Arrogance and Bias Behind Orientalism: A Case Study of On a Chinese Screen

Abstract

When it comes to the literary works about Orientalism, Maugham’s famous travel book On a Chinese Screen will surely be mentioned. Under his work, China is shrouded in the mysterious veil of Orientalism. Why China is considered like a mystery? The reason is that mystery will satisfies western’s hunt for novelty about China. In the background of the rise of the British Empire, this series of prejudice and superiority to the images of China appear prominently in this literary work.