How Does Achebe Characterize Imperialism

How Does Achebe Characterize Imperialism
"And this also,'' said Marlow suddenly, ``has been one of the dark places of the Earth.'' (Conrad) Are
the first words spoken allowed by Marlow in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Marlow goes on
the say that he was thinking about the Roman conquers who came to England 1900 years ago. This
comparison that Marlow divulges into in the beginnings of his story frames this story and what it
intends to cover in its subject matter. Marlow begins here his only overt characterization of
imperialism. He puts Rome in the position of the civilized and the native islanders in the position of
the savage and what truly distinguishes one from another is not any level of civility but power.
Marlow claims that "It was just robbery with violence, aggravated ... Show more content on
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Orientalism is a literary concept of Western authority over the Eastern first put forth by Edward
Said. It refers to the studies, research, and literature which describe, to some extent, the culture in
the territories of the Middle and Eastern world. Specifically, oriental writers – the subject of
Orientalist Critique – do not describe the east, or in this case the Congo, in good faith meaning they
either knowingly misrepresent the orient or they depict it in reference to the west in order to
instantiate the west as superior or both. To claim that in Heart of Darkness the reader is witness to a
"factual" account culture and practices of the native Congolese people would be categorically false
on all accounts. This sentiment, however, is an instance of a logical fallacy named "the straw–man."
A straw man gives the impression of refuting an opponent's argument, while actually refuting an
argument that was not advanced by that opponent. Heart of Darkness, at no point, claims to be an
anthropological study of the various peoples of the Congo nor does Conrad believe himself
engaging in such. He does not refer to the river nor the setting by the name Congo either. For all
intents and purposes the story has a fictional setting just as it has a fictional narrator. *reference
azimi's critique of Marlow's
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Themes and Literary Techniqes Used in Joseph Conrad’s...
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
A.
Conrad's Heart of Darkness has been criticized as a novel filled with blatant racism, because of its
dehumanization of the Africans through name calling and portrayal of them as inhuman. I agree that
the terms and wording of this novel are racist and very inappropriate for today's world to use, but we
have to remind ourselves of the time period in which this was written. Conrad's use of racist
remarks like "savages" and the "N" word to label the Africans in the story reflect the beliefs and
thoughts of Britain at that time. The lifestyles of the natives were seen as unsophisticated and alien
to more refined middle and upper classes of eastern civilizations. It was a different world that what
they were used to. Conrad, himself, seemed to have had issues with people of color. His focus and
slight obsession with the "black" skin of the natives can be seems in lines like "A black figure stood
up, strode on long black legs, waving long black arms...." White people, in those times and still
today, see themselves as the superior race to all races. It is just an attitude that has existed
throughout history; though it has lessened within the past half century. Even though something
holds values that modern societies deem wrong and unforgivable doesn't mean it is not a great piece
of art.
B.
Joseph Conrad frequently used paired diction to create complex description and thematic meaning
to his work. One example of this pairing can seem

Gender Role In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Essay
Gender Role In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
For the most part people who read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may feel that the novella is
strictly a story of exploration and racial discrimination. But to Johanna Smith who wrote "'Too
Beautiful Altogether': Ideologies of Gender and Empire in Heart of Darkness" it is much more than
that. Johanna Smith along with Wallace Watson and Rita A. Bergenholtz agree that throughout Heart
of Darkness there are tones of gender prejudice, but the way that these three different authors
perceive and interpret those gender tones are to a certain extent different.
In "Too Beautiful Altogether" Smith points out that even though Heart of Darkness is an especially
masculine account, femininity and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
To recognize ideological contradictions in Heart of Darkness, one needs to be on familiar terms with
discourse. "A discourse is a "domain of language–use" (Belsey 5), a specific mode of speaking,
writing, and thinking that includes certain shared assumptions" (Smith 190). One–example Smith
gives of an ideology in Heart of Darkness is the ideology of gender or empire, written in the words
feminine or savage. Johanna Smith gives many examples of Marlow's contradictions that his
ideological discourse of empire and gender work to mystify. In Heart of Darkness the women are
often silenced. Smith points out the example of the laundress: the company's chief accountant insists
that she had to be taught to launder his clothes properly and that she had a strong disliking for the
job. But you never truly hear her side of the story; Smith suggests "Marlow's silencing of the
laundress shows Marlow's authority as the masculine narrator of his story, to conceal not only her
story but also those of the other silent women in Heart of Darkness" (Smith 193). Marlow's Way of
self asserting his dominating silence of the women is a clear example of Marlow's view towards
women and is a key illustration of just how much Marlow believes he, as a male, is far more
superior than a women. The second point

A Comparison of Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent Essay
A Comparison of Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent
This essay consists of two separate parts but the intention is that both these parts will prove to be
relevant from the point of view of what this essay sets out to study. The first part will present Joseph
Conrad's life and some of his works and the latter part will consist of a comparison of two of
Conrad's works, Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent. In this essay I will begin from two
assumptions, namely, that both the works mentioned above include clearly identifiable similarities
in their narration, theme and method, and, that Conrad's own experiences and views have had great
effect on both works.
The method of this essay is firstly to discuss Conrad's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Joseph Conrad was born on December 3, 1857 near Berdichev, in the Russian–ruled Poland. He was
Christened Jozef Teodor Korzeniovski but changed his name later because he "could not bear to
hear people mispronouncing his name all the time". He was the first and only son of Apollo and
Evelina Nalecz Korzeniowski. His father was an aristocrat, a land–owner who had two great
passions which Joseph inherited: a love for his country and a love for writing letters ( Warner, 1950:
8).
Apollo's involvement with the Polish National Committee, which fought for the independence of
Poland, lead to his arrest in October 21, 1861 and finally into exile in Vologda, in northern Russia
where Conrad and his mother followed in 1862. Evelina died in exile in 1865 in the age of thirty–
two.
Apollo was becoming progressively ill and in December 1867 he was permitted to return to Poland.
In the meantime the young Conrad had been living with his maternal uncle, Tadeusz Bobrovski,
since 1866 at Nowofastow in the Polish Ukraine. Finally Conrad rejoined his father and they settled
in Cracow in 1869. After Apollo finally died in May 23, 1869, Conrad continued his studies at the
University of Cracow under a tutor, to whom he was much attached to, and to whom he confided his
wish: a determination to go to the sea.
Conrad's guardian was against Conrad's decision to go to the sea but finally Conrad did what he
wanted and set out for the sea in the autumn

