Elizabeth's horror at the existence 'of such extraordinary creatures' (125) is twofold; she is incredulous at the thought of a white man 'hav[ing] anything to do with native women' (127), and is scandalized by the knowledge that they 'cadge from the natives' (125). Together these taint the reputation of the white community, with Eurasians are not 'one of us' (125), but lumped into the category of the 'degenerate[s]' (126).
Next, the Eurasians believe that 'their drop of white blood is the[ir] sole asset' (126) and hence constantly strive to align themselves with 'Europians' (125)- asserting that they too are 'torment[ed]' by 'prickly heat' and 'menace[d]' by 'sunstroke' (124). In doing so, they are complicitous in acknowledging and perpetuating the superiority of the Europeans, and are ultimately unable (and even unwilling), in spite of their racial difference, to transcend the dictates of the status-quo.
These negative views of Eurasians are especially interesting in today's context, considering how they are no longer considered 'half-cast[e]' (126) pariahs, with the 'pan-asian' look is now considered extremely beautiful and highly sought-after. This is fascinating to me as yet another example of time overturning social norms and configurations, necessitating our sensitivity as 21st-century readers of Orwell.
(300 words)
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3 comments:
Haha your title made me LOL. Completely agree with your idea that ideals of beauty change with time--back then it was convenient and useful to the colonial enterprise to behold a physical embodiment of mixed blood as disgusting and freakish (hence upholding 'whiteness' as pure and untainted). But today globalisation has turned that on its head.
It'd be interesting to think about who actually dictates that such "pan-asian" looks constitute modern standards of beauty, hence worthy of adoration. Not to forget the nature of such adoration i.e. adored for what purposes, and the context in which it occurs.
Something I recall, which may be relevant: Anthony Wong, a Hong Kong film actor - father, British Caucasian; mother, Chinese - was brutally treated as an outcast within the predominantly Chinese community he grew up in; and that he wasn't exactly a looker the likes of Carl Ng.
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Very good, Kelly!
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