European Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness And Things Fall...

European Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness And Things Fall...
Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart both illustrate European colonialism of Africa in literature.
In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad shows colonialism through the perspective of Europeans, who
considers the Africans as savages. In response to Conrad's stereotypical view of Africa, Chinua
Achebe's Things Fall Apart shows European colonization through the point of view of the natives,
who not as primitive, but worthwhile. Conrad and Achebe both portray the active colonization as a
traumatic experience, but Conrad manifest that European colonization changes Europeans and
reveals their inner darkness and savageness, while Achebe deems that colonialism changes the life
and social structure of Africans to an absolute catastrophe.
Kurtz is ambitious, eloquence and charisma to achieve greatness as he initially begins his
colonization. His Intended depicts him as "a man of promise, greatness, a generous mind, and a
noble heart" (Conrad 95). The Intended is totally obsessed with Kurtz and considers him as the
ideal. In Kurtz's report to the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs, he thinks
that Europeans' dominance and colonization would benefit and civilize the Africans: "we approach
them with the might as of a deity....'By the simple exercise of our will we can exert a power for good
practically unbounded' "(Conrad 60). Kurtz initially travels to Africa in search of adventure with the
passion for colonization. He deems that by the benevolence of the Europeans and by the exertion of
God he will be able to work collaboratively with the Native he is able to civilize Africans.
Kurtz's voice, in particular, has the power to tempt others and therefore gains his admiration and
obsession of all mankind. Before Marlow meets Mr. Kurtz, he always imagines Kurtz not as a man,
but as a voice: "The man presented himself as a voice... impenetrable darkness" (Conrad 57). The
words "illuminating" and "exalted" shows how Mr. Kurtz is capable of using his voice for making
contact with mankind and lead people towards the ideal; the voice is able to illuminate, elucidate,
and ennoble people. Kurtz's vast plan, his eloquent voice, and charismatic personality obsess others,
but on the other hand, the duality of his
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Examples Of Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness
Does Heart of Darkness criticize or accept colonialism? Colonialism is one of the important aspects
of Joseph Conrad's story Heart of Darkness. By the language and words J. Conrad is using we can
see that he does not support colonialism. His work is not a critique of European colonialism, but he
more criticizes it rather than accept it. Colonialism was accepted matter at that time, and nobody
questioned it actually as much as J. Conrad did through his novel for which he himself was
criticized more. Many European countries in the end of the nineteenth century had imperialistic
goals of exploring and settling Africa. Also, they believed that it had little of the settled land, and it
was populated by uneducated and ''uncivilized'' African cultures. ... Show more content on
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Conrad does not accept colonialism. ''Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is
efficiency–the devotion to efficiency. But these chaps were not much account, really. They were no
colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect. They were
conquerors, and for that you want only brute force–nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your
strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others. They grabbed what they could get
for the sake of what was to be got. 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. 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. What
redeems it's the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an
unselfish belief in the idea–something you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice
to..,'' he

Examples Of Post Colonialism
Introduction
This thesis aims to read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1898), and Nostromo, A Tale of
Seaboard (1904) in a post colonialist perspective. Post colonialism is a theory applied to literature
and developed after colonialism, in middle of the 20th century. The theory is based on colonized
countries by the colonial powers. The concept of postcolonialism is connected with the effects of
colonization on societies and cultures. The term has been used by literary critics to discuss various
effects of colonization after the late 1970s. Post–Colonialism is the hyphenated term which marks
historical period as is suggested by phrases such as 'after colonialism', 'after independence', ' after
the end of empire' where as the term postcolonialism referring to all qualities of a society or culture
from the time of colonization to the present. In the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Conrad himself was a member of imperial culture and utilized his own experiences he gained as a
seamen in Congo and the Malay Archipelago when he wrote his 'Heart of Darkness'. While writing
'Nostromo' Conrad was aware of the politics of the world's great powers, and his text was shaped by
the pervasive ideologies of the time.
'Heart of Darkness' includes four–month of Conrad in Congo, and his command of a Congo River
steamboat. Conrad experienced and saw the violence made by the European explorers and traders in
Congo. He created the embodiment of European imperialism in his character, Kurtz. The novel tell
the story of Marlow, a seamen who undertakes his own journey into the African Jungle to find the
European trader, Kurtz.
'Nostromo' is one of the greatest and most complex novels of Conrad. Conrad shows, the social and
political disorder in South American states whose silver mine serves both literally and
metaphorically as the source of the country's value and politics in this

Imperialism And Colonialism In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of...
The title Heart of Darkness is not just for show, but directly reflects multiple concepts within the
book itself. There are many controversial arguments as to if Conrad's portrayal of the slaves and
natives made him "racist", and the more central question being, were his arguments about
imperialism and colonialism valid? Based upon evidence given in the book and the reference of
other sources, his arguments are valid. To illustrate, the story is about a sailor named Marlow
traveling up the Congo River to meet