Follow the Leader: Thoughts on the 3rd Chapter of Waiting for the Barbarians

The third chapter details the magistrate and the barbarian girl's march from the edge of the Empire into the barbarian’s territory, his returning of the girl, and the surprising news that, upon his return to the Empire, the army has arrived to fight the barbarians. There is one passage in particular which I would like to focus on, because it seems like a good metaphor for this chapter and for the book so far. The passage I am referring to takes place when the magistrate first spots the barbarians that he eventually returns the girl to. Try as they might, the party is initially unable to catch up with the barbarians, who keep a constant distance. Confused, the magistrate asks, “are they reflections of us?” Then, when he gives up chasing them, he adds, “we understand now that while they are following us they are also leading us.” I think the way the barbarians mimic the “civilized” people, or, depending on how you look at it, the “civilized” people mimic the barbarians, is a metaphor for the cycle that both the barbarians and the Empire are caught up in. Throughout the novel, the concept of civilization has been ambiguous. Are the barbarians civilized or is the Empire? Are neither? Ironically, in attempting to civilize the barbarians the Empire has become uncivilized. Therefore, civility seems to flow through both groups, and while the barbarians seem to “follow” the Empire (they are becoming more civil by adopting the Empire’s culture) they actually “lead” it (they are preserving civility by not sinking to the Empire’s level and committing atrocities).

Benjamin Kidd's Point of View

-Background: Kidd was a prominent nineteenth-century Social Darwinist

-Kidd says that "progress is a necessity from which there is simply no escape." He continues that throughout history (even before man) everyone has been constantly competing, and because of this competition, they have been adapting and improving.

-He concludes that because of this competition every living thing is getting better and more perfect. He says that we owe "the most-perfect in life" to this constant competition and betterment.

- He commends the Anglo-Saxon race for spreading "altruistic influences" to the "inferior peoples" around the globe. He mentions that the Anglo-Saxon race should be proud because they have not been as cruel with natives as previous explorers have been.

-He notes that throughout the world natives in all countries are dying out as a result of their contact with white people. He attributes this to the fact that natives are an inferior race and are unable to catch up to the white man, so they die out. He explains that it is a misconception that the evil nature of the more "civilized" white man is what has killed the natives; rather, it is the white man's virtues that have outperformed the natives.

- He says that the people of successful races all share similar traits, such as an "energetic, vigorous, virile life." He claims that people who are conquered are, on the other hand "careless, shiftless, and easily satisfied." He points to the competition and intensity in the "superior" races as the reason they are surviving while the "inferior" races are dying out.

-He closes by urging the reader to face these "stern facts of human life and progress" openly and honestly.

-From Social Progress and the Rivalry of the Races by Benjamin Kidd

"Here, Caddie"

One way that the final section of the novel provided closure was Quentin's escape from the Compson family. When Quentin left, it was almost as if she was fulfilling the legacy left by her mother, and bringing both her and her mother's history full cycle. Caddy's history of estrangement from her family (starting with her relationship with Dalton Ames, continuing with her marriage and divorce, and ending in an illegitimate child and complete separation from family and society) was, in this section, continued on by her daughter. Not only were the remaining Compson's never able to forgive Caddy or accept her back into the family, they never forgave Quentin for Caddy's actions. Even after Jason completely cuts off Caddy from Quentin, removing any influence that Caddy could have had on her, he treats Quentin with a disdain and with the expectation that she will behave like her mother. Therefore, Quentin running away is almost a self-fulfilling prophesy: she was expected to fit a certain role all her life, and by running away she has filled that role.