Comparing Conrad And Kipling's Imperialistic Words Of Wisdom

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Conrad and Kipling’s Imperialistic Words of Wisdom
Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” and Kipling’s “The White Mans Burden” bears a complex and contradictory relationship to the dominant ideologies of both their time and our own. Each author voicing the difficulties and harsh ramifications that arise through globalism, and the great responsibility a world power undertakes when imperializing other nations. Exhibiting their own personal motives, Kipling’s work viewed as a response to the American take over of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War; Conrad, writing on his own experience in the Congo of Africa. Imperialism and racism often entrenched in the dialogue of these two literary pieces; however, the point of view of Conrad and Kipling …show more content…

The darkness of the human heart goes back to greed; the motivation for money can be purely evil, Kurtz often embracing the darkness of the heart. Think about life back then, today, and in the future; what is the one thing most common among these eras that creates corruption and evil within good people, money. Every action day-to-day taken by individuals is solely for the pursuit of money, power, and individual success, even if it means at the expense of a uncivilized population like that in “Heart of Darkness”. Marlow comes to grips with this horrible reality after Kurtz is buried, “I felt a intolerable weight oppressing my breast, the smell of the damp earth, the unseen presence of victorious corruption” (Conrad 1999). “The unseen presence of victorious corruption”, how often does this unseen corruption that imperialism reaps goes unnoticed and the people who sacrifice so much forgotten. Marlow knew he was experiencing something wrong, but part of him held back from really speaking of this during his journey. As of today, Africa continues to be the heart of darkness in our world, disease and hunger controlling the growth and development of the civilization. Leaving the people dependent on our help, but most often leaving them to conform to any means of

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