British and American Imperialism
I chose this piece because I received a good grade on it and I'm pretty proud of it. I also enjoy writing essays when I know exactly what I'm talking about while writing it, which was the case with this one. My strength for this essay was the structure, since I organized it well and used plenty of examples to support my points. My weakness was my grammar, because while typing it, I would reread it several times and still always manage to find a spelling error or run-on sentence. Below, the changes I made are typed in green.
Revised Version
Britain holds itself to a standard of equality and liberty for all of its citizens, but their “fanatic patriotic” attitude is nothing more than a nationalistic blanket that covers a past of oppression. The British Empire has a history – a rather recent history, in fact – of imperialism on countries such as South Africa and India. The same held true for the United States, as well; America would colonize other territories in the name of the “American Dream,” yet they would oppress the islands and countries that they colonized. Works of literature such as “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” show just how British and American imperialism/colonization affected (and still effects) other countries.
"On Seeing England for the First Time" is a short story written by a woman named Jamaica Kincaid who experienced imperialism in Africa firsthand. The selection features quite a few examples of forced Westernization in Kincaid's life due to British imperialism. For example, in her story Kincaid writes, "We understood then... that England was to be our source of myth and the source from which we got our sense of reality, our sense of what was meaningful..." Here, she is recalling her time in school when her teachers taught the importance of England to a class of native African children. England was looked upon with awe and glory, and Africans were taught to be grateful for Britain's invasion of their lands. Also, later in the story, Kincaid writes, "And my mother taught me to eat my food in the English way... But I knew that I enjoyed my food more when I ate it with my bare hands, and I continued to do so when she wasn't looking." Though Kincaid knew that she took more pleasure in just easting food with her hands rather than with utensils, her own mother persisted in teaching her the proper English way to eat. British imperialism not only changed the perspective in which many Africans viewed Britain, but it influenced the way they lived their everyday lives - right down to the way they ate their food.
The second selection is "Train to Rhodesia" by Nadine Gordimer, a short story that shows the contrast between the lives of English people living in Africa and the Africans themselves. This scenario is symbolized as a single train, with Africans on the outside and privileged British people on the inside. For example, Gordimer describes the scene outside of the train with imagery such as, "The two children careered over the sand, clutching the bread, and burst through the iron gate..." (page 1012) while the inside of the train cars are described with sensory images such as, "...the train breathed out the smell of meat cooking with onion..." (page 1012). These images put emphasis on the fact that the British people on the inside of the train have it much easier than the native Africans of Rhodesia. The British have fresh meat cooking for all of the passengers to enjoy, while the children on the outside hold onto their bread and run off as if they're afraid it'll be stolen from them. Also, a little later on page 1012, Gordimer writes, "A girl had collected a handful of the hard kind, that no one liked, out of the chocolate box, and was throwing them to the dogs, over at the dining car." This sentence in particular says a lot because it shows exactly how rude and privileged the British folks in the train are - specifically this woman. She sees that the native Africans aren't nearly as privileged as she is, but instead of being modest and appreciative of the food she has, she just throws out what she doesn't want for the dogs. The people inside the train do not seem to understand how well off they have it compared to the natives of the country they've imperialized, whom they treat poorly and look down upon.
"The Virgins" by Derek Walcott is a poem written in the perspective of a native man in a Caribbean island that was ruined by American tourism. In lines 4-8 of the poem, Walcott writes, "...I am reminded of life not lost to the American dream; but my small-islander's simplicities can't better our new empire's civilized exchange of cameras, watches, perfumes, brandies for the good life..." He recalls how his old, simple life on his island was long ago replaced by the products of America's visits. As tourism spread across the island, the native culture was pushed out by cheap novelty items branded under the concept of the American Dream. American colonization is also shown in lines 11-13 When Walcott writes, "...and plazas blown dry by the hysteria of rumor. A condominium drowns in vacancy..." Walcott's island, once full of Caribbean natives, was pushed into vacancy by rumors of the American tourists' arrival. American imperialism did not have a chance to influence the lives of the natives - they were driven out before the Americans could even arrive. Those who stayed, such as Walcott, experienced a lot of change to their homeland in the name of the "American Dream." Though this situation doesn't show American political control over the natives, it shows native land being emptied of people and used for tourism, which is still very much a negative effect of imperialism/colonization.
