Heart of Darkness: Language Controversy

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The word “nigger” is common in Joseph Conrad’s novella “Heart of Darkness.” This offensive word is accompanied by images of slavery and black men and women without names; the book however is not racist. All of Marlow’s “racist” thoughts, and reactions can be explained by the historical context of the book, and the society he lived in. Marlow, brought up in a society where the word "nigger" is common and the idea of equality is foreign does not see the word as offensive or wrong. Marlow is able to see the Africans as people and he does seem disturbed by how poorly these people are treated. When Marlow sees the black people under a tree wishing for death he is shocked and the memory stays with him throughout his time in the Congo, he also blows the steamer's horn to save the natives from the pilgrims trying to shoot them. Marlow's sympathy towards the Africans outweighs the type of language used and his awkwardness with the idea of equality. Conrad is not specifically writing about black and white people, he’s not trying to compare races, however he is showing the difference betw...

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