I have to agree with the statement that ‘the novel Heart of Darkness has two contradictory sides in its treatment of the African characters and land’. I can see the reasons why it is said that while Joseph Conrad writes about the feeling of sympathy he felt for the native Africans in the novel, at the same time he actually writes the novel from a Eurocentric point of view. I cannot deny it that there are positive things that show some of the Europeans are not too good that were being portrayed in the novel, but for me it was just so that the readers would not realize the fact that it was written from a Eurocentric point of view. In this essay, I will provide some details and quotations from the novella and also from other sources in order to make my opinion concrete on why I agree with the statement. From what I have read, Joseph Conrad wrote the novel using his own experiences from his early life in Congo. In addition, in the novel, Marlow is the main character so I assume that Marlow is actually the representation of Joseph Conrad himself.
First of all, as we take a look at the title of the novel, which is Heart of Darkness, the word darkness itself sounds so gloomy, so devilish-like, and dark with no light. I am not trying to be racist but as we all know the fact that native Africans are dark-skinned people. So looking at the title of the novel, in my own opinion, it is literally and also figuratively referring or naming the Africans. However that is just my humble opinion. Other than that, I once read an opinion that said “even the title of the novel emphasizes the darkness of Africa”. So when I read the summary of the novel again, I finally realize the heart of darkness that Joseph Conrad wanted to convey is actually the jung...
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...me curious is when Marlow says that Thames River “has been one of the dark places of the earth”. At first I did not understand why but then as I read the analysis from people who had analyze the story thoroughly, I found out that it “means the river is enlightened now, and represents European Enlightenment and civilization, it is the antithesis of what the Congo River stands for now: darkness, savagery, and blind terror”. Looking through the point of view of Eurocentric for a country like Africa, it is only regarded as the antithesis of Europe. By saying that, it is like Europe itself, claims Africa as “the other world”. It is said by Ashcroft et al. that it is crucial for Europe to create “the other” in the novel of Heart of Darkness, so that they can demark and place itself as higher in rank to “one part of human race,” which is in this story, the native Africans.
Chinua Achebe, a well known writer, once gave a lecture at the University of Massachusetts about Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, entitled "An image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness." Throughout his essay, Achebe notes how Conrad used Africa as a background only, and how he "set Africa up as a foil to Europe," (Achebe, p.251) while he also "projects the image of Africa as the other world,' the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilizations" (Achebe, p.252). By his own interpretations of the text, Achebe shows that Conrad eliminates "The African as a human factor," thereby "reducing Africa to the role of props" (Achebe, p.257).
Conrad’s main character Marlow is the narrator for most of the story in Heart of Darkness. He is presented as a well-intentioned person, and along his travels he is shocked by the cruelties that he sees inflicted on the native people. Though he is seemingly benevolent and kindly, Marlow shows the racism and ignorance of Conrad and in fact of the majority of white people in his era, in a more subtle way. Marlow uses words to describe the blacks that, though generally accepted in his time, were slanderous and crude. He recalls that some of the first natives he saw in the Congo looked at him “with that complete, deathlike indifference of unhappy savages” (80; part 1). Marlow casually refers to the Africans with the most offensive of language: “Strings of dusty niggers arrived and departed…” (83; part 1). To Marlow, and thus to Conrad, the Africans are savages, dogs, devils, and criminals. Even the stories that Conrad creates for Marlow to narrate are twisted and false. The natives that Marlow deals with in the book are described as cannibals, and they are even given dialogue that affirms th...
The novel gives rise to many questions. The first and important question is about Eurocentricism. How Joseph Conrad exposed Eurocentricism in Heart of Darkness? This Eurocentricism has different aspects. What are the Eurocentric aspects in the novel? The ideology is cruel and cause many problems. What is the real reason of colonization in the novel? The conditions of the colonized people are worse because of this ideology. What are conditions of colonized people in the novel? The nations have suffered badly due to this ideology. How Conrad exposed the exploitation of rights of the natives?
The novel merely portrays a fictional account of British imperialism in the African jungle, where fiction offers maximum entertainment it lacks in focus. The novel is not a critique of European colonialism and imperialism, but rather a presentation of colonialism and the theme of darkness throughout the novel sheds a negative light on the selfishness of humanity and the system that was taking advantage of the native peoples. In Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad presents a criticism of British imperial colonization not for the purpose of taking sides, but with aims of bettering the system that was in place during Conrad’s experience in the African Congo. Conrad uses the character of Marlow and his original justification of imperialism so long as it was efficient and unselfish that was later transformed when the reality of colonialism displayed the selfishness of man, to show that colonialism throughout history displaces the needs of the mother country over the colonized peoples and is thus always selfish. Understanding the ideology, practices, and repercussions of imperialism is paramount to interpreting Conrad’s’ viewpoint of imperialism and the colonial experience.... ...
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it, displayed by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African people. Conrad often emphasizes the idea of what is civilized versus what is primitive or savage. While reading the novel, the reader can picture how savage the Europeans seem. They are cruel and devious towards the very people they are supposed to be helping.
