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  • Essay / Respect and aspiration for a different culture

    Charles Dickens's essay The Noble Savage and H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines both communicate an agenda set forth by the author. In his essay, Dickens very directly expresses his disgust at the sympathy he sees given to the indigenous peoples of Africa by his compatriots. His writing is brutal and accusatory and he doesn't mince his words. Haggard is more vague in his approach to the Zulu people. He describes them as both inferior to him and deserving of respect. This is purely a difference in writing style and does not lend itself to a difference in attitude. When it comes to race, Haggard agrees with Dickens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Dickens and Haggard write for different audiences. Nobel Savage appeared in Dickens' famous magazine, Household Words. This newspaper was written for a growing middle class and focused on social commentary regarding the poor. It served as a sounding board for social reform, making it an ideal venue for Dickens to share his views on indigenous African culture. The first line of the essay states: “I beg to say that I have not the slightest belief in the Noble Savage” (Dickens 805). He states his argument early on, building on Rousseau's idea that indigenous people are more noble. The word noble evokes in the reader a sympathy and respect that Dickens quickly begins to destroy. He immediately attacks Rousseau's ideas by saying that the noble savage should be "civilized from the face of the earth" (Dickens 805). His use of the word noble is intended to be ironic and creates false sympathy for the African natives. In his essay, Dickens opposes the humanization of African natives. He begins a paragraph by saying: “It is not the miserable nature of the noble savage that is the novelty; it is the moaning over him with maudlin admiration” (Dickens 806). He is offended by the suggestion of implementing these eccentrics into British society in the current manner. His views are shared with a middle class who are about to climb the British social ladder. In contrast, Haggard romanticizes the Zulu people in an attempt to appeal to a young boy's sense of adventure. His views parallel those of Dickens and he draws several distinctions between black and white throughout the novel. Haggard also creates revered and respected indigenous characters. This is evident in the quasi-romance between Captain Good and Foulata. She is depicted as being noble, even dying for the man she loves because "I know he cannot clutter his life with someone like me, for the sun cannot mate with darkness , nor white with black” (Haggard 206). Haggard gave Foulata the power to see her own limits, she is the one who leaves Good and it is this act that makes her noble. Haggard also creates a noble character in Umbopa. He is Zulu but is often described as being different, more absorbed in thought. After being accepted as a traveling companion of Quartermain and company, Umbopa tells Sir Henry “we are men, you and I” (Haggard 40). He repeats this line again in the story, showing that there is not only a difference between men, but also a commonality. Haggard uses these characters in the same way he uses the desire to find treasure. By developing characters that are relatable, interesting and protective, it creates an exciting environment that will appeal to the young men it is aimed at. Had Haggard created a fictional environment that.