Exploring the Evil of Colonialism in Heart of Darkness
A masterpiece of twentieth-century writing, Heart of Darkness exposes the tenuous fabric that holds "civilization" together and the brutal horror at the center of European colonialism. Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, describes a life-altering journey that the protagonist, Marlow, experiences in the African Congo. The story explores the historical period of colonialism in Africa to exemplify Marlow's struggles. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is most often read as an attack upon colonialism. Marlow, like other Europeans of his time, is brought up to believe certain things about colonialism, but his views change as he experiences the effects of colonialism first hand. This essay will look at Marlow's negative view of colonialism, which is shaped through his experiences and from his relation to Kurtz. Marlow's understanding of Kurtz's experiences show him the effects colonialism can have on a man's soul.
Most of Marlow's comments about colonization in general seem to defend or even praise the idea. He says "the conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than us is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much," but he says that such action is redeemed by the idea behind it. "Not a sentimental pretence but an idea, and an unselfish belief in the idea- something you can set up and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to" justifies colonization. The idea is civilization, and Marlow's speech indicates that civilizing the rest of the world is worth the sacrifice of the freedom of the uncivilized peoples of the earth. Marlow further describes colonization in gl...
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... to a man's soul. Marlow's journey was not only into the heart of Africa, but also into the heart of Kurtz where he realizes the truth of colonialism and the potential evil it entails.
Works Cited and Consulted:
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness 3rd Ed. Ed. Robert Kimbrough. New York: Norton Critical, 1988.
Edward W. Said, The World, the Text, and the Critic. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1983) 13.
Hillman, James. "Notes on White Supremacy: Essaying an Archetypal Account of Historical Events," Spring (1986): 29-57.
McLynn, Frank. Hearts of Darkness: The European Exploration of Africa. New York: Carol & Gey, 1992.
Meyers, Jeffrey. Joseph Conrad. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1991.
Patrick Brantlinger, "Heart of Darkness: Anti-Imperialism, Racism, or Impressionism?" Criticism (Fall, 1985) 364.
Men and Women in The Withered Arm and Other Stories by Thomas Hardy and Men and Women in Turned by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
start, but in real life he was apparently not as good a king as is
upon him that lead to him deciding to kill Duncan; who is his king. I
As one can well imagine, letting another act in one’s stead had a detrimental effect on the king’s power....
be a great king, but a journey within himself to find who he truly was
What I did I only did for you. For you to be king, how could I for see
served in the First World War and was in a German gas attack. By the
The Heart of Darkness, a complex text was written by Joseph Conrad around the 19th century, when Europeans were colonizing Africa for wealth and power and were attempting to spread their culture and religion in Africa. It was also a period in which women were not allowed to participate in worldly affairs. Therefore, the text deals with issues such as racism, European imperialism, and misogyny. This essay will look at the different themes in the novel and argue whether or not The Heart of Darkness is a work of art.
