Over the course of history, many ancient empires have shared one common practice, a practice which linked these various cultures over the boundaries of religion, language, and even geography: colonialism. This custom often involved inserting colonists into foreign lands, encountering indigenous people, and most importantly, establishing trading networks amongst themselves; the settlers take over certain portions of the land’s natural resources, and the natives gain access to superior technology. However, such relationships between colonists and the indigenous populace did not always yield positive results, as the ancient Chinese developed an addiction to opium marketed by the British, spurring conflicts such as the First Opium War; Indians
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For example, in “A Justice,” one of Doom’s highest goals for the tribe involves dragging back a “steamboat” that “crawled up on the sand-bar and died” (6). Although the steamboat may seem to represent another one of Doom’s foolish endeavors solely for the purpose of ego, in reality, it represents the beginning of a dependency on White culture. The natives do not just end up dragging a wondrous, incomprehensible machine back to their camp, but rather, they unknowingly drag back the values and culture the ship symbolizes as well. Consequently, Crawfish-ford changes his name to Crawford, the tribe begins to take slaves they do not need, and they begin building fences that are “too high to climb,” effectively transitioning from their once inclusive atmosphere and their oneness with nature (17). In addition, Faulkner utilizes the resuscitation of the steamboat to mark the ultimate perversion of native values, as the stranded steamboat also serves to symbolize a beached whale, “lying on its side,” compelled to “get up and walk” (10-11). At first glance, forcing the steamboat back to camp may merely …show more content…
Whether it takes place in the backwoods of the 19th century or in the sprawling metropolises of the modern world, people often go about their lives worrying about their social status, material wealth, and their popularity. But by focusing on these superficial objects and concerns, people lose their touch on reality and forget key issues such as racial discrimination, the unjust treatment of the poor and the marginalized, and the negligent usage of the wilderness’ natural resources. Just like Doom, Boon, and the Southern gentry, turning their backs on their native cultures has catastrophic results, leaving them forever searching for more goods to buy, more riches to accumulate, and more meaningless satisfaction that can never fill their spiritual
For example, in “A Justice,” one of Doom’s highest goals for the tribe involves dragging back a “steamboat” that “crawled up on the sand-bar and died” (6). Although the steamboat may seem to represent another one of Doom’s foolish endeavors solely for the purpose of ego, in reality, it represents the beginning of a dependency on White culture. The natives do not just end up dragging a wondrous, incomprehensible machine back to their camp, but rather, they unknowingly drag back the values and culture the ship symbolizes as well. Consequently, Crawfish-ford changes his name to Crawford, the tribe begins to take slaves they do not need, and they begin building fences that are “too high to climb,” effectively transitioning from their once inclusive atmosphere and their oneness with nature (17). In addition, Faulkner utilizes the resuscitation of the steamboat to mark the ultimate perversion of native values, as the stranded steamboat also serves to symbolize a beached whale, “lying on its side,” compelled to “get up and walk” (10-11). At first glance, forcing the steamboat back to camp may merely …show more content…
Whether it takes place in the backwoods of the 19th century or in the sprawling metropolises of the modern world, people often go about their lives worrying about their social status, material wealth, and their popularity. But by focusing on these superficial objects and concerns, people lose their touch on reality and forget key issues such as racial discrimination, the unjust treatment of the poor and the marginalized, and the negligent usage of the wilderness’ natural resources. Just like Doom, Boon, and the Southern gentry, turning their backs on their native cultures has catastrophic results, leaving them forever searching for more goods to buy, more riches to accumulate, and more meaningless satisfaction that can never fill their spiritual