Culture And Imperialism In Nostromo

Edward W Said, the renowned author of Orientalism (1978) now expands his scope, which he admits was limited to the Middle East, in his book “Culture and Imperialism. In the introduction of the book, much like the rest of the book, he talks about colonialism and imperial in context of western literature written around 19th and 20th century. Showing the effects of imperialism and colonization, on the colonizer as well as the colonized, interpreted through the eyes of writers such as Charles Dickens in Great Expectations-- and Joseph Conrad in Nostromo(1904). One puts light on the United Kingdom and its relation with it colony of Australia, a classic example of colonialism. On the other hand Conrad in ‘Nostromo’ reflects on imperialism with the example of Central America which, while being an independent republic, was being dominated by outside forces because of economic and political interests. By presenting these two examples Said covers most of what the topic “culture and imperialism” is to him and his point of view, while including two of the biggest examples, in terms of nations and there influence on other regions, on the subject. Although the examples may be seen as few on a subject so vast, it in affect is enough for Edward to prove that much of western literature has taken its influence from the effects of decolonization as well as imperialism, also the resistance to both.

The book altogether contains very verbose literary language, that may make it difficult for the lay man. There are numerous individual examples that may although relate to culture and imperialism, but is irrelevant or confusing in some part. Overall the book feels like a number of lectures stapled together with no progression of ideas, however everything...

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...rom that he has also appreciated it. In addition, he has also suggested to take the significance of geography and its political implications under consideration along with cultural ideologies. Moreover Edward has used another powerful figure known as Kim who was half Irish and half Indian. He did not belong to both the worlds fully. Throughout, Kim maintained a feeling of continuos culture heterogeneity because he was inclined towards India but that was not to be. This story unfolds onto personal history of Kim and representation of the establishment of the British Empire in India. Another example quoted by Said was Verdi’s Aida. It is an example of cultural imperialism. She was an Ethiopian princess that did Verdi’s opera. This ignores the fact that in many ways Aida was an Anti-colonialist. However, it allowed colonial elites to recreate a European cultural life.