Colonial Enterprise in James Cook’s The Journals

Abstract

James Cook's The Journals exhibit the attempt and enterprise of colonization through exploration. It shows the negative stereotypical thinking towards non- Europeans. In the text, Cook claims Europeans as the superior beings to the non- Europeans. Cook points out native peoples and their cultures as barbaric/uncivilized and superstitious so as to, justify that these people need Europeans for their developments and civilization. While doing so, he participates in colonial enterprise of the Europeans. This study has selected just first voyage of Captain James Cook from his book The Journals. For the analysis of the text, this research draws the concept and ideas of Orientalism and Postcolonialism conceptualized by scholars such as Edward Said, Leela Gandhi and John Mcleod.

This thesis has been divided into five headings. The first is introduction which introduces the hypothesis, text, purpose of the study and key concept. The second is Reviews on The Journals which introduces the reviews of different philosophers on the Cook’s work. Like as this third one introduces the meaning and definitions of Colonialism, Postcolonialism and Orientalism by various philosophers. Continuously fourth is Cook’s Misinterpretation of Non- Europeans which includes the examples from Cook’s book about the negative portraying towards Non- Europeans. As well as last one introduces conclusion of the research work.