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The Political/Social perspectives of "Bela" and "From Deep Woods to Civilization" In 19 th century the expansion of European culture in America and Asia has resulted in what we now refer to as clash of civilizations. White people werent overburdened with notion of historical guilt at the time and there also wasnt concept of political correctness, so the interaction of White people with aboriginal cultures often led to much misunderstanding between them. In this respect Lermontov's Bela and Eastman's From Deep Woods to Civilization serve as good examples of how clash of cultures can also be outlined on social and political levels. Michael Lermontov is one of the greatest Russian writers. Being an officer, he got around a lot, serving his duty at numerous postings throughout Russian Empire. His novel Bela is about a tragic attraction between young Russian army officer and the local checkers girl, which led to her death in the end.
Gregory Pechorin is being posted to an obscure military fort in Caucasus at the time when Russian empire was aggressively expanding southwards, while trying to assimilate local people. Apparently, locals were told that they would be able to maintain their religion and culture within the Empire and this what defined Pechorin's attitude at the beginning of the story. He sincerely believed that there was no much difference between Russians and local people, although he thought that barbarians would have to embrace Russian culture sooner or later. Yet, as time passed, he began to realize that although locals were much different from Russians, they nevertheless could not be called inferior. Pechorin's countrymen used to treat aboriginal people with distrust and disrespect: They " re terrible beasts, these Asiatics!
You think that all that shouting means that they are helping the oxen? Why, the devil alone can make out what it is they do shout. The oxen understand, though; and if you were to yoke as many as twenty they still wouldn't budge so long as the Ossetes shouted in that way of theirs... Awful scoundrels! (Lermontov, p. 15) Yet, Pechorin started to understand that actually Russians made Ossetes to be that way.
Locals pursued their way of life for hundreds of years without any changes and they lived in harmony among themselves. The invasion from the North has destroyed this fragile harmony. Pechorin wanted only the best for Bela, the local girl who was being kidnapped by him to save her from her own relatives. Yet, his good intentions still didnt help her she was being killed.
The whole point of Lermontov's novel is that traditional societies are very sensitive to the influence from outside. There is also a political perspective in novel Bela. The events described in it take place in 19 th century, during so-called Caucasus war, when Russia was trying to subdue Chechens and other smaller nationalities under its rule. As it appears now, Russia has failed miserably in doing this as there is still war going on in Chechnya.
Chechens are very proud people and they will never stop fighting for their independence as long as there is even single Chechen left. Russian president Putin is now openly admits that Russia might just have to simply exterminate all Chechens, as theyre all sympathetic to the cause of independence. In the end of this story, dying Bela is asked whether shed like to convert to Christianity, so shed be able to meet her beloved up in the heaven after he dies too. She contemplated this thought for a while and finally she answered that she would die in the faith in which she had been born.
A whole day passed thus. What a change that day made in her! (Lermontov, p. 30) There are parallels can be drawn about how national minorities were being treated in Russia and USA. In Charles Eastman's book we get to read a first-hand account of White peoples interaction with Natives in 19 th century. The author was born in 1859, among people of Eastern Woodland Sioux. Up until he turned 15 years old, his upbringing was strictly traditional. Hes very unique among native writers of the time, because the rest of them were either fully acculturated and never lived the traditional lifestyles or were simply illiterate.
The essence of Eastman's story appears to be very obvious from the very name of his book. From Deep Woods to Civilization is an autobiography, where an author tells us his life story. As any writer, at the turn of the century, Eastman was unaware of political correctness and thats why he admits that although his tribe suffered a lot because of White people, his people would never be able to become civilized if it wasnt up to White settlers. Still, Eastman remains very critical of how Whites treated his tribesmen. While talking about Indian traditional way of life he points out that: There was no thought of destroying a nation, taking away their country or reducing the people to servitude, for my race rather honored and bestowed gifts upon their enemies at the next peaceful meeting, until they had adopted the usages of the white mans warfare for spoliation and conquest. (Eastman, p. 4) As we read through Eastman's book we realize that his perception of surrounding reality is very special simple things bring him an immense pleasure because he feels being part of the nature: I tasted to the full the joy and plenty of wild existence. I saw buffalo, elk, and antelope in herds numbering thousands... (Eastman, p. 34) Eastman tells us of how he got graduated from Dartmouth and Boston University medical schools.
Even though it was uneasy for Indian student to pursue with his studies at the time, nevertheless author never complains about it. Eastman with his own example shows us that ones courage and persistence can move mountains. From very beginning he had a goal of becoming someone, yet he knew that chances of this happening werent very good because of his race and his social status. But this never stopped his determination; he was willing to do whatever it takes to make his dreams come true. Eastman thinks that all the hardships, he experienced throughout his life, had only benefited him in the long run. He knew that there is an injustice, yet he was never making point out of it: The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race (Eastman, p. 68) Author was only a medical doctor that was available to Natives, who were being wounded during Wounded Knee massacre that occurred in 1890.
Yet there is no anger can be found in his book, his attitude can be described as very stoic. Eastman's father told him that man always has to remain reasonable and never give in to emotions: You must be doubly careful, for traps will be laid for you, of which the most dangerous is the spirit-water, that causes a man to forget his self-respect (Eastman, p. 29) Eastman's book is totally deprived of whining, which shows the author being a real man. He understands that Whites and Natives need to compromise sometimes for the sake of greater good. But he also understands that in order for his people to acquire more political weight, they need to work on their education. Lermontov and Eastman are two writers that are being worlds apart, yet they both seem to have drawn similar conclusions about clash of the cultures. Even though they never had any illusions that people with different cultural backgrounds might become the best friends, yet they also understood that there has to be some common ground, upon which reconciliation can be based.
Both authors also express the same anti-colonial sentiment. Eastman tells us about how land was being bought from Indians and how they never got paid for it. Lermontov also shows his readers those injustices that were being committed by Russian Imperial authorities towards local Native population in Caucasus region. Lermontov's writings now considered being as such that triggered democratic movement among Russian intellectual elite in 19 th century. Many famous Russian democrats and revolutionaries had admitted that Lermontov's novels and poetry heavily impacted their intellectual development. The same can be said about From Deep Woods to Civilization of Charles Eastman this book signified the political awakening of Native people in America.
There is no doubt that both authors had greatly contributed to the raising of peoples political consciousness in their countries. Bibliography: Eastman, Charles From the Deep Woods to Civilization: Chapters in the Autobiography of an Indian Little, Brown, and Company. Boston. 1916 Lermontov, Michael A Hero of Our Time Chapter 1, Bela. Brundage and Lahey. Prentice Hall. Toronto. 1984 The Outline On page one there is a short thesis about clash of cultures concept, being present in works of 19 th century writers.
Even though both Lermontov and Eastman seemingly have nothing in common, yet they come up with the same conclusion White people have brought much suffering to the people of traditional cultures. On pages 1 - 2 there is brief description of Lermontov's novel Bela. Author tells us about his personal experiences, while serving as officer of Russian army in Caucasus region. Pages 2 - 4 dedicated to the analysis of Charles Eastman From Deep Woods to Civilization. At the end, there is a brief summary of Eastman's ideas. The second half of page 4 concludes the essay.
In works of both authors, humanist ideas are the most prominent ones.
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Research essay sample on 19 Th Century Russian Empire