Marlow reinforces that Kurtz represents “ ‘all [of] Europe’ ” and that his immense wealth in ivory and including his role as a figurehead upon the natives serves as a representation of the European society as well. This representation of Kurtz by Marlow helps unravel his mystery by describing Kurtz as an emissary for Europe that will hopefully also unravel the problematic nuances of Europe in the future. Marlow arrives in the inner station and meets the Russian before Kurtz, the narrator on the Nellie with Marlow claims that the Russian “nodded with a nod full of mystery and wisdom” when he had told Marlow about his experiences with Kurtz (52). The Russian supports the mystery behind Kurtz as well by explaining impact he leaves upon him. This claim by the narrator elucidates that some of Kurtz’s “charm” rubs off on those who are fortunate enough to meet him, therefore describing Kurtz as a some kind of enrichment to life
All the company men that Marlow came in contact with was there for the means of financial prosperity and no other reason. Marlow described the lot as “faithless pilgrims” who’s only prayers are to ivory and “to get appointed to a trading-post … so that they could earn percentages.” The economic potential describes the motivation many European men needed to risk disease and death to come to Africa on behalf of companies. Moreover, throughout the book the accountant, the manager, and others speak of Kurtz’ importance. Marlow assumes it is for Kurtz’ humane qualities, but in actuality, they are envious of Kurtz’ station that “Sends in as much ivory as all the others put together.” The need for Marlow to seek out Kurtz was because he had turned ill and severed communication with the company and they would not allow such a valuable station to be left
He says the effect on him was to throw a light on his unclear idea of who he was before the trip started. This trip into the heart of Africa would expose the inner workings of his mind and introduce him to different aspects of himself. Throughout the story, we have the steamboat ever present. The farther he steamed up the river the more enlightened he became. So, in this respect, the steamboat is the physical representation of his increased enlightenment of himself. His original tasking was to find Kurtz and bring him back down the river. During his journey, he learns more and more about this mysterious man to the point his need to talk with him, Kurtz presents “himself as a voice”. This description greatly resembles the job of the super-ego. However, upon finding Kurtz, Marlow realizes he is not in search of what he has made his ideal but a pale shadow of a man who has turned himself over to his primitive self completely. Kurtz no longer occupies his thoughts as some great hero to be found and rescued, but an ill man who has resorted to the lowest depravity in order to benefit personally. What does all of this mean to me and my interpretation of Heart of Darkness? It gives me a new way to understand the
Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, is about many things: seafaring, riverboating, trade and exploration, imperialism and colonialism, race relations, the attempt to find meaning in the universe while trying to get at the mysteries of the subconscious mind. Heart of Darkness is a vivid portrayal of European imperialism. The book in other words is a story about European "acts of imperial mastery" (1503)-its methods, and the effects it has on human nature-and it is presumable that Conrad incorporates much of his own experience in the Congo and his opinions about imperialism into the story.
Wright, Walter F. "Ingress to The Heart of Darkness ." Romance and Tragedy in Joseph Conrad . New York: Russell and Russell, 1966. Pp. 143-160.
Upon meeting Kurtz’s wife, Marlow decides to lie to her, attempting to protect her from the darkness. As Kurtz’s fiancé begs for Marlow to repeat Kurtz’s last words, Marlow lies: “The heavens do not fall for such a trifle. Would they have fallen, I wonder, if I had rendered Kurtz that justice which was his due…but I couldn’t. I could not tell her. It would have been too dark—too dark altogether…” (Conrad 72). Marlow lies to Kurtz’s fiancé in an attempt to protect her from the darkness. After witnessing the darkness of imperialism, Marlow realizes heaven does not fall for the darkness of mankind, so it will not fall for a lie. Upon this realization, Marlow becomes aware of the darkness not only in the jungle, but also back home. As Marlow completes his story, his lie to Kurtz’s fiancé causes Marlow to realize the unavoidable darkness for humanity. After completing his story, Marlow looks up, only to understand how unavoidable darkness really is: “The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky—seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness” (Conrad 72). As a result of telling his story, Marlow realizes the darkness of mankind is not only a result of imperialism, but also a result of existence. Lying to Kurtz’s fiancé completes Marlow’s realization of
By the time Marlow and Kurtz meet, Marlow is already well aware of the similarities they share. Both are imperialists, and while Marlow detests the treatment of the natives by his employers (Belgian colonists), he also makes apparent his abhorrence toward the Africans. On the other hand, Kurtz abandons the pretense of helping the natives achieve civilization, as displayed by the Europeans. Instead, he adopts their customs and becomes their leader in the never-ending quest for ivory. "He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, 'must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of the supernatural beings- we approach them with the might as of a deity' (Longman, 2000, p. 2226). Marlow also admired Kurtz' resourcefulness and survival skills, especially his perseverence through jungle fever. "The wilderness had patted him on the head....it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite." (Longman, 2000, p. 2225).