American and British imperialism/colonization has quite extensively (and negatively) influenced underdeveloped territories in the past. Much of the aftermath can actually still be seen today, especially in Africa. “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” aren’t the only works of literature on this topic – there are hundreds of other works that give information on the same situation in history. Pick up any book on imperialism, and you'll see just how influential the effects of Britain and America had, and still have, on their colonies.
Original Version
Britain holds itself to a standard of equality and liberty for all of its citizens, but their “fanatic patriotic” attitude is nothing more than a nationalistic blanket that covers a past of oppression. The British Empire has a history – a rather recent history, in fact – of imperialism on countries such as South Africa and India. The same held true for the United States, as well; America would colonize other territories in the name of the “American Dream,” yet they would oppress the islands and countries that they colonized. Works of literature such as “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” show just how British and American imperialism/colonization affected other countries.
"On Seeing England for the First Time" is a short story by a woman named Jamaica Kincaid who experienced imperialism in Africa firsthand. The selection features quite a few examples of forced Westernization in Kincaid's life due to British imperialism. For example, in her story Kincaid writes, "We understood then... that England was to be our source of myth and the source from which we got our sense of reality, our sense of what was meaningful..." Here, she is recalling her time in school when her teachers taught the importance of England to a class of native African children. England was looked upon with awe and glory, and Africans were taught to be grateful for Britain's invasion of their lands. Also, later in the story, Kincaid writes, "And my mother taught me to eat my food in the English way... But I knew that I enjoyed my food more when I ate it with my bare hands, and I continued to do so when she wasn't looking." Though Kincaid knew that she took more pleasure in just easting food with her hands rather than with utensils, her own mother persisted in teaching her the proper English way to eat. British imperialism not only changed the perspective in which many Africans viewed Britain, but it influenced the way they lived their everyday lives - right down to the way they ate their food.
The second selection is "Train to Rhodesia" by Nadine Gordimer, a short story that shows the contrast between the lives of real Africans versus the lives of the white people only living in Africa. This scenario is symbolized as a single train, with Africans on the outside and privileged British people on the inside. For example, Gordimer describes the scene outside of the train with imagery such as, "The two children careered over the sand, clutching the bread, and burst through the iron gate..." (page 1012) while the inside of the train cars are described with sensory images such as, "...the train breathed out the smell of meat cooking with onion..." (page 1012). These images put emphasis on the fact that the British people on the inside of the train have it much easier than the native Africans of Rhodesia. The British have fresh meat cooking for all of the passengers to enjoy, while the children on the outside hold onto their bread and run off as if they're afraid it'll be stolen from them. Also, a little later on page 1012, Gordimer writes, "A girl had collected a handful of the hard kind, that no one liked, out of the chocolate box, and was throwing them to the dogs, over at the dining car." This sentence in particular says a lot because it shows exactly how rude and privileged the British folks in the train are, specifically this woman. She sees that the native Africans aren't nearly as privileged as she is, but instead of being modest and appreciative of the food she has, she just throws out what she doesn't want for the dogs. The people inside the train do not seem to understand how well off they have it compared to the natives of the country they've imperialized, whom they treat poorly and look down upon.
"The Virgins" by Derek Walcott is a poem written in the perspective of a native man in a Caribbean island that was ruined by American tourism. In lines 4-8 of the poem, Walcott writes, "...I am reminded of life not lost to the American dream; but my small-islander's simplicities can't better our new empire's civilized exchange of cameras, watches, perfumes, brandies for the good life..." He recalls how his old, simple life on his island was long ago replaced by the products of America's visits. As tourism spread across the island, the native culture was pushed out by cheap novelty items branded under the concept of the American Dream. American colonization is also shown in lines 11-13 When Walcott writes, "...and plazas blown dry by the hysteria of rumor. A condominium drowns in vacancy..." Walcott's island, once full of Caribbean natives, was pushed into vacancy by rumors of the American tourists' arrival. American imperialism did not have a chance to influence the lives of the natives - they were driven out before the Americans could even arrive. Those who stayed, such as Walcott, experienced a lot of change to their homeland in the name of the "American Dream." Though this situation doesn't show American political control over the natives, it shows native land being emptied of people and used for tourism, which is still very much a negative effect of imperialism/colonization.
American and British imperialism/colonization has quite extensively influenced underdeveloped territories in the past. Much of the aftermath can actually still be seen today, especially in Africa. “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” aren’t the only works of literature on this topic – there are hundreds of other works that give information on the same situation in history. Pick up any book on imperialism, and you'll see just how influential the effects of Britain and America had, and still have, on their colonies.
