What’s Wrong with the World · Chapter
I: The Charm of Jingoism explained
Chesterton critiques popular English Imperialism as a sentimental and optimistic illusion, contrasting it with a deeper, more sinister Caesarism.
What happens
Chesterton critiques popular English Imperialism as a sentimental and optimistic illusion, contrasting it with a deeper, more sinister Caesarism. He argues that English Imperialism is a weakness born of softness and kindness, not harshness, and uses examples like Dickens' David Copperfield and Kipling's romanticized colonies to illustrate how distant lands are treated as fairylands for comfort. He ultimately distinguishes this amiable delusion from the more dangerous Imperialism he intends to explore.
Themes in this chapter
Imperialism and National Weakness
Chesterton argues that English Imperialism is a sentimental illusion and a continuous feebleness, a running sore in the nation, rather than a sign of strength.
Tradition vs. Progress
Kipling's imagination is rooted in an Asiatic past, contrasting with the shallow optimism of colonial progress; the chapter critiques the idea of new colonies as places of renewal.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator presents a critique of Imperialism, distinguishing between popular sentimental Imperialism and a deeper, more sinister form.
- Kipling
Mentioned as a man of real but decadent genius who threw a theoretic glamour over the colonies; his imagination is rooted in an Asiatic past.
- David Copperfield
Used as an example of Dickens' Imperialistic ending, where characters are shipped off to colonies for convenient happiness.
- Napoleon
Referenced as a figure whose glory is contrasted with the weakness of English Imperialism.
- The English
Described as a poetical and optimistic people whose Empire is vague, sympathetic, distant, and dear, but ultimately a weakness.
Key passages
“Imperialism, I think, is a fiction created, not by English hardness but by English softness; nay, in a sense, by English kindness.”
Chesterton claims that Imperialism is not a product of English cruelty but of English sentimentality and benevolence.
This sets up his central argument that popular Imperialism is an amiable delusion.
“Mr. Rudyard Kipling, a man of real though decadent genius, threw a theoretic glamour over them which is already fading.”
Kipling's romanticized view of the colonies is losing its appeal, as it is based on imagination rather than reality.
Chesterton critiques Kipling's influence on Imperialist sentiment.
“It is the attempt of a European country to create a kind of sham Europe which it can dominate, instead of the real Europe, which it can only share.”
Imperialism tries to build a fake empire for domination rather than engaging with the real, shared continent of Europe.
This highlights Chesterton's view of Imperialism as a逃避 from genuine international relations.