Summary

The poem “The White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling begins with the speaker telling the (white) reader to take up the white man’s burden, meaning to take part in civilising the native peoples of Western colonies.  

The first stanza outlines how this duty can be fulfilled by the white man by sending his best men and sons to serve their captives, meaning the natives. The native populations are described as angry, wild, and ignorant – like a combination of devils and children. 

The second stanza stresses that the white man must be patient since this will be a long and challenging task. Although he is superior to the natives he is helping, he must not show his pride openly. His mission is a selfless one as he is doing it all for the natives. 

The third stanza outlines how the white man must bring an end to disease and hunger, but also that he may have to use violence and enter into wars in the process. Once he is near his goal, he risks ...