Heart Of Darkness Essay
Joseph Conrad lived in a time where racism and colonialism were prevalent and often went hand in
hand. In his novel, Heart of Darkness, he uses characters Kurtz and Marlow to detail his
psychoanalytical findings and account for the evil that came with the colonization of the Congo. The
exposure to horror and the absolute freedom of mind blurs Kurtz's reality and pushes Marlow to the
edge of insanity. On his own journey to the Congo, Conrad witnessed many atrocities done by
colonists toward the natives. According to Conrad's accounts, the exposure that the colonists
experience in the Congo switches on a mode of survival, leading them to make decisions without
accounting for the lack of morality. As a result, as more time passes, they become ... Show more
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Literary critic Diane Telgen effectively addresses how one's surroundings alter perspective and can
rattle one's reality. Furthermore, the author identifies the repugnance of colonization, and explains
how the graphic details in Heart of Darkness support the central theme of moral corruption. With the
exposure to disease, danger, and brutality, a mode of survival is switched on in the colonists and
they begin to lose touch with their moral compass. Marlow describes Kurtz's situation in the Congo
as, "...utter solitude without a policeman–by the way of silence–utter silence, where no warning
voice of a kind neighbor can be heard whispering of public opinion? These little things make
difference. When they are gone you must fall back upon your own innate strength, upon your own
capacity for faithfulness" (Conrad 91). Conrad is highlighting how Kurtz and other colonists cannot
rely on other people to hold them accountable for moral decisions. Instead, they must rely on their
own innate strength in order to remain faithful to their convictions. In addition to the appalling
manner in which the natives are treated, this desensitization of the colonists only worsens the
existing problem. Conrad identifies the moral corruption to show that the colonization caused harm
to the natives of the Congo and also corrupted the colonists

Analysis Of Marlow 's ' Heart Of Darkness ' Essay
"And this also, ' ' said Marlow suddenly, ``has been one of the dark places of the Earth. ' ' (Conrad)
Are the first words spoken aloud by Marlow in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Marlow goes on
the say that he was thinking about the Roman conquerors who came to England 1900 years ago.
This comparison that Marlow divulges into in the beginnings of his story frames this story and what
it intends to cover in its subject matter. Marlow begins here his only overt characterization of
imperialism. He puts Rome in the position of the civilized and the native islanders in the position of
the savage and what truly distinguishes one from another is not any level of civility but power.
Marlow claims that "It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men
going at it blind – as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness." (Conrad) Marlow draws an
immediate comparison between Rome and England and England and Congo. Marlow's story of the
Roman Empire invading England shows the permanence of the phenomenon upon which he is
writing. Marlow's juxtaposition of the invasion of England at the hands of the Romans will directly
parallel the Congo's occupation at the hands of Belgium. What is at the heart of Marlow's journey, is
a search for what redeems or even justifies the robbery and murder of peoples. Heart of Darkness
and its Author is often mistakenly associated with literature that promulgated the idea that Europe
had been tasked with the "noble cause"

Literary Devices In Heart Of Darkness
Searching deep into one's heart can liberate the darkest evils that exist within one's soul. In Joseph
Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, a sailor, Marlow, resides on a ship with four of his old friends,
that he claims are bonded and have stayed close over the years through "the bond of the sea"
(Conrad 1). While sailing with his friends, Marlow tells the story of his journey, through the Congo,
to retrieve the corpse of his predecessor. Throughout the duration of this journey, Marlow observes
the corruption and atrocities, that come with imperialism. While trying to convey the horrible scenes
that he witnessed in Africa, Marlow re–lives this eye–opening experience. The unidentified narrator
tells the gory details and explains to the reader the events that Marlow is discussing, while Marlow's
narrative offers how he felt when witnessing everything he saw in the Congo. The author puts into
perspective how being oblivious to evil is a form of evil in itself, through both Kurtz and Marlow.
Joseph Conrad uses literary elements and rhetorical devices to portray the theme that corruption and
greed can cloud judgement and cause people to execute horrible atrocities. Joseph Conrad uses
literary elements, such as imagery, irony, and metaphor, to render a central theme in Heart of
Darkness. Various examples of imagery are used within the text, for example, "I could see every rib,
the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope; each had an iron collar on his neck, and all were
connected together with a chain whose bights swung between them, rhythmically clinking" (Conrad
13). This vivid description of the people in the Congo creates a powerful and lasting image in the
reader's mind. The execution of this description allows the reader to see the intense protruding ribs
and the chains. The mentioning of the chains also symbolizes the dehumanization and human rights
violations that occurred throughout the Congo. Another example of imagery in the text includes,
"All their meager breasts panted together, the violently dilated nostrils quivered, the eyes stared
stonily uphill" (Conrad 13). The hard, violent panting and the blank stares of the men reveal their
zombie–like personalities and lifeless motions. The

Colonialism and Imperialism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness...
Imperialism Exposed in Conrad's Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' is a novel about European imperialism and its far–reaching
effects. Conrad relates his personal opinions through the protagonist, Marlow, who learns a great
deal about imperialism while on a journey to the African Congo. Although 'Heart of Darkness'
seems to be an anti–imperialistic work, this is not entirely true. Conrad condemns the overly
idealistic nature of imperialism, but does not attack Britain's competent employment of it.
"Heart of Darkness" opens with a discussion between Marlow and his friends concerning the
idealistic imperialism of conquerors, especially English, who were "bearers of a spark from the
sacred fire"–the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Marlow first receives his appointment with the company, he thinks that the Belgians are ?full
of it,? full of the excitement of "running an over–sea empire" strictly for the profit from trade
(1433). Our current use of the phrase "full of it" could also be applied, in that Marlow does not
condone the method in which the Belgians approach imperialism. His judgment of the Belgians may
be partly due to the fact that most of his confidence in imperialism lies within the red part of the
map, England, where the "real work is being done." He is even more disappointed in the Belgians'
approach to trade when he sees the overturned truck, decaying machinery, natives chained together
and dying in the shade (1437). The natives of the Congo cannot even comprehend what is happening
to them: "the outraged law had come to them, an insoluble mystery from the sea." This
unexplainable force came into their land, taking ivory in return for cheap manufactured goods such
as cotton, beads, and brass wire. As Marlow says, the only way they could profit from these
inexpensive goods would be to "swallow the wire itself, or make loops out of it to snare fish with"
(1457). Not only are the methods of the Belgians unfair, but they are also inefficient. This is seen in
the "objectless"

Joseph Conrad’s "Heart of Darkness" Illuminates the...
Since the introduction of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness into society, critics have debated over
the meaning of the ambiguous title. There are many interpretations of this title, but the general
consensus is that in the heart of darkness, you cannot do good: you can only be less evil. The title
refers to not only the physical lack of light in the jungle, but also to the grim consequences of
imperialism due to the stygian heart of mankind.
The first meaning is that the "heart of darkness" refers to actual lack of light in the book, the jungle
in particular. In the beginning of the novel, Marlow describes that the "air was dark above
Gravesend" (3). This is foreshadowing of the looming darkness Marlow will face ahead. When
Charlie reaches the edge of the jungle, he describes it as "so dark–green to be almost black" (11).
This refers to the caliginous jungle, but also the corruptive nature of the jungle as seen through the
transformation of Kurtz. Another example of physical darkness occurs when darkness encroaches on
Marlow and the listeners. Marlow describes it as being "so pitch dark that we listeners could barely
see each other" (95). Marlow observes that the forest draws him in and seems beckon him to explore
it. It had a "treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of
its heart" (36). Marlow recognizes the lightlessness, but is still drawn to it. This emphasizes the
darkness every man and woman has within them. It is in the