Revised Version
Britain holds itself to a standard of equality and liberty for all of its citizens, but their “fanatic patriotic” attitude is nothing more than a nationalistic blanket that covers a past of oppression. The British Empire has a history – a rather recent history, in fact – of imperialism on countries such as South Africa and India. The same held true for the United States, as well; America would colonize other territories in the name of the “American Dream,” yet they would oppress the islands and countries that they colonized. Works of literature such as “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” show just how British and American imperialism/colonization affected (and still effects) other countries.
"On Seeing England for the First Time" is a short story written by a woman named Jamaica Kincaid who experienced imperialism in Africa firsthand. The selection features quite a few examples of forced Westernization in Kincaid's life due to British imperialism. For example, in her story Kincaid writes, "We understood then... that England was to be our source of myth and the source from which we got our sense of reality, our sense of what was meaningful..." Here, she is recalling her time in school when her teachers taught the importance of England to a class of native African children. England was looked upon with awe and glory, and Africans were taught to be grateful for Britain's invasion of their lands. Also, later in the story, Kincaid writes, "And my mother taught me to eat my food in the English way... But I knew that I enjoyed my food more when I ate it with my bare hands, and I continued to do so when she wasn't looking." Though Kincaid knew that she took more pleasure in just easting food with her hands rather than with utensils, her own mother persisted in teaching her the proper English way to eat. British imperialism not only changed the perspective in which many Africans viewed Britain, but it influenced the way they lived their everyday lives - right down to the way they ate their food.
The second selection is "Train to Rhodesia" by Nadine Gordimer, a short story that shows the contrast between the lives of English people living in Africa and the Africans themselves. This scenario is symbolized as a single train, with Africans on the outside and privileged British people on the inside. For example, Gordimer describes the scene outside of the train with imagery such as, "The two children careered over the sand, clutching the bread, and burst through the iron gate..." (page 1012) while the inside of the train cars are described with sensory images such as, "...the train breathed out the smell of meat cooking with onion..." (page 1012). These images put emphasis on the fact that the British people on the inside of the train have it much easier than the native Africans of Rhodesia. The British have fresh meat cooking for all of the passengers to enjoy, while the children on the outside hold onto their bread and run off as if they're afraid it'll be stolen from them. Also, a little later on page 1012, Gordimer writes, "A girl had collected a handful of the hard kind, that no one liked, out of the chocolate box, and was throwing them to the dogs, over at the dining car." This sentence in particular says a lot because it shows exactly how rude and privileged the British folks in the train are - specifically this woman. She sees that the native Africans aren't nearly as privileged as she is, but instead of being modest and appreciative of the food she has, she just throws out what she doesn't want for the dogs. The people inside the train do not seem to understand how well off they have it compared to the natives of the country they've imperialized, whom they treat poorly and look down upon.
"The Virgins" by Derek Walcott is a poem written in the perspective of a native man in a Caribbean island that was ruined by American tourism. In lines 4-8 of the poem, Walcott writes, "...I am reminded of life not lost to the American dream; but my small-islander's simplicities can't better our new empire's civilized exchange of cameras, watches, perfumes, brandies for the good life..." He recalls how his old, simple life on his island was long ago replaced by the products of America's visits. As tourism spread across the island, the native culture was pushed out by cheap novelty items branded under the concept of the American Dream. American colonization is also shown in lines 11-13 When Walcott writes, "...and plazas blown dry by the hysteria of rumor. A condominium drowns in vacancy..." Walcott's island, once full of Caribbean natives, was pushed into vacancy by rumors of the American tourists' arrival. American imperialism did not have a chance to influence the lives of the natives - they were driven out before the Americans could even arrive. Those who stayed, such as Walcott, experienced a lot of change to their homeland in the name of the "American Dream." Though this situation doesn't show American political control over the natives, it shows native land being emptied of people and used for tourism, which is still very much a negative effect of imperialism/colonization.
American and British imperialism/colonization has quite extensively (and negatively) influenced underdeveloped territories in the past. Much of the aftermath can actually still be seen today, especially in Africa. “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” aren’t the only works of literature on this topic – there are hundreds of other works that give information on the same situation in history. Pick up any book on imperialism, and you'll see just how influential the effects of Britain and America had, and still have, on their colonies.
