Doyle's Underlying Warnings About England's Imperialism and Racism

[Edit] This was longer than I intended, sorry.. If you want to skip reading anything, the middle two paragraphs are basically supporting details leading to the last paragraph.

Throughout the years of English imperialism, the British Empire grew in power as it captured and plundered small, isolated countries. From these countries, many emigrants made their way to England in search of lives different from the ones they had in their home countries; however, upon their arrival, many faced unexpected challenges. The English, along with many other Westerners, held many suspicions toward foreigners which made it hard for immigrants to assimilate into society. Racism and nationalism not only gave natives priority in the work force leaving even skilled foreigners without or in menial jobs, it also held bias in the judicial system, social standing, and education. In The Lost World, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle subtly mirrors this treatment through the behavior of the ape-men toward the plateau Indians and the four explorers.

We talked a bit in class about how the plateau is much similar to the English countryside, mostly on how the same type of trees grew in each place [beech, ginkgo, etc.]. But how else do the two landscapes relate? England, like the plateau, was generally fairly open with a lot of farms and hills with the exception of a central city: London in England and the Ape Town of the plateau. Also, the parallel [as someone mentioned] of the tall ginkgo tree overlooking the plateau and Big Ben overlooking London. This scenery sets up the backdrop for further parallels to arise wish the introduction of the ape-men. From the start, Doyle makes it obvious that these "missing links" have some form of organized militia that works easily amongst the trees, much as the British Navy dominated the oceans of the world. Both had small groups that could hold their own [as the single ape-man so easily escaped the fall from the ginkgo tree] and spy on enemies [inferring that it was an ape-man which stumbled upon and ransacked the adventurers' camp on that first day]; however, both could call upon a massive force to overtake those they desired [as the ape-men easily capture three of the adventurers at a strategically beneficial time of day]. Both societies seem to take similar enjoyments in public spectacles and executions: England with it's hanging of criminals and lectures [which, in Challenger's case, people expected a sort of political hanging] and the ape-men with shoving prisoners off cliffs [which Lord John even admits he finds amusing]. Doyle even goes so far as to have a doppelganger of Professor Challenger, a presumably prominent Englishman, among the ape-men to complete the link.

So, how do the actions of the ape-men say anything about England's imperialism and racism? As one of the main powers of the plateau, much like England in the wider world, the ape-men keep their domain under complete control and seem to know as soon as anything happens within their mini-empire. When a small group of people shows up, apparently with nothing but a thorn fence, food resources, boxes, and funny sticks, the ape-men take the opportunity to capture the men's camp. This action, at first thought, seems to re-secure the ape-men's position in the plateau, as it eliminates a potential threat and increases their resources.
Back in Ape Town, the men are treated in much the same way as immigrants. Lord John and Professor Summerlee, who more closely resemble the rival Indian tribe, are shunned from the society, neglected, and later potentially subjected to death as an enemy [or, at least attempted]. Meanwhile, Challenger, who looks similar in nature though speaks another language, is treated as an Englishman might treat a German or Spaniard: with politeness [as they allow him to share their food and what not] but also with condescension [as the king brushes off Challenger's pleas for Summerlee's life].

Now, how does Doyle predict the consequences of England's current treatment of those it has colonized? Each of imperialistic act of the ape-men seems to take them one step closer to their demise. First, in capturing the four Englishmen, the ape-men treat them in such a way to gain another enemy; but, they also make the mistake of disregarding the power of the guns. Likely because they can not comprehend the technologies of the adventurers, the ape-men leave behind the advancements of those they captured; advances which, had they studied them, could have given them the absolute advantage or, had they discarded them, could not be used against them. This underestimation of the humans' power, and ability to untie knots, comes back to haunt them when Lord John and Malone revolt to save their friends and again when they join forces with the plateau Indians who treat them with respect. This series of events predicts that England's habitual underestimation and belligerent treatment of it's immigrants and colonists may very lead to it's undoing. It is as if Doyle says, "Learn from those you conquer or they may surprise you."

Some other points to ponder:
~ How the actions of the non-white characters [such as Zambo and Indians] towards others compare with the actions of those with some Anglo-Saxon decent [People you meet in England, even the half-breeds].
~ If Doyle is against imperialism, why is the plateau Indians' conquest allowed to succeed? What makes it different, or a more justified outcome?
~ Could, instead, the ape-men represent some other imperialistic power [perhaps Russia, as England was in competition with it at the time. Would fit with the hairiness. :D] which the Indians [as England with their canoes] must overcome.

Just some thoughts,
Marissa Anthony