Essay on Feminist Theory in Heart of Darkness
Angels and Monsters in Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad's varying depiction of women in his novel
Heart of Darkness provides feminist literary theory with ample opportunity to explore the overlying
societal dictation of women's gender roles and expectations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
century. The majority of feminist theorists claim that Conrad perpetuates patriarchal ideology, yet
there are a few that argue the novel is gendered feminine. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar claim
"Conrad's Heart of Darkness...penetrates more ironically and thus more inquiringly into the dark
core of otherness that had so disturbed the patriarchal, the imperialist, and the psychoanalytic
imaginations...Conrad designs for Marlow a pilgrimage whose ... Show more content on
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This need to separate the angelic qualities of women into a totally separate world might come from
the desire to protect one's mother, and plays into the idea of the eternal feminine that must be
preserved. "She has no story of her own but gives 'advice and consolation' to others, listens, smiles,
sympathizes..." (Gilbert and Gubar 815). The aunt is a perfect example of such feminine qualities
and represents the untainted light of civilization. Marlow then encounters two women who represent
the gatekeepers of Darkness, which puts Marlow in an uneasy mood. Conrad uses these women to
symbolize both the angelic and the monstrous aspects of the female gender; they welcome the
newcomers and guide them to the next step of their journey, yet knit black wool which symbolizes
death, to which they are escorting their guests. This dichotomy echoes throughout Marlow's journey,
"Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as
for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinizing
the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes" (Conrad 12). The two women further the
theme of light into darkness, the fall of one's humanity from civilized to savage. While the story
starts with an illustration of the angelic feminine in the form of Marlow's aunt, Conrad presents the
first step into darkness by representing the two female

Contradicting Symbolism in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of...
Joseph Conrad utilizes several important literary techniques throughout his story Heart of Darkness.
One predominant method of his storytelling is the use of contrasting sensory imagery between black
and white and altering the symbolism the colors entail. This theme is clearly prevalent when we read
of Marlow's childhood dreams and when comparing and contrasting the Africans, the Europeans,
and the corruption of the ivory trade. Generally, Africa and Africans are described in terms of
blackness, symbolic of darkness, evil, and corruption. On the other hand, Europe and Europeans are
defined in terms of white, representative of innocence and purity. These images are essential in
proving the dominant theme of good versus evil ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Africans are portrayed as shadowy, shady figures blending into the background of the night,
distinguishable only by their eyes. This is an early indication of the purity of the souls of the black
slaves; although their bodies seem invisible in the night, their "white" remains undisguised.
Marlow's earliest glimpse of the corruption of the ivory trade is when he sees ."..six black
men...black rags were wound round their loins...with that complete, deathlike indifference of
unhappy savages" (81). Although Marlow appears to have some sense of compassion for the slaves,
he still refers to them as "savages." It is apparent that Marlow at first views the Africans as mere
creatures, but he soon became compassionate as he observes their ."..pain, abandonment, and
despair" (83). He immediately notices that ."..they were dying slowly––it was very clear. They were
not enemies...not criminals" (83). This is an early turning point as Marlow begins to realize Africans
are not the savages as they are typically stereotyped. Marlow's first mention of European contact
with the Africans explains how Captain Fresleven, Marlow's predecessor with the ivory company,
was the "gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs" (72), beat an African unmercifully
with a stick. In this instance, the white captain appears to be mild and kind, yet the actions of
Captain Fresleven are not consistent with the traditional

Heart Of Darkness Critical Analysis
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is leaving a lasting impact on scholars due to its range of
interpretations. Early examinations left out the topic of racism because of the time period; however,
when Chinua Achebe highlights racism in Conrad's work he starts the conversation. Whether
Conrad is racist is intricate when contextualized now or when it was written, late 1800s.
In Achebe's "An Image of Africa," he discusses aspects of the Heart of Darkness that make it racist,
concluding upon Conrad being "a thoroughgoing racist." Achebe defends his argument based on the
white desire to view Africa as "a foil to Europe." He continues analyzing Conrad's antithesis
between Europe and Africa, the River Thames and the River Congo, as well as Mr. Kurtz's Mistress
and his Intended. Achebe compares each showing how they set apart Europe as civilized and Africa
as savage. He elaborates on the comparison referencing the "meaning of Heart of Darkness" and the
fascination with the distant relation between the civilized and savage. Achebe challenges Conrad on
the grounds of his accuracy, since Conrad speaks as a traveler and was "notoriously inaccurate," and
on the grounds of the vulgarity of Heart of Darkness in its dehumanization of Africans. Achebe
interprets these grounds as part of Westerners' "need for constant reassurance [of superiority and
civility] in comparison with Africa." These reasons defend Achebe's conclusion of racism in
Conrad's Heart of Darkness (Chinua Achebe).
"'A Bloody Racist': About Achebe's View of Conrad" by Cedric Watts responds to Achebe disputing
many of Achebe's arguments before stating his own. Watts indicates self contradictions and
hypocritical aspects of Achebe's evaluation due to Achebe's strong opinions that drive him to ignore
others. Achebe dislikes imperialism but has practiced it, traveling and lecturing others to conform
their ideas to become like his. Furthermore, Watts reveals that one's opinion doesn't have to match a
piece of literature for the piece to be a great work, alluding to the potential for multiple
interpretations of the novella. Watts then identifies the progressiveness of Conrad's novella for the
time stating that the "literature is morally and politically

Cruelty In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
Cruelty in Heart of Darkness In Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, many motifs were
mentioned in the story. Savagery, meaning an act of cruelty, was one of the most important motifs
that were exemplified multiple times throughout the novel. As Marlow, the main character of the
story, traveled along the Congo River to find Kurtz, he encountered many forms of savagery. In the
beginning of the novel while Marlow was taking a break on the Nellie with other crew members, he
described how the Romans felt when they were in his position on the river. Marlow described the
Belgian Congo as, "Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the
savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him––all that mysterious life of ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
He used savagery to describe how people were during the time. People were extremely deceiving
and selfish. They treated others inhumanly, without any care or sympathy. African natives were
called savages in Conrad's point of view, but he does not see how the Europeans were actually the
true savages. Europeans treated the native inhabitants like they were nothing important. Native
Africans lived in those swamps, forests and jungles along the Congo River. They were the ones who
were thought as wild men. Whenever someone traveled through those areas, they would feel the
savagery coming from the natives even though they were just trying to protect themselves from
more harm. Conrad uses Marlow's visit to the Company's Offices to describe how different native
Africans were treated compared to the Europeans. Marlow was appalled with the conditions around
the Company offices. Marlow described the company's accountant wearing such nice clothes while
the savages were dying slowly, working hard though malnourished. Another example Conrad
portrays savagery in the novel but does not regard it as savagery was when Kurtz has that insatiable
greed for ivory. Kurtz did whatever he can to steal from the natives, destroying their property and
making living conditions

