch 'im with the women at the regimental dance,
And the cruel-tyrant-sergeants send 'is name along for "Lance".
An' now 'e's 'arf o' nothin', an' all a private yet,
'Is room they up an' rags 'im to see what they will get;
They rags 'im low an' cunnin', each dirty trick they can,
But 'e learns to sweat 'is temper an' 'e learns to sweat 'is man.
An', last, a Colour-Sergeant, as such to be obeyed,
'E schools 'is men at cricket, 'e tells 'em on parade;
They sees 'em quick an' 'andy, uncommon set an' smart,
An' so 'e talks to orficers which 'ave the Core at 'eart.
'E learns to do 'is watchin' without it showin' plain;
'E learns to save a dummy, an' shove 'im straight again;
'E learns to check a ranker that's buyin' leave to shirk;
An' 'e learns to make men like 'im so they'll learn to like their work.
An' when it comes to marchin' he'll see their socks are right,
An' when it comes to action 'e shows 'em 'ow to sight;
'E knows their ways of thinkin' and just what's in their mind;
'E knows when they are takin' on an' when they've fell be'ind.
'E knows each talkin' corpril that leads a squad astray;
'E feels 'is innards 'eavin', 'is bowels givin' way;
'E sees the blue-white faces all tryin' 'ard to grin,
An' 'e stands an' waits an' suffers till it's time to cap 'em in.
An' now the hugly bullets come peckin' through the dust,
An' no one wants to face 'em, but every beggar must;
So, like a man in irons which isn't glad to go,
They moves 'em off by companies uncommon stiff an' slow.
Of all 'is five years' schoolin' they don't remember much
Excep' the not retreatin', the step an' keepin' touch.
It looks like teachin' wasted when they duck an' spread an' 'op,
But if 'e 'adn't learned 'em they'd be all about the shop!
An' now it's "'Oo goes backward?" an' now it's "'Oo comes on?"
And now it's "Get the doolies," an' now the captain's gone;
An' now it's bloody murder, but all the while they 'ear
'Is voice, the same as barrick drill, a-shepherdin' the rear.
'E's just as sick as they are, 'is 'eart is like to split,
But 'e works 'em, works 'em, works 'em till he feels 'em take the bit;
The rest is 'oldin' steady till the watchful bugles play,
An' 'e lifts 'em, lifts 'em, lifts 'em through the charge that wins the day!
The 'eathen in 'is blindness bows down to wood an' stone;
'E don't obey no orders unless they is 'is own;
The 'eathen in 'is blindness must end where 'e began,
But the backbone of the Army is the non-commissioned man!
Keep away from dirtiness -- keep away from mess.
Don't get into doin' things rather-more-or-less!
Let's ha' done with abby-nay, kul, an' hazar-ho;
Mind you keep your rifle an' yourself jus' so!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The 'Eathen by Rudyard Kipling: An Analysis
If you're a lover of classic poetry, then you've probably heard of Rudyard Kipling, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century, known for his literary works that extensively highlighted the British Empire. One of his most famous works is "The 'Eathen," a poem that takes on a satirical approach to religious fanaticism and cultural insensitivity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, literary devices, and underlying messages in Kipling's "The 'Eathen."
Background
Before diving into the poem's analysis, it's essential to appreciate the historical context that inspired the poem's creation. In the late 19th century, England was at the peak of its colonial expansion, engaging in widespread exploitation of territories worldwide. The British Empire was keen on imposing its culture and religion on the colonies, causing an uproar from the indigenous population. The poem "The 'Eathen" takes on this issue head-on, challenging the British's ethnocentric attitudes towards non-Christian cultures.
Analysis
The poem "The 'Eathen" comprises eight stanzas, each with six rhyming couplets. The poem's title, "'Eathen," is a phonetic representation of the word "heathen," a derogatory term used to describe non-Christians. The poem's tone is satirical and mocking, targeting the religious hypocrisy of the Christian colonizers.
Themes
The primary themes in "The 'Eathen" are religious fanaticism, cultural imperialism, and cultural insensitivity. Kipling satirizes the British colonialists' zealousness in imposing their religion and culture on the colonies, highlighting the hypocrisy of Christian teachings. The colonizers viewed non-Christians as inferior and uncivilized, resulting in a cultural clash that frequently ended in violence.
Literary Devices
Kipling employs various literary devices in "The 'Eathen" to convey his message effectively. The poem's rhyming couplets and limerick-like structure create a sing-song rhythm, which contrasts with the poem's serious tone. The poem's use of irony and sarcasm is also evident throughout the text, challenging the reader's preconceived notions of what is right and wrong.
