The Imperialist by Sara Jeannette Duncan
"The Imperialist" by Sara Jeannette Duncan is a novel set in the early 20th century in Elgin, Ontario, and explores the complexities of Canadian national identity in relation to Great Britain. The story primarily follows Lorne Murchison, a young man from a Scottish immigrant family seeking to establish his future in a rapidly evolving society. Central to the narrative is Lorne's internal conflict regarding Canada’s relationship with Britain; he believes that strengthening imperial ties will benefit the nation, despite the emerging Canadian national pride and economic interests that advocate for independence.
As Lorne navigates personal and political challenges, including a secret engagement to wealthy Dora Milburn and the romantic entanglements of his sister Advena, the novel examines the broader implications of imperialism and identity for Canadian society. Lorne's political ambitions are thwarted, leading him to ultimately reassess his values and aspirations. The contrasting experiences of Lorne and Advena highlight the generational shifts among Canadian immigrants and their evolving connections to their ancestral roots. Through its exploration of these themes, "The Imperialist" reflects the tensions inherent in the quest for a distinct Canadian identity while grappling with the legacy of colonial ties.
On this Page
Subject Terms
The Imperialist by Sara Jeannette Duncan
First published: 1904
The Work
The Imperialist is the only one of Sara Jeannette Duncan’s novels set in her native Canada. Although in her lifetime her other works, many of which are set in India, were well-known, her reputation rests primarily on The Imperialist. The novel chronicles life in the town of Elgin, Ontario, in the first decade of the twentieth century. Its central theme is the issue of whether Canada should have its own national identity or be part of a federation with Great Britain.
Lorne Murchison is a young man whose family has emigrated from Scotland to Elgin, where they have made their wealth and reputation over a period of thirty years. Lorne is talented and ambitious, and he becomes known as someone destined for great things in the future. He proposes marriage to a woman of inherited wealth, Dora Milburn, but their engagement must be kept secret because of Lorne’s background. Lorne’s sister Advena falls in love with Hugh Finlay, the recently installed assistant to the town’s longtime Presbyterian clergyman, Mr. Drummond. Finlay reveals he is engaged to another woman in his original home of Scotland.
A visit to England has made Lorne convinced of the necessity of imperial ties between Britain and its former colony, Canada. The novel uses the word “imperialist” in a special, limited sense: to refer to close relations between Canada and Great Britain. Lorne attempts to run for Parliament as a Liberal. Although he is a Canadian patriot, he believes Canada’s national interest is best served by forging closer trade ties with Britain. This policy threatens Canadian manufacturers, who want protected markets for their goods, and British traders, who see no reason why former colonies should receive special economic consideration. Lorne’s position also is at odds with the growing sense of national pride among Canadians, who scoff at a British friend of Lorne. Lorne loses the election, is spurned by Dora and, disillusioned, moves south to the United States—the great enemy of all he had formerly represented. He eventually moves back to Canada, and a bright future is predicted for Lorne and his nation.
Meanwhile, Advena and Finlay marry when Mr. Drummond unexpectedly proposes to Christie Campbell, Finlay’s fiancée. The interaction between these two generations of Scottish migrants to Canada highlights the novel’s primary concern: Canadian national identity as established through and in spite of traditional ties with Great Britain. In dealing with the contrast between Europe and the New World, Duncan mirrors a theme of her contemporary Henry James. She adds a distinctly regional and Canadian emphasis.
Bibliography
Dean, Misao. A Different Point of View: Sara Jeannette Duncan. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1991.
Keith, W. J. Canadian Literature in English. New York: Longman, 1985.
Tausky, Thomas. Sara Jeannette Duncan: Novelist of Empire. Port Credit, Ontario, Canada: P. D. Meany, 1980.