Essay on Another Heart of Darkness
Ignorance and Racism
Joseph Conrad develops themes of personal power, individual responsibility, and social justice in his
book Heart of Darkness. His book has all the trappings of the conventional adventure tale – mystery,
exotic setting, escape, suspense, unexpected attack. Chinua Achebe concluded,
"Conrad, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the great stylists of modern fiction and a
good story–teller into the bargain" (Achebe 252). Yet, despite Conrad's great story telling, he
has also been viewed as a racist by some of his critics. Achebe, Singh, and Sarvan, although their
criticisim differ, are a few to name. Normal readers usually are good at detecting racism in a book.
Achebe acknowledges
Conrad camouflaged racism ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Marlow felt pity toward the natives, yet when he met the station's book keeper he changed his views
of the natives. "Moreover I respected the fellow. Yes. I respected his collars, his vast cuffs, his
brushed hair. His appearance was certainly great demoralization of the land he kept up his
appearance"
(Conrad 21). Marlow praised the book keeper as if he felt it's the natives' fault for living in such
waste. the bureaucracy only cared about how he looked and felt. The bookeeper did not care for the
natives who were suffering less than fifty feet from him. He stated the natives weren't criminals but
were being treated as if they were, but at the same time he respected the book keeper on his looks
instead of despising him for his indifference. Conrad considered the Africans inferior and doomed
people. Frances B. Singh, author of
The Colonialistic Bias of Heart of Darkness said "The
African natives, victims of Belgian exploitation, are described as 'shapes,' 'shadows,' and 'bundles of
acute angles,' so as to show the dehumanizing effect of colonialist rule on the ruled" (269–
270). Another similar incident of
"double speak" appeared on the death of Marlow's helmsman. Marlow respected the
helmsman, yet when the native's blood poured into Marlow's shoes, "To tell you the truth, I
was morbidity anxious to change my shoes and socks" (Conrad 47). How can someone
respect yet feel disgusted towards

Essay on Hearts of Darkness: Post Colonialism
Write a critique of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, based on your reading about post–
colonialism and discussing Conrad's view of African culture as "other." What would someone from
Africa think about this work? "Heart of Darkness" starts out in London and also ends there as well.
Most of the story takes place in the Congo which is now known as the Republic of the Congo. Heart
of Darkness was essentially a transitional novel between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
During the nineteenth century certain concepts in the story were considered unthinkable such as
cannibalism. The cultural relativism (which basically says that right and wrong are culture–specific)
was a strong sensibility during the nineteenth century which is ... Show more content on
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However, he still managed to reap more reward, in the shape of ivory. Marlow's opinion of
Imperialism is altered several times based on his experiences with witnessing the lengths the
Imperialists would go for profit. When Marlow meets Kurtz he realizes that Kurtz himself has been
conquered by the darkness and this changes his opinion regarding Imperialism. The roles of Kurtz's
fiance and his African mistress are significant characters in the story. The Europeans don't realize
that Kurtz lives a life of sin and consider him to be pure which contrasts with Marlow's knowledge
of his corruption. Conrad builds Kurtz's fiance up to symbolize the lack of presence of the British
from the events in Africa. She is distraught about Kurtz's death and ponders what might have been,
had Kurtz not died. Kurtz's 'mistress' does not appear to be grief–stricken, but is not happy as she is
the only native still standing after Marlow sounded the steamer's whistle. Kurtz's fiance's claimed
she knew him best, but this was just an illusion as she was not aware of the sinful life he lived. The
memory she has of Kurtz is a lie; since Marlow did not tell her the truth. The women in Hearts of
Darkness have two sets of characteristics. First, they have the accepted Victorian values and then
they have the post–colonial values. The Victorian reading would portray Kurtz's fiance as feminine,
beautiful, saintly and mourns Kurtz for a long

What Is Joseph Conrad's Use Of Anti-Transcendentalism?
Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness is the story of a man who was sent into the depths of the
African jungle to obtain ivory. On this quest the protagonist, Marlow, becomes aware of the
oppression set forth by the European settlers in the African Congo. A major subject of dispute set
forth in this book is the manner in which these social atrocities are described. Joseph Conrad's
descriptions of the African natives and the setting in which the story takes place have long been
dismissed simply as usage of the racist language and ideals of the time. But there seems to be a
deeper meaning in his usage of this language. Joseph Conrad's usage of racism throughout Heart of
Darkness appears to be an anti–transcendentalists commentary on the harsh reality of the human
race –– the notion that there is evil in everyone. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However these explanations were all but racism. Conrad intertwined these racist insinuations within
the plot as a way to comment on the somewhat universal mindset of the time. Must it be reminded
that Conrad never once mentions that the setting is in the Congo nor even Africa for that matter. In a
basic sense, the setting was described as a place where there is a large river and an ivory trader. That
describes not just parts of Africa but also many other places in the world. By doing this he wanted to
avoid racist insinuations connected to one or other particular group, overall avoiding

How Is Heart Of Darkness Dehumanize
Heart of Darkness During Joseph Conrad's lifetime, little trouble was made over his 1899 novel
Heart of Darkness. The tale is about sailor Charles Marlow's time as captain of an ivory–hauling
steamboat on the Congo River. The novel, fixed in Conrad's own experiences as a sailor on the
Congo, vividly shows the horrors of Belgian colonial rule and the mistreatment of Africa. Many
aspects of the book are nothing short of brilliant. However, in the last hundred years there has been
a lot of negative feedback against Conrad's famed novel. These negative attacks were directed
toward the seemingly racist nature of Conrad's narrative. In 1975, author Chinua Achebe analyzed
Conrad's portrayal of Africans in the book and accused Conrad of racism. However, ... Show more
Indeed, the descriptions of the African people Conrad uses seem racist at first glance. For example,
Conrad writes: "They shouted, sang; their bodies streamed with perspiration; they had faces like
grotesque masks – these chaps; but they had bone, muscle, a wild vitality, an intense energy of
movement, that was as natural and true as the surf along their coast." (Conrad) Conrad's description
of the African faces like "grotesque masks" puts them in with all the ugly things Marlow witnesses
in the Congo. However, it is not racism that makes Conrad to write these words. Instead, he presents
the African people as a part of a savage, beautiful landscape that is being spoiled by Europe's efforts
to imperialize

The Significant Role of Women in Joseph Conrad's Heart of...
In the 1900s novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the protagonist often encounters women
at landmarks of his life. Charlie Marlow is a sailor and imperialist who sets out along the Congo
River to "civilize" the "savages." The novella begins with a crew on the Thames waiting for the
tides to change. During their wait, a character named Marlow tells of his exploits on the African
continent. In his recounted travels, Marlow meets other imperialists such as Mr. Kurtz, a man who is
obsessed with the pursuit of ivory and riches. Like Mr. Kurtz, Marlow embarks across the African
continent in hopes of earning both money and respect. One early critic of the novel, Edward
Garnett, wrote in his review that "[Heart of Darkness] is simply a ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Women are viewed by Marlow as ignorant little creatures above the press of imperialism–
completely innocent, but entirely unaware.
Africa is written "as setting and backdrop which eliminates the African as human factor. Africa as a
metaphysical battlefield devoid of all recognizable humanity, into which the wandering European
enters at his peril" (Achebe). Thus Conrad brings the savages of Africa and general women together.
Marlow brings the two victims of imperialism together in one, brief observation of Mr. Kurtz's
foreign mistress. Conrad's concise description of an Amazonian woman on page 56 is as follows:
"...She was savage and superb, wild–eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and
stately in her deliberate progress...
"Her long shadow fell to the water's edge. Her face had a tragic and fierce aspect of wild sorrow and
of dumb pain mingled with the fear of some struggling, half–shaped resolve. She stood looking at us
without a stir, and like the wilderness itself, with an air of brooding over an inscrutable purpose..."
Women and the savages are brought together under one umbrella of mingled patronization and awe.
In this respect, Marlow's view of women is the perfect oxymoron (Nadelhaft). Marlow's tone
concerning women and the Amazon is reverent, but belittling. These two groups of people are sub–
human to Marlow in that he considers them of a lesser intellect and lesser value.

