Research Paper on:
Jewel in the Crown/Western Progress

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
fruits of the Industrial Revolution, feeling morally resplendent in their mantle of Christian responsibility, the West assumed what Kipling described as the "white mans burden" and committed themselves to raising  up the brown-skinned peoples of the world to their perceived level of morality and achievement. However, history shows that the rationalized foundations for imperialism were pure illusion. The  behavior of Western powers in the third world throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century is one of repression and racism. This legacy is shown well in Paul Scotts  novel The Jewel in the Crown. Through the various characters of this novel, Scott represents the experience of colonial India, which can be viewed as exemplary of  the imperial rule in general. An examination of these characters serves to highlight the failures of European imperialism. For example, the character of Hari Kumar demonstrates the illusionary nature of  the promise of equality. Kumars father believed completely in the promise of equality. He thought that if he molded his son into an Englishman that he would be accorded equality  automatically. He even changed the boys name to "Harry Coomer" to make it sound more British (Rao, 1980). Hari lived in Britain from the age two to eighteen. He was  educated in the finest British schools. With no knowledge of any Indian tongue, Kumar became completely an upper-class Britain, in his manner and attitudes. However, when his father goes bankrupt  and commits suicide, Kumar is forced to return to India. Kumar is what the British have said all along is their goal, i.e. an Indian who thinks, acts, and  speaks like an Englishman. However, in India, his skin color dooms Kumar to second-class citizenship, a position that his upbringing has not prepared him to accept. For example, when he