25 Matching Annotations
  1. Oct 2023
    1. f Chinese modernity would not exist without the process of turning Summer Palace loot into art and commodities
    2. commodities in the capitalist market exchange.
    1. The Western powers believed they were bringing superior culture and trade opportunities to China, while the Chinese valued their own history and traditions
    2. This text describes a violent incident that occurred in an orphanage in China in 1870.
    3. nd some even called for armed invasion by Western countries.
    4. This hindered China's industrialization efforts and prevented them from entering the capitalist era.

      Eurocentric perspective of global capitalism as China had its own capitalist system trading with other countries in the East before

    5. treaties signed with foreign countries took away China's ability to control its own tariffs and rivers.
    6. missionaries in China used force, such as gunboats, to gain access and privileges for themselves and their converts.
    7. treaties allowed foreigners to have control over certain areas in Chinese cities, where they collected taxes and enforced their own laws.

      colonialisation

    8. Manchu policy of opening up more ports for trade and foreign residence was seen as weak by the Han Chinese

      Han vs Manchu

    9. ifferent groups within the Chinese government who had different opinions
    10. Treaty of Nanjing, which gave Hong Kong Island to Britain, was the first of many unequal treaties between China and foreign nations.
    11. Lin, a Chinese official, tried to stop the importation by demanding that foreigners turn over their opium stocks, but they refused.
    12. economic crisis,
    13. The British were benefiting economically from the opium trade, while the Chinese were becoming addicted to the drug.
    14. conquer territory and expand
    15. hina and Western nations granted various rights and privileges to the foreigners, including extraterritoriality and the practice of Christianity

      trade relations gave extra privileges, start of colonisation

  2. Jul 2021
  3. Oct 2020
    1. The sublime intoxication of opium gleamed in his eyes; the dew of a stealthy perspiration began to glisten on his face.

      It's interesting to me that not the moonstone, but rather a different exotic import (from India), would be the thing with strange and mysterious powers.

    2. The sublime

      Greatness beyond comprehension. The sublime was a concept heavily discussed in English art and philosophy in the century preceding the writing of The Moonstone. Much like the intoxication of opium, the mystery of the Moonstone cannot be explained through calculations or logical argumentation. It's not Law - I think Mr.Bruff's presence in the scene serves as a great foil here. The mystery can only be solved through experience, not deduction.

    3. spiritualised intoxication of opium

      Such an interesting way to describe the effects of opium. 'Spiritualise' means "to purify from the corrupting influences of the world." However, its definition juxtaposes the 'corrupting' nature that opium has to an individual.

    4. “I do remember! I slept soundly.”

      This seems to suggest that Franklin stole the diamond under the influence of opium, which is also why he forgot that he ever stole it. This also reminds me of that scene with the three indians and the little boy during the First Period, although I am not sure if the two are connected. It also finally explains the role of opium in the plot. I am not sure how this drug works, but to my knowledge this is supposed to be a pain killer. Not sure how it would make someone 'do things' without recollection, which is the only thing that confuses me about all this. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see what else happened during the period that Franklin cannot recall, as I am sure that it will be revealed at some point later on.

  4. Sep 2020
    1. through the window, to take his portmanteau

      How close were Wilkie Collins and Lewis Carroll? If I'm not mistaken, Carroll originally used this phrase in Through the Looking Glass which was published around the same time as The Moonstone.

      As Humpty Dumpty says, the portmanteau could be interpreted as "two meanings packed up into one word" . With Godfrey giving Cuff the keys to the portmanteau, it may allude to clues hidden in words with double meanings.

      Either way, Carroll and Collins must've been on a lot of the good stuff.

    2. The Colonel had been a notorious opium-eater for years past

      It should be mentioned that Wilkie Collins was a "notorious opium-eater" himself. The Colonel may be an allusion to himself, and the negative way in which he is depicted could be interpreted as Collins' self-loathing.

      The curse of the Diamond itself may be an allegory for the corrupting influence of opium addiction. The "wretched crystal" that he "picked up" in India can be construed as a metaphor for a bad drug habit.

    3. opium

      This brings an important issue about our relationship with narcotic substances, dating back from Victorian times. It would be interesting to learn how this plays a role in the story (or if it does) and perhaps it would lead us to uncovering the darkest motives of the character/s.