Heart of Darkness

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Recommended: Discuss theme of imperialism in heart of darkness

Journal “Patrick Brantlinger: Anti-Imperialism, Racism, or Impressionism?”
Patrick Brantlinger, in his essay “Heart of Darkness: Anti-Imperialism, Racism, or Impressionism?,” cites the arguments and criticisms that have been given to Joseph Conrad’s novella. Brantlinger opens with a critique from Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe who attacks Conrad’s novella as “racist” (Cultural Criticism 277). Brantlinger then comes to Conrad’s defense by citing a number of defenses that has been made in favor of Heart of Darkness.
The defenses are strong and so are the criticisms stating that the book may be racist. I found Brantlinger’s argument that Heart of Darkness is both anti-imperialist and racist a strong and convincing one.
Brantlinger used defenses for Conrad’s novella from Cedric Watts and Benita Parry. Watts argues that Conrad rose above racism. Brantlinger says that Watts believes this because Heart of Darkness attacks imperialism. Brantlinger argues that, “Heart of Darkness is specifically about what Conrad saw in King Leopold’s African empire in 1890…” (278). Brantl...

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