The Severe Consequences of Imperialism through Orientalism

It is well considered that the Mogul Emperor’s condemnation of Christian rule in India reinforces the discourse of Orientalism to the point that Orientalism can be analyzed as “corporate institute for dealing with the Orient” (Said 3). This can give us a sense on the consequences of imperialism. The main consequences of imperialism is the capitalist exploitation of other countries. The other consequences of imperialism is that it benefits only the rich to the point of massive wealth and income and wealth inequality. Elizabeth Inchbald was a vocal critic of imperialism mostly because of her personal experiences in her life time. Inchbald’s early life was difficult mostly because she is a Catholic and she faced racial prejudice from Protestants in Britain. This racial prejudice Great Britain is implementing imperialist politics in a Protestant nationalistic direction. This could go to the point that Inchbald’s whole acting career was fulled by taking on the political establishment to the point in revealing the dark side of imperialism. This could also go to the point that Inchbald spent most of her acting career in fighting for a society that has social justice in which there is a just society that works for all people.

It is well considered that Inchbald was able to master the anti-imperialist movement than any other intellectual in history. Her play The Mogul Tale is the perfect example for an anti-imperialist masterpiece because it reveals the dark side of imperialism. Another reason is that Inchbald was able to tap on the anger of the Orient towards the Europeans in which she portrays the Moguls superior to the Europeans. This could go to the point that the Mogul Emperor said that “dost thou hear Ambassador, thou who art less acquainted with the rays of royalty, to whom we have permitted our titles to be read in our presence; now look on your credentials, and tell us who is this king your master” (Inchbald 9). This clearly demonstrates how the Mogul Emperor is critical towards European presence mostly because it reflects that the Orient are fearful towards the West. This reflection goes to the point that there the “reality of cultural process must always include ‘the efforts and contributions of those are in one way or another outside or at the edge of specific hegemony’” (Porter 152). This could also go to the point that Said was “eager to confront Western hegemonic thought” (Porter 152). This can give us a sense on how Inchbald fits into Porter’s definition of Orientalism when he made a critique on Edward Said’s Orientalism. This could give us a sense on how Inchbald’s play could “make a qualitative distinction between texts that characterized by a self-integrating density of verbal texture and those that offer no internal resistance to the ideologies they reproduce” (Porter 153). This clearly demonstrates how Inchbald was able to analyze the dark side of imperialism in order for us to have a sense in how horrible imperialism was when it comes to racial stereotypes. This could also give us a sense that Inchbald’s play clarify that “it will confirm how under certain conditions Orientalist discourse… allows counter-hegemonic voices to be heard within in” (Porter 155).

It is also well considered that Inchald’s play reveals the other dark side of imperialism in which there is an economy that is rigged for the benefit of the rich at the expense of the poor. Inchbald’s play also reveals class conflict in which it reveals that imperialism results in massive wealth and income inequality. In her play, Inchbald wrote that two concubines took a balloon to the Mogul Empire as a way to demonstrate how the wealthy is completely out of touch with the people. This could go to the point that imperialism reveals to us that the British government is being controlled by the wealthy who are looking out for themselves. The image above shows us how imperialism allowed the greed and corruption of the British upper class to destroy the working class of Great Britain. This political carton, that is drawn by John Nicholson, reveals to us how the British upper class live in luxury by enjoying a ride on a balloon while ignoring the needs of the British people. The clearly demonstrates how Inchbald is critical that imperialism creates massive wealth and income and inequality in a sense that imperialism rigs the system. The reason being why Inchbald made the balloon scene a big deal is mostly because of her personal experience in facing racial prejudice among Protestants. Another reason is that Inchbald wanted a complete desire to overcome the long and hated legacy of racism and xenophobia. Another reason is that Inchbald wanted to great a just society that works for all people.

It is also well considered that Inchbald’s play, The Mogul Tale, is very connected to the political revolution that Bernie Sanders is creating in his campaign for President in 2020. The main connection between Inchbald and Sanders is that they were vocal critics of imperialism in a sense that they believe that imperialism only benefits the rich and plunders the poor. This could go to the point that both Inchbald and Sanders believe that with imperialism, there is no freedom. This could also go to the point that both Inchbald and Sanders believe that imperialism creates tension around the world. This could give us a sense that both Inchbald and Sanders were dedicated to create a just society that works for all people. This could also give us a sense that both Inchbald’s play and Sanders’s political revolution will allow to “confirm how under certain conditions Orientalist discourse… allows counter-hegemonic voices to be heard within in” (Porter 155).