English Colonialism in Literature

1905 Words8 Pages
The rapidly expanding British Empire was a controversial topic in the years preceding the 19th century. By the late 16th and early 17th century, the Empire was quickly reaching to the far corners of the globe. Before its eventual demise in the early 20th century, the British Empire controlled roughly a quarter of the Earth’s land; making it the largest empire in history and undoubtedly, the most controlling global power on Earth. However, Britain’s obsession with colonization impacted its native-born citizens in ways that were not beneficial to their society. The rapid expansion and obsession with wealth and power led to a strikingly divided class system of the wealthy and poor. Multiple wars were fought over the British colonization of lands and the acquisition of material goods, all which were detrimental to the social structure and morality of the British people. These problems were greatly felt by the British subjects, and much of the conflict made its way into the art movements of the time. Conveniently, the literature we have read this semester spans the centuries in which Britain’s Empire was at its most prominent influence; and, many of the authors incorporated their own critiques of the British Empire into their works. While each critique opposes the Empire’s expansion, the manners in which the critiques are expressed are quite different. I’ve found that each critique can be characterized into three distinct methods of expression. By focusing on the undesirable consequences facing Britain at the time, each author allegorically expresses their disdain for British imperialism. One of the implications of British imperialism was the increasing view of British superiority, coupled with the alleged inferiority of other nations and cultures under British rule. Because of Britain’s vast power over other nations and great advancements in different fields, the
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