Cultural Understanding
Kipling paints an exemplary picture of Europeans following their role in the lives of non-white people. People from other cultures have been diminished and viewed as a burden to the Europeans. The Europeans are seen as superior, while non-white people are viewed as inferior. Europeans are depicted as self-sacrificing and dedicated, determined to liberate the non-white people in captivity and attend to their needs: Cultural Understanding.
They address the non-white people’s sicknesses and pandemics, such as famine, which greatly affect their livelihoods. The white people identify the best among them to serve those in exile. The Europeans are portrayed as paramount in the civilization of other cultures, steering stability and security among them. Kipling further illustrates the Europeans’ patience in their endeavors, especially in collaborating with non-white people and addressing the threats of terror.
On the contrary, Kipling views non-white populations as a white man’s burden, calling for them to lift the burden from the Europeans. The non-white people are regarded as “half-devil and half-child” (Halsall). Kipling refers to them as bad-tempered individuals who do not acknowledge or appreciate the aid being offered to them.
They are judgmental toward the only people who come to their rescue. The non-white people are viewed as hateful toward their white guardians with much resentment. However, despite the best intentions associated with the Europeans, they are believed to be the cause of the non-white people’s suffering due to racial discrimination.
Darwin’s theory of natural selection resonates with Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden.” A man has inherent potential based on the principle of selection, which can be influenced by nature (Gibbs et al. 80). Nature has a significant influence over variation in hereditary traits. People with favorable characteristics seem to thrive best in a competitive environment, while those with undesirable traits are eliminated or disadvantaged in their surroundings.
Kipling clearly demonstrates how the Europeans are privileged through their superiority over people of other cultures. Nature provides the Europeans a favorable environment that allows them to excel over the non-white population. Darwin questions the chances of certain favorable variations occurring in an individual’s future life if they were to become extinct at some point (Gibbs et al. 81).
Indeed, the potential of non-white people has been overlooked in how Kipling regards them. However, they develop adaptive characteristics that help them survive in a compromising environment. There is a struggle for existence among non-white people because they are condemned and harshly judged by Europeans, regarded merely as a burden.
The application of Darwin’s theory in assessing and understanding social settings could propagate harmful stereotypes that affect social cohesion. The theory of natural selection would tend to favor Europeans while disadvantaging non-Europeans. If the theories were used to resonate with Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden,” they could support slavery and imperialism, which are unethical practices. However, if the theories were applied during the period when such a poem was written, they might depict the realities faced by non-Europeans.
The non-white people encountered racial discrimination in white-dominated territories. The theory of natural selection suggests that species with favorable traits have a higher capacity for survival, while those with injurious variations are eliminated from the environment (Gibbs et al. 81). Similarly, the theory could demonstrate that certain races possess advantageous characteristics that enable them to thrive, thereby dominating inferior races, specifically the non-white population.
The use of these theories would support a racist attitude, where white people are deemed more fit, while the non-white population struggles to survive. Additionally, incorporating the theories in social settings would promote societal inequalities. Non-white people would receive unequal resources and opportunities due to corrupt systems that discriminate against and humiliate individuals from specific races or ethnic groups.
Social cohesion is paramount in eradicating social inequalities, injustices, and discrimination. People from certain races are vulnerable to social stigmatization due to a corrupt system that disregards individuals from particular backgrounds. While people have the freedom of expression, authors should be prohibited from writing content that may harm social cohesion or reinforce harmful stereotypes.
Works Cited
Gibbs, Steven, et al. “The Project Gutenberg eBook of On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin.” Gutenberg, 25 Sept. 2007, www.gutenberg.org/files/22764/22764-h/22764-h.htm#page80.
Halsall, Paul. “Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Rudyard Kipling: The White Man’s Burden, 1899.” Fordham University, 26 Jan. 1996, sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/kipling.asp.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question 
Consider your readings in Module 7 of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, the material from this module, and the writings of Kipling. In an essay format of at least 600 words, address all of the following:
- What cultural assumptions does Kipling’s poem convey concerning Europeans and people of other cultures?
- In what ways could Darwin’s theory be used to justify the sentiments expressed in “The White Man’s Burden”?
- What might be the negative consequences of the application of Darwin’s theories to social settings?
Cultural Understanding
Complete the order form and upload all of your files, including any instructions, rubrics, or other materials provided by your instructor. 
Complete the order payment after filling in the order form. We’ll receive your order and assign it to a writer.
The assigned writer will complete your paper and forward it to our Editing Team for review and approval.
Once approved by the editor, the completed paper will be uploaded to your account for you to download, review and approve.