Joseph Conrad 's Heart Of Darkness
Joseph Conrad's 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 154) as though the
continent could neither breed nor support any true human life. Conrad lived through a time when
European colonies were scattered all over the world. This phenomenon and the doctrine of
colonialism bought into at his time obviously influenced his views at the time of Heart of Darkness
publication. Very few people saw anything amiss with colonialism in Africa and the African people.
From a Eurocentric point of view, colonialism was the natural next–step in any powerful countries
political agenda. The colonizers did not pay heed to the native peoples in their territories, nor did
they think of the natives as anything but savages. In the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses
Marlow to contradict the acts of man and the destruction they brought forth to Africa and their
people. Conrad shows, through fiction, that the blindness and lack of morality in Africa allowed for
the release of the darkness from the hearts of the colonists. In the opening of his novel, Heart of
Darkness, Conrad, through Marlow, establishes his thoughts on colonialism. He says that
conquerors only use brute force, "nothing to boast of" (Conrad 13) because it arises, by accident,
from another 's weakness. Marlow compares his

Marlow And Mr. Kurtz In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
In Heart of Darkness, a frame story narrative written by Joseph Conrad, readers follow a man named
Charles Marlow as he travels to the heart of a jungle in Congo searching for a mysterious man
named Mr. Kurtz. Readers can infer that Marlow and Mr. Kurtz are very similar to each other;
Marlow is the man who Mr. Kurtz was and could have continued to be, and Mr. Kurtz is the man
who Marlow could have become if he introduced darkness into his heart and followed in Mr. Kurtz's
footsteps. When the readers are first introduced to Marlow, the narrator of the story presented him as
a wise man, he was even described as Buddha like, aged by his many nautical adventures––– this
wisdom is most likely a direct result of his wicked and grueling adventures in the dark heart of the
Congo jungle. Marlow goes into detail about how he would study maps as a child and how one day
he would like to travel to "the biggest, the most blank, so to speak [spot on the map] –––that [he]
had a hankering after" (page 4). He then talked about how he got an interview, and eventually a
position, at a company going on an expedition to the Congo. It is revealed that as a young man, Mr.
Kurtz also wanted to travel to Africa with the intent of "humanizing, improving, [and] instructing"
the natives (page 52). As he became more power hungry, he began to have the natives treat him like
a god. The comparison of Marlow to a Buddha and Mr. Kurtz as a god is also fascinating. Buddhism
focuses on enlightenment and

Examples Of The Hypocrisy Of Imperialism
The Hypocrisy of Imperialism and the Integrity of the Imperialist Powers.
One must ask these questions: Is Joseph Conrad's short novel, Heart Of Darkness, a result of an
epiphany
that he had during his Congo river adventures?, is Joseph Conrad communicating a message of
hypocrisy behind
the imperialism that occurred in Africa during the nineteenth century? and does it question the
integrity of the British
Empire?, possibly so. Considering that people of the Victorian age believed that their way of life
was the only way to
live and imperialism was doing a benefit for Africa, contradicts the events that take place in the
Heart Of Darkness;
including, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As a result, these listed violations of the imperialist powers, such as Belgium, England, and France,
negatively affect each of the nation's integrity. George Williams concludes in his 'An Open Letter to
His Serene
Majesty Leopold II' by stating, "Against the deceit, fraud, robberies, arson, murder, slave–raiding,
and the general
policy of cruelty of your Majesty's Government to the natives, stands their record of unexampled
patience,
long–suffering and forgiving spirit, which put the boasted civilization and professed religion of your
Majesty's
government to the blush" (Williams [HOD] 130). Williams' letter to King Leopold II, considering
the fact that it

was written towards the end of the nineteenth century, could be a representation of the beginning of
the end for
the imperialist powers in the African continent.
Williams goes as far as to note violated sanctions by King Leopold II and his government. Williams
references, "All the crimes perpetrated in the Congo have been done in your name, and you must
answer at the

Theme Of Racism In Heart Of Darkness
In the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad it centers around Marlow and his journey into
the Congo River basin. Conrad explores the widespread corruption and brutality in Africa through
the Company's ivory trade. Through the exploitation of Africa many aspects of the book are
criticized for being ingrained in the views of racism. Conrad's depiction of Africans are accused of
holding Africans as savages. In Marlow's journey Conrad alludes to this savagery by the darkness in
Africa that corrupts men by reawakening their primal instincts. This novella is inherently racist that
is furthered explained by socio–cultural analysis Hunt Hawkins. In "Heart of Darkness and Racism"
Hawkins explores how Africans are dehumanized and attacks imperialism on the basis of white men
who are greedy and violent. Hawkins discusses how Conrad's novella echos the views in which the
novella was published that were greatly enriched in the idea of "White Man's Burden" that
colonizers were entitled to impose their influence on black inhabitants. Further, Conrad's novella is
deeply racist by augmenting the patronizing view that Africans are primitive and innocent to the
subjugation by white colonizers. Thus, the Heart of Darkness is deeply prejudice that is completely
valid by showcasing Africans in a negative light compared to white colonizers. To begin, Hawkin's
view of Conrad's work being deeply racist is supported by the dehumanizing light that is casted
upon African culture and

Essay about Heart of Darkness
Post–colonial studies have often created this myth about the European intent for Africa, a tale that
has led many westerners to believe in the noble role of European policy of civilizing Africa.
However, literal materials have said little about the evils that surrounded the well sometimes ill–
disguised motives of explorers, colonial administrators and their adventures. This essay provides an
in depth review of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, a classical novella that illustrates without
bias the motives behind human intentions and the extremes individuals can go to achieve wealth and
profits at the expense of others with the aim of shedding insight into the rise of European
imperialism, the imperial history, its politics and evil ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Marlow not only encounters Kurtz's corruption but also braves the forces inside him that make him
susceptible to Kurtz's tendencies. In this book Marlow says "I've had to strike and to fend off. I've
had to resist and to attack sometimes––that's only one way of resisting––without counting the exact
cost, according to the demands of such sort of life as I had blundered into" (Conrad 10).
Actually, he finds out that Africa is not as uncivilized as he was made to believe. The incident on the
river and the dignified woman believed to be Kurtz's mistress makes Marlow rethink how civilized
Africans are as he sees them as people who have some inner wisdom that is incomprehensible to the
white man (Conrad 23). He also discovers the ravage done on the continent. Marlow goes back to
Belgium after Kurtz's demise where he faces Kurtz's fiancée and is forced to lie about Kurtz's
undertakings and his last words.
The close of the nineteenth century came with one of the most conspicuous forms of imperialism
ever experienced in modern history. Just like many other Europeans, king Leopold was fascinated
by illustrious accounts of explorers from Africa and he wanted a share of the wealth and power.
Through careful scheming, he ultimately established himself a territory, which he called The Congo
Free state. Congo was endowed with ivory and rubber, which could be harnessed and

