Final answer:
In the last verse of "The White Man's Burden," Kipling suggests that taking up the burden of imperialism is a moral obligation to serve and better the lives of colonized peoples, despite the challenges and ingratitude faced.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling is a call to the United States to take up the cause of imperialism — to impose their civilization and values upon other cultures, which Kipling sees as less developed. Despite recognizing that this task is fraught with challenge and thanklessness, as highlighted in the line "The blame of those ye better, The hate of those ye guard-", Kipling believes that this burden is a noble cause that reflects a moral obligation.
In the last verse of the poem, Kipling summarizes why he thinks it is essential to take up the white man's burden. He refers to the necessity of serving "your captives' need," suggesting an obligation to care for the colonized peoples. Additionally, there is a sense of sacrifice embedded in the poem's rhetoric, including sending the nation's best abroad to work for the benefit of others—portrayed as both a duty and a testament to national and racial superiority.
The view held by Kipling and other proponents of imperialism was that they were helping to improve the lives of colonized peoples through the introduction of Western civilization's hallmarks. This perspective, coupled with the paternalistic attitude, justified the expansionist policies of the era, despite the exploitative and oppressive realities of imperialism. Kipling's call for taking up the burden despite the difficulties suggests a belief that the benefits of spreading Western civilization outweighed the moral and ethical concerns associated with imperialism.