Original Version
Britain holds itself to a standard of equality and liberty for all of its citizens, but their “fanatic patriotic” attitude is nothing more than a nationalistic blanket that covers a past of oppression. The British Empire has a history – a rather recent history, in fact – of imperialism on countries such as South Africa and India. The same held true for the United States, as well; America would colonize other territories in the name of the “American Dream,” yet they would oppress the islands and countries that they colonized. Works of literature such as “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” show just how British and American imperialism/colonization affected other countries.
"On Seeing England for the First Time" is a short story by a woman named Jamaica Kincaid who experienced imperialism in Africa firsthand. The selection features quite a few examples of forced Westernization in Kincaid's life due to British imperialism. For example, in her story Kincaid writes, "We understood then... that England was to be our source of myth and the source from which we got our sense of reality, our sense of what was meaningful..." Here, she is recalling her time in school when her teachers taught the importance of England to a class of native African children. England was looked upon with awe and glory, and Africans were taught to be grateful for Britain's invasion of their lands. Also, later in the story, Kincaid writes, "And my mother taught me to eat my food in the English way... But I knew that I enjoyed my food more when I ate it with my bare hands, and I continued to do so when she wasn't looking." Though Kincaid knew that she took more pleasure in just easting food with her hands rather than with utensils, her own mother persisted in teaching her the proper English way to eat. British imperialism not only changed the perspective in which many Africans viewed Britain, but it influenced the way they lived their everyday lives - right down to the way they ate their food.
The second selection is "Train to Rhodesia" by Nadine Gordimer, a short story that shows the contrast between the lives of real Africans versus the lives of the white people only living in Africa. This scenario is symbolized as a single train, with Africans on the outside and privileged British people on the inside. For example, Gordimer describes the scene outside of the train with imagery such as, "The two children careered over the sand, clutching the bread, and burst through the iron gate..." (page 1012) while the inside of the train cars are described with sensory images such as, "...the train breathed out the smell of meat cooking with onion..." (page 1012). These images put emphasis on the fact that the British people on the inside of the train have it much easier than the native Africans of Rhodesia. The British have fresh meat cooking for all of the passengers to enjoy, while the children on the outside hold onto their bread and run off as if they're afraid it'll be stolen from them. Also, a little later on page 1012, Gordimer writes, "A girl had collected a handful of the hard kind, that no one liked, out of the chocolate box, and was throwing them to the dogs, over at the dining car." This sentence in particular says a lot because it shows exactly how rude and privileged the British folks in the train are, specifically this woman. She sees that the native Africans aren't nearly as privileged as she is, but instead of being modest and appreciative of the food she has, she just throws out what she doesn't want for the dogs. The people inside the train do not seem to understand how well off they have it compared to the natives of the country they've imperialized, whom they treat poorly and look down upon.
"The Virgins" by Derek Walcott is a poem written in the perspective of a native man in a Caribbean island that was ruined by American tourism. In lines 4-8 of the poem, Walcott writes, "...I am reminded of life not lost to the American dream; but my small-islander's simplicities can't better our new empire's civilized exchange of cameras, watches, perfumes, brandies for the good life..." He recalls how his old, simple life on his island was long ago replaced by the products of America's visits. As tourism spread across the island, the native culture was pushed out by cheap novelty items branded under the concept of the American Dream. American colonization is also shown in lines 11-13 When Walcott writes, "...and plazas blown dry by the hysteria of rumor. A condominium drowns in vacancy..." Walcott's island, once full of Caribbean natives, was pushed into vacancy by rumors of the American tourists' arrival. American imperialism did not have a chance to influence the lives of the natives - they were driven out before the Americans could even arrive. Those who stayed, such as Walcott, experienced a lot of change to their homeland in the name of the "American Dream." Though this situation doesn't show American political control over the natives, it shows native land being emptied of people and used for tourism, which is still very much a negative effect of imperialism/colonization.
American and British imperialism/colonization has quite extensively influenced underdeveloped territories in the past. Much of the aftermath can actually still be seen today, especially in Africa. “On Seeing England for the First Time,” “Train to Rhodesia,” and “The Virgins” aren’t the only works of literature on this topic – there are hundreds of other works that give information on the same situation in history. Pick up any book on imperialism, and you'll see just how influential the effects of Britain and America had, and still have, on their colonies.