Outline: Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad
Heather Hall
English IV AP
Balden
April 15, 2015
Outline
Thesis: In Joseph Conrad's, Heart of Darkness we see the depiction of Africa as a eye opening and
brutal metaphor for human nature by the contrast between Africa and Europe, Conrad's depiction of
the natives, and the geographical location.
I. Intro
A. Joseph Conrad
1. derogatory slander
2. uses Africa to show human Nature.
3. not racism
a. time period meant to evoke emotion
B. Africa has a foil of civilization contrast the Europeans lifestyles
C. natives to act as motif normal vs barbaric lifestyles
D. geographic remoteness understanding human nature . requiring to experience Africa
1. Isolation
E. Thesis
II. Africa
0. opposite of Europe lacking civilization . uncivilized ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Though they are seen as savages, they are actually a representation of all the cruelty in the world
and Conrad is trying to pull emotion from the reader into sympathizing with the Africans and
making the reader feel bad for them. Conrad is not trying to be derogatory towards the Africans.
This novel was written in 1899. In this time period, this is just how the Europeans refer to the
Africans. In Peter Mwikisa criticism of Heart of Darkness he explained that conrads depiction of the
natives in Africa is a "delineation of the virtues that Europeans need to cultivate in order to justify
extending their civilization and culture to other parts of the world." Reading this novel now, racism
is quite prevalent but that is not a representation of Conrad's ignorance rather a representation of the
rhetoric in that time period. Conrad mocks the idea of imperialism being humane to describe the
exploitation of cheap black labor when he says "with a large, white, rascally grin, and a glance at his
charge, seemed to take me into partnership in his exalted trust. After all, I also was a part of the
great cause of these high and just proceedings." by showing the irony in using words such as
"exalted," "high," and "just" when justifying the brutality of the treatment

Racial Implications in Heart of Darkness
Racial Implications in Heart of Darkness
The plot of the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad centers around a seafarer named
Marlow and his journey up the Congo River and his exploits there during a time of imperialism.
Once Marlow joins the Company as a captain for a ship heading to the Congo to trade, he
encounters instances of oppression of the African natives by members of the Company. This
character narrates the majority of the novel and often takes on the role of a passive observer,
although he sometimes gives his input on the situation. In recent years, the state of Marlow and even
Conrad's opinions on race have been questioned due to the thematic element of oppression of blacks
by whites presented in this work. Though many believe Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad to be a
novel with racist undertones and an offensive view of African imperialism, it illustrates the
discovery of a new world and new people by Europeans in the 19th century with an impressionist
take as opposed to a racist one.
Though the book has many thematic elements, Conrad's writings on race seem ambiguous to many
readers.
However, some critics believe that Marlow or even Conrad cements his racist point of view in Heart
of Darkness and makes it very prominent during scenes in the Congo. Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian
author of anti–imperialism novel Things Fall Apart, argued in a lecture that Joseph Conrad wrote his
novel with a spiteful view of blacks and fueled the Western stereotype that

Analysis Of Joseph Conrad 's Heart Of Darkness
As Steven Patrick Morrissey said "Racism is beyond common sense and has no place in our
society." Tragedies in African nations have been glossed over or omitted throughout history. The
Congolese genocide, prompted by King Leopold II's acquisition of the Congo Free State, killed an
estimated 10 million people. Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, can be criticised through many
different lenses. Though Natives are a large part of Conrad's narrative of European atrocities in the
Congo, his treatment of Congolese Natives throughout the book show them to be nothing more than
props. Conrad skews Natives language, culture and intelligence to fit Europeans schema for Africa
and Africans. Conrad's Heart of Darkness is placed in a colonized Congo. "...despite Heart of
Darkness 's (Joseph Conrad) obvious anti–colonist agenda, the novel points to the colonized
population as the standard of savagery to which Europeans are contrasted" (Tyson 375). He tries to
showcase the evils of these Europeans, but sacrificed showing the effects on the people most
affected. The Natives. Nearly 50 years after Conrad's death, Chinua Achebe wrote a criticism of the
role of Africans in Heart of Darkness. Achebe writes most about Conrad using Africa as an
antithesis to Europe, by illustrating Africa as uncivilized and primitive. Tony C. Brown speaks about
Marlow's changed view of the West through a more 'primitive image'. Throughout the book Conrad
demonstrates and inconsistent and disparaging portrayal

Racism In Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
Grant Ferrara
British Literature
Dr. Warren
14 November 2017
In the article "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness," Chinua Achebe criticizes
Joseph Conrad for his racist views toward the natives of Africa. After one reads Achebe's critique, it
is clear that Conrad wanted the novella to be perceived as a racist text. Conrad depicts the
uncivilized treatment of nonwhites during the period of colonization without condemning such
actions. After analyzing Achebe's famous work and Conrad's novella I have come to agree with
Achebe; Conrad "was a thoroughgoing racist." (Achebe) Heart of Darkness portrays this position
clearly. Throughout the novella, Conrad describes and represents the Africans and Africa itself in a
racist way. According to Chinua Achebe, the harsh behavior of English people towards the natives,
the lack of equality felt by the English towards the Africans, and the word choices of the English to
and about the savages reveal Conrad's racist position in the work. Constantly throughout the novel,
Joseph Conrad describes the Africans using words bearing a negative connotation. Africans are
portrayed in Conrad's novel as inhuman savages with no language other than sound. For example,
he describes Kurtz's African mistress as "savage and superb, wild–eyed and magnificent." (5; part 3)
Conrad uses the word savage frequently when describing Africans in the novella. Kurtz's mistress is
used in contrast to a European girl who loves Kurtz.

Use of Light and Darkness in Joseph Conrad's Heart of...
Use of Light and Darkness in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness contrasts light and darkness, to represent the civilized and
uncivilized sides of the world. Conrad uses light to represent the civilized side of humanity while
contrasting the dark with the uncivilized and savage. Throughout the thematic stages of the novel,
that is the Thames river London, the company's office in Belgium, the journey to the "heart of
darkness" and the conclusion, light and dark is used to represent these sides of humanity, but on a
deeper level many assumptions of darkness and light are challenged, with the appearance of light
and dark, and in turn good and evil contrasting with the reality.
From the initial ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
From the start of the novel, Conrad foreshadows Marlow journey into the "heart of darkness"
through the use of light and darkness. Marlow's journey to the Belgium company's office, where he
encounters two women knitting black wool. The two women are commonly interpreted of
representing two of the three fates of Ancient Greek mythology who spun, wove and cut thread to
represent the birth, lifespan and death of mortals. This darkness used perhaps foreshadows the evil
he will encounter, something that merely fate may decide. Marlow describes the place as the "city
that always makes me think of a whited supulchre", and the "city of the dead", thus, white in this
instance is used to represent the exploitation of the company and the true evil, which is hiding
behind the façade of light and progress. Therefore Conrad uses the civilized white to represent the
evil of the "dead city" and the search for the "precious trickle of ivory".
The map in the company's office, and the light and darkness associated with it again demonstrates
and perhaps foreshadows the good and evil, and the civilized and uncivilized side of humanity. . He
describes the map as being "marked with all the colors of a rainbow,"

