Asia-Pacific Writing and Colonial Discourse in “Yo Ho and Two Bottles of Rum”

ABSTRACT: William Faulkner’s early short story “Yo Ho and Two Bottles of Rum” reflects the complex colonial discourse of the early twentieth century. Through the voyage of the freighter Diana in the Asia-Pacific region, Faulkner critiques the imperialist oppression of people of color in Asia, reflecting the rise of global anti-imperialist currents during this period. However, the ship’s cargo of American-made sewing machines also exposes a new form of American colonialism, which was driven by trade exports and cultural infiltration in the Asia-Pacific. While Faulkner critiques the oppression of people of color, he simultaneously perpetuates stereotypes rooted in white supremacist views of Asian racial inferiority. The story resonates with the new US imperialist discourse, reflecting the intertwining of colonial discourse and literature in the early twentieth century.