White Man's Burden: Summary - Rudyard Kipling
The speaker says to take up the White Man's burden, which is to send the best men abroad and your sons into exile to serve your captives. These "newly
White Man's Burden: Rudyard Kipling Summary The poem is subtitled "The United States and the Philippine Islands". The speaker says to take up the White Man's burden, which is to send the best men abroad and your sons into exile to serve your captives. These "newly-caught" people are wild, angry, and both devilish and childish. He repeats that you must take up this burden to be patient, temper your terror and holds back your pride, to use simple and frank words, and to gain profit from others. He repeats to take up the burden, which includes "the savage wars of peace". You are to fill mouths with food and end famine and get rid of sickness and disease. However, you must be careful to avoid, as your goal draws near, falling into sloth and folly and watching your hopes dissolve. He repeats to take up the burden – not the work of Kings but of common men, toiling like serfs. You will mark ports and roads with both your living and you’re dead. He repeats t…