Racism In Heart Of Darkness Essay
Many literary critics today and throughout the last century have viewed Joseph Conrad's Heart of
Darkness as one of the most outstanding and important works in English literature. However, a
group led and exemplified by Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe objects to this praise, and their
argument, largely based on the inherent racism of Joseph Conrad that prevails in his writing, was
summarized by Achebe in his 1975 lecture, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of
Darkness". Throughout the lecture/essay, Achebe picks apart Conrad's racist tendencies, but not all
of his arguments are sound. Essentially, Achebe focuses too much on the characters in the novel
itself, as opposed to Conrad's experience in his own life and connecting Conrad ... Show more
By focusing on Kurtz's psychology, and the effect that the "untamed wilderness" has on him, Conrad
lets slip the racism of which he stands accused. Essentially, this novel is not primarily about
imperialism and the horrors thereof, but instead it is about the corruption of a man, a white
European man, in an untamed wilderness.
Unfortunately, Achebe does not touch on this enough to show Conrad's racism through Heart of
Darkness, although he does mention it on page 1790, asking, "Can nobody see the preposterous and
perverse arrogance in thus reducing AFrica to the role of props for the break–up of one petty
European mind?" (Achebe, 1790) This point is the strongest in his essay for displaying Conrad's
underlying racism, but it lacks extension. Perhaps Achebe felt that the point needed no extension. In
either case, he does show compelling evidence from Conrad's real life to experience to put on
display his racist

European Imperialism In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
Heart of darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is a prime example of European imperialist power over the
lower less developed countries of Africa. Joseph Conrad's book ensued many critics and other
authors to question if Conrad was a racist. Heart of Darkness is based on real–life events that
occurred in the Congo during 1879 to 1887, involving the Belgian government's imperialization of
the Republic of Congo. It begins with the main character Marlow on the deck of a British ship
called the Nellie, anchored on the coast of the Thames. Four other men relax on the deck of the ship:
the Director of Companies, who is also the captain and host, the Lawyer, the Accountant, and the
unnamed Narrator. The five men, old friends held together by "the bond of the sea". The narrator is
unnamed, but it has been concluded to have been Joseph Conrad himself. Marlow then begins to
narrate a personal experience in Africa, which led him to become a sailor and the terrible glimpse of
colonization he saw. Marlow had been sent there to Congo to replace a captain who was killed in a
skirmish with the natives. He learns of very little about the natives living there and it seems like he
doesn't really care about how the natives are being treated, but then we see him give some biscuit to
a poor native which shows he cares, but at the same time, the things going on concerning the natives
doesn't really bother him. Marlow is obsessed with meeting Kurtz, who was like the main ivory
operator, and who is

Examples Of Narration In Heart Of Darkness
In Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, the narrator introduces the reader to the Nellie and
Marlow, a seaman. This outside frame narration lead into Conrad's main character, Marlow's, point
of view. Marlow, with a new job in Brussels, goes on a journey into the outer and central sections of
Africa, where he encounters the horrors of colonization and how the established hierarchy caused
these inhumane conditions. Thus, the purpose of Marlow's narration is to focus slightly on
developing the story, but the process of enlightening his audience's morals. Through Marlow's usage
of light and dark and that helps him that emphasize the difference between good and evil. Marlow's
powerful observation skills direct the reader to his overwhelming ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Marlow's description of the Russian harlequin, using words like 'boyish', 'little blue eyes', 'sunshine'
to refer to Conrad and Marlow themselves, completely innocent, and incapable of evil. However,
the Russian is evil as "[he] nodded a nod full of mystery and wisdom. 'I tell you,' he cried, 'this man
has enlarged my mind.' He opened his arms wide, staring at me with his little blue eyes that were
perfectly round'"(67). The Russian refers to Kurtz as the 'man' who 'enlarged' his ideology with
imperialism. In fact, Russia does not colonize in the novel, which is important because this shows
the Russian's devotion to this new ideology. Even though the reader sees before that the Russian is
like an innocent boy, they blindly follow Kurtz's dark colonization plan. The Russian is the mislead
and stupid person of the book, while supplying new information to the audience, as a result of
knowing Kurtz too well. Thus, the Russian is used as a narrating device to offer new information in
his novel while also giving inside knowledge on Conrad's and Marlow's implied attitude and

Joseph Conrad And American Imperialism
Joseph Conrad was a very influential writer during the 19th century. Conrad was of Polish decent;
however, he was granted rights as a legal British citizen even though he did not speak fluent English
until his twenties. Conrad was also a sailor experiencing many different voyages, which changed his
outlook on life. One example of a voyage that changed Conrad's outlook on life was visiting the
Congo, and witnessing the horrors of slavery. According to Funk & Wagnalls New World
Encyclopedia, " Conrad's life at sea and in foreign ports furnished the background for much of his
writing " . I find Joseph Conrad to be interesting because his writing was very anti–heroic, dark, and
inspired by his real life experiences. An important theme in Heart of Darkness is both an element
within the book and an element that's not a part of the book, but of a byproduct of the time that the
book was written in. The element inside of the book is the fact that the white ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
A key element in the book was to show the true evil of the European's vision for conquest. Marlow
narrates about the evil cost of European imperialism many times, such as when he compares the
British to the Romans, stating they "use Brute force". However, Marlow (and perhaps Conrad) felt
that European imperialism could have been excusable if there was a greater good to come out of the
terrible treatment of "savages". Marlow also disapproves, but does nothing, when a black boy is
beaten early on in the story. The importance of Marlow's deeper thoughts, and his actions, are hard
to describe. On one hand, Marlow is disgusted by the treatment of the slaves, but on the other takes
no real action to change what is happening. The same could have been said about many decent
people from the 19th century, and now, which is that their hearts are in the right places but are not
willing to step up and try to change things

How Does Heart Of Darkness Affect Joseph Conrad's...
Upon first glance, Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness appears to tell the tale of a riveting
adventure which tackles issues such as imperialism, race, and corruption. Charles Marlow, a British
man, is part of the ivory trading industry in the heart of Africa. Naturally, one would point to the
colonization and its implications in their analysis of this work. I argue, however, that beyond the
standard topics as previously mentioned lie insight into Conrad's perception of gender and women.
Furthermore, both the male and female characters in Heart of Darkness reveal the gender biases and
societal sexism held by Joseph Conrad. In order to accomplish this, I will explore three ways in
which Heart of Darkness excludes the female experience, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
In the same way that the African perspective is silenced and disregarded, British women are also
overlooked as nonsensical and morally corrupt. Through the imperialistic ventures, Kurtz robs the
Africans of their voice and autonomy. Similarly, the British women are denied voices, agency, and
even names. We are only given Marlow's bias and unfair assessment of women. The parallel
between imperialism and women in Heart of Darkness is highlighted by Martine Hennard Dutheil
De la Rochère in her work Heart of Darkness' as a Modernist Anti–Fairy Tale. She writes "Heart of
Darkness can thus be read as a deeply ambivalent reflection on the collaboration between imperial
and patriarchal structures: it represents colonial exploitation as inseparable from the feminine and
yet justifies the exclusion of women in the name of a feminine ideal that Marlow attempts to
preserve" (De la Rochere, 8). In order to perpetuate his patriarchal idealism of women, he cages
them and prevents any substantial female representation. Women in Heart of Darkness are nothing
more than slaves to their male counterpart's patriarchal efforts in the same way that the African
population is regarded as no more than an object in an economic

