Context and perspectives

Historical context

The poem “The White Man’s Burden” was written by Rudyard Kipling partly as an appeal for the United States to intervene in the Philippines and transform the islands into a US colony. The positive light in which he portrays the white man and his civilising efforts suggests that Kipling wanted to encourage the US to practice colonialism to improve the lives of others.

Kipling was a declared supporter of British imperialism, probably because he was born and raised in India under British rule. However, readers can imagine that, as a white, educated man in India, Kipling was in a socially advantaged position. He must have experienced and understood colonialism quite differently from native Indian people living under British control. Thus, Kipling mi...