Kipling uses vivid imagery to describe the colonizers' behavior towards the colonized, painting a picture of cultural insensitivity and exploitation. For instance, in stanza four, Kipling describes how the British treated the Hindu gods: "With joss-sticks and bells and things, / And great big, ugly, stony, statues, / And monkey-gods with monkey tails." The use of such imagery evokes a sense of disrespect and disdain towards non-Christian cultures, emphasizing the cultural imperialism that was prevalent during the colonial era.
Interpretation
Kipling's "The 'Eathen" is a scathing critique of the British Empire's cultural imperialism and religious fanaticism. The poem challenges the notion that Christianity is the only true religion, highlighting the hypocrisy of the colonizers' behavior towards non-Christian cultures. Through his use of satire and irony, Kipling exposes the absurdity of religious fanaticism and cultural insensitivity, urging the reader to consider the consequences of imposing one's beliefs on others.
The poem's message is still relevant today, as many countries continue to grapple with the consequences of cultural imperialism and religious fanaticism. Kipling's "The 'Eathen" serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of respecting different cultures and religions, and the dangers of imposing our beliefs on others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The 'Eathen" by Rudyard Kipling is a masterful work of poetry that challenges religious fanaticism and cultural insensitivity. Kipling's use of satire and vivid imagery creates a compelling narrative that exposes the absurdity of Christian colonizers' behavior towards non-Christian cultures. The poem's message is timeless, reminding us of the importance of respecting different cultures and religions, and the dangers of imposing our beliefs on others.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The 'Eathen, written by Rudyard Kipling, is a classic poem that captures the essence of colonialism and the cultural divide between the colonizers and the colonized. The poem is a satirical take on the British Empire's attitude towards the natives of the lands they conquered. Kipling's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to his skill as a poet.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the "eathen" in a condescending tone, telling them that they are "sullen and slow" and that they need to be taught how to live. The speaker then goes on to describe the eathen's way of life, which is depicted as primitive and uncivilized. The eathen are described as living in "mud-hovels" and eating "rats and bats and such." The speaker then tells the eathen that they need to learn how to live like the British, who are depicted as superior in every way.
Kipling's use of language in this poem is particularly striking. The use of the word "eathen" instead of "heathen" is deliberate, as it emphasizes the speaker's disdain for the natives. The use of the word "sullen" to describe the eathen is also significant, as it suggests that they are ungrateful for the British Empire's presence in their lands. The use of the word "slow" is also significant, as it suggests that the eathen are intellectually inferior to the British.
The imagery in the poem is also powerful. The description of the eathen's way of life is vivid and disturbing. The image of the eathen eating rats and bats is particularly striking, as it suggests that they are so primitive that they are willing to eat anything. The image of the eathen living in mud-hovels is also significant, as it suggests that they are so uncivilized that they do not even have proper homes.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker begins to describe the British way of life. The British are depicted as superior in every way, with their "houses of stone" and their "books and pictures and such." The speaker tells the eathen that they need to learn how to live like the British, as this is the only way to be truly civilized.
This part of the poem is particularly interesting, as it highlights the cultural divide between the colonizers and the colonized. The British are depicted as having a superior culture, and the eathen are told that they need to adopt this culture in order to be considered civilized. This attitude was common during the colonial era, as the British believed that their way of life was superior to that of the natives.
The poem then takes another turn, as the speaker begins to describe the eathen's religion. The eathen are depicted as worshipping "stocks and stones," which is a derogatory term for idols. The speaker tells the eathen that their religion is false, and that they need to convert to Christianity in order to be saved.
This part of the poem is particularly significant, as it highlights the religious aspect of colonialism. The British believed that they had a duty to convert the natives to Christianity, as they believed that this was the only way to save their souls. This attitude was also common during the colonial era, as the British believed that they had a moral obligation to "civilize" the natives.
The poem ends with the speaker telling the eathen that they need to learn how to live like the British, or else they will be left behind. The speaker tells the eathen that they need to embrace the British way of life, or else they will be doomed to live in poverty and ignorance.
Overall, The 'Eathen is a powerful poem that captures the essence of colonialism and the cultural divide between the colonizers and the colonized. Kipling's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to his skill as a poet. The poem is also significant because it highlights the attitudes and beliefs of the British Empire during the colonial era. It is a reminder of the injustices that were committed in the name of civilization and progress, and it serves as a warning against the dangers of cultural imperialism.
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