“ The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.” (Conrad 65) So stated Marlow as though this was his justification for ravaging the Congo in his search for ivory. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it as is evidenced by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African population. Heart of Darkness is indicative of the evil and greed in humanity as personified by Kurtz and Marlow.
"I don't want to bother you much with what happened to me personally,' [Conrad] began, showing in this remark the weakness of many tellers of tales who seem so often unaware of what their audience would most like to hear" (Conrad, 9). Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad's best-known work, has been examined on many bases more than I can possibly list here, but including imperialism, colonialism, and racism. I would reason that all bases of analysis are perfectly acceptable through which to critique Conrad's novella, or any piece of writing. I would reason this, were some of these bases mainly, racism not taken to an extreme level. In arguing racism, many critics seem to take Heart of Darkness as Conrad's unwavering view on Africa, Africans, life, or whatever else one may please to take it as. I, therefore, propose that Heart of Darkness be taken for what it truly is: a work of fiction set in late 19th century Europe and Africa.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is one of the most widely recognized and acclaimed novellas written. But with fame and recognition comes controversy, which is clearly demonstrated by the broad interpretations of the book. Many people believe Heart of Darkness is racist, while others believe the book is perfectly civil. Chinua Achebe, one of Africa's most renowned novelists, strongly believes that the book is dehumanizing and racist; I agree with him, to a certain extent. Three of the most prominent ways that Achebe discusses Conrad’s racism is by the way the African people are portrayed, the African culture, and the comparison of Europe to Africa.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is about a man named Marlow who was a sailor that travelled to Africa as an agent for The Company. During his experience with the company he realized what his job was, which was to colonize the people of Africa. During his experience he saw the interaction between the whites and the African people, he finally learns the truth about the company. Along the way he meets a mysterious man called Kurtz, he idolized him and was on his side rather than the company’s. Throughout his journey the way he viewed African people was like he had never met another species of humans that looked different. Everything about the Africans amazed him, how they moved, and danced intrigued
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness has a symbolic meaning behind its title like many other great works of literature. The title can actually be interpreted in many different ways. One way the title can be looked at is that it portrays how Conrad viewed the continent of Africa. It might also represent entering into a more primitive society, witnessing humans transforming from civilized to savage. Perhaps the Heart of Darkness refers to the colonialism and imperialism that the Europeans were practicing at the turn of the 20th century.
To Joseph Conrad, the Africans were not just characters in his story, but rather props. After reading Achebe’s famous essay and Conrad’s novella, I’ve come to a side with Achebe. Conrad “was a thoroughgoing racist”; Heart of Darkness platforms this clearly. Throughout the novella, Conrad describes and represents the Africans and Africa itself in a patronizing and racist way. Constantly throughout the novel, Joseph Conrad was describing Africans by using words bearing a negative connotation.
The "Heart of Darkness," written by Joseph Conrad in 1899 as a short story, is about two men who face their own identities as what they consider to be civilized Europeans and the struggle to not to abandon their themselves and their morality once they venture into the "darkness." The use of "darkness" is in the book's title and in throughout the story and takes on a number of meanings that are not easily understood until the story progresses. As you read the story you realize that the meaning of "darkness" is not something that is constant but changes depending on the context it used.
Joseph Conrad’s story of Heart of Darkness is one that is centered upon the events of a man named Marlow an upper middle class white European as he journeys to meet a man who is built up as a legend by those in the company he is hired to. Conrad describes the extreme and harsh treatment of the natives at the hands of the Europeans throughout the novel makes a point to condemn imperialism by showing the irony and hypocrisy present in many of the situations Marlow encounters. In truth Marlow’s entire journey through the jungle can serve as an example of delving into the darker parts of human nature the further in he goes to find Kurtz. He interacts with a wide range of Europeans in the company that he works for on his journey to meet Kurtz at
In Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, Marlow enters the Congo with a perception that the European there are being altruistic and bettering the lives of the natives, but as he ventures deeper into the Congolese jungle, he begins to question his views. In the sickening and morbid story, Conrad explores the nature of truth and how preconceived notions can twist the truth or alter it entirely. To get at Conrad’s deeper meaning in Heart of Darkness, a firm understanding of the historical context is need because the book itself was based on the intricacies and beliefs of the time period. He criticizes imperialism, but specifically, Belgian occupation of the Congo.
Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness portrays an image of Africa that is dark and inhuman. Not only does he describe the actual, physical continent of Africa as "so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness" (Conrad 94), as though the continent could neither breed nor support any true human life, but he also manages to depict Africans as though they are not worthy of the respect commonly due to the white man. At one point the main character, Marlow, describes one of the paths he follows: "Can't say I saw any road or any upkeep, unless the body of a middle-aged negro, with a bullet-hole in the forehead, upon which I absolutely stumbled three miles farther on, may be considered as a permanent improvement" (48). Conrad's description of Africa and Africans served to misinform the Western world, and went uncontested for many years.