lighthod Light and Dark in Joseph Conrad's Heart of...
Light and Dark in Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad's repeated use of darkness in his novel Heart of Darkness has been widely
interpreted. Readers have arrived at many different conclusions about the use of darkness
throughout the novel. The critics themselves cannot agree what the darkness means.
The critics draw different conclusions about the use of darkness. For some critics, the use of
darkness is seen as an intentional literary device. For example, Gary Adelman and Michael
Levenson discuss the use of darkness and comment upon Conrad's purpose. Gary Adelman suggests
that Conrad used darkness as a means to tie together various elements of the novel. Adelman says,
"the most elaborate of Conrad's devices for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, he is faced with a "shocking revelation" (87) writes Adelman;
"that the darkness . . . is not African, but European" (87).
While Adelman talks about darkness and how it links many elements of the novel together, Michael
Levenson concludes that Conrad chose to use darkness throughout the novel because of the sense it
conveyed to the reader. Levenson sees darkness as the "perfect moral term" (404), conjuring up a
certain impression that is conveyed from beginning to end of the story. As the story unfolds, the
reader is meant to associate darkness with facts and values. Levenson reasons that the "transitions"
(404) from one scene to another are almost "seamless" (404) as a result of the way in which Conrad
uses words like darkness and gloom and what those words come to mean to the reader. To illustrate
his point, he talks about "the transitions from the literal gloom of the African jungle to Kurtz's
gloomy horror . . . from the black bank of clouds above the Thames to the heart of darkness" (404).
They appear seamless, says Levenson "because this darkness is a metaphor which so reliably links
facts and values" (405). He then points out that because of its associations and the frequency with
which it is used, the word darkness "scarcely seems a figure of speech at all" (405). According to
Levenson, this works to Conrad's advantage. He suggests that, as long as there is a strong
association in the reader's mind between darkness

Prejudice and Racism
No Racism in Heart of Darkness
Chinua Achebe challenges Joseph Conrad's novella depicting the looting of Africa, Heart of
Darkness (1902) in his essay "An Image of Africa" (1975). Achebe's is an indignant yet solidly
rooted argument that brings the perspective of a celebrated African writer who chips away at the
almost universal acceptance of the work as "classic," and proclaims that Conrad had written "a
bloody racist book" (Achebe 319). In her introduction in the Signet 1997 edition, Joyce Carol Oates
writes, "[Conrad's] African natives are "dusty niggers," cannibals." Conrad [...] painfully reveals
himself in such passages, and numerous others, as an unquestioning heir of centuries of Caucasian
bigotry" (Oates 10). The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Aside from suffering from a uniform one–dimensionality, in what appears to be a bid for sympathy,
Conrad's black characters are portrayed as constantly pitiable, victimized beings, and discusses them
as one might a horse or dog. Despite spending enough time amongst them for him to see so,
Africans have no humanity for Marlow; in that, we can conclude that he is racist.
On the latter half of our question, "is Marlow an extension of Conrad's opinion?" Achebe also
tenders the following: "It might be contended, of course, that the attitude to the African in Heart of
Darkness is not Conrad's but that of his fictional narrator, Marlow, and that far from endorsing it
Conrad might indeed be holding it up to irony and criticism" (318). However, he rejects this idea as
quickly as it was proffered, citing Conrad's attempt to distance himself from the story by using a
narrator who retells Marlow's narration, and mentions briefly that there are similarities between
Marlow and Conrad in terms of real–life careers. Achebe neglects to address another important
indication of the ties between Marlow and Conrad; Marlow's position as a character amongst the
other characters. Our narrator throughout Heart of Darkness seems to be in awe of Marlow. From
the first page, the reader is given a favorable impression of Marlow: "We four

Essay about Racism Exposed in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of...
Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, effectively exposed the racism that was common
during his lifetime. Through the harsh behavior and word choice of the characters and narrator,
Conrad displays the uncivilized treatment of nonwhites that occurred during the period of
colonization. Edward Garnett, an English writer and critic, summarized the plot of Heart of
Darkness as being "an impression... of the civilizing methods of a certain great European Trading
Company face to face with the "nigger" (145 Heart of darkness backgrounds and Criticisms).
Conrad use of harsh language and terrifying situations, which were based off of his own
experiences, capture the audience's attention and helps them see the cruelty of the European ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This similar description reveals the fact that Marlow did not see much of a difference between the
Africans and the savage beasts of Africa. A famous criticism of Conrad's novella is called An Image
of Africa, which was written by an African native named Chinua Achebe. In Achebe's criticisms of
Heart of Darkness, he points out the difference between descriptions of the European woman and
the African woman, who was Kurtz's mistress. The narrator describes the European woman as being
calm and mature, and the African woman as being "savage" (341 Norton). Even though many
writers claim that Marlow is kind to the Africans by bringing light to their situation, the real
problem does not lie in his description of their situations, but his descriptions of the people
themselves (30 Heart of darkness Interpretations). Throughout the novella, it seems as if the narrator
is describing the Africans as being almost human, but not quite. There seems to be a line drawn
between African and European that is much thicker than country borders. In a description of a sick
boy, the narrator says, "the man seemed young–almost a boy–but you know with them it's hard to
tell" (17 Norton). This statement may seem harmless, but it is completely unnecessary. It reveals
how few interactions Marlow had with the Africans, and his use of the word "them" creates a
ethnical barrier. Along with negative descriptions of Africans, Marlow also uses a great amount of
racial slurs when speaking

Female Characters In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
Thesis Statements
In the novella Heart of Darkness, the seemingly minor characters of the mistress and the intendant
play the most important roles of the novella written by Joseph Conrad.
The three seemingly simple female characters in Heart of Darkness, Marlow's aunt, the Intendent,
and the African Mistress, give more meaning to the main characters and the text as a whole through
Joseph Conrad's use of meaningful suggestions, symbols, and contrasts.
The three seemingly simple female characters in Heart of Darkness including Marlow's Aunt,
Kurtz's Intended, and his African Mistress, play the most important roles of the novella by providing
more meaning to the main characters and the text as a whole through Joseph Conrad's use of
suggestions, symbols, and contrasts.
The three women in the novella are not mentioned often and have even less thoughts of their own;
however, Joseph Conrad goes slightly against the social norms of the late nineteenth century by
having these three women impact the protagonist, Marlow, more than any other characters.
The two main female characters in the novella, Kurtz's Intended and his African Mistress, are not
mentioned often and have even less thoughts of their own; however, Joseph Conrad actually uses
these women as contradicting symbols to develop colonialism and the protagonist of the novella,
Marlow.
Topic Sentences
The Intended, who is Kurtz's fiancee, not only symbolizes civilized Europe, but also develops
Marlow's character

How Does Achebe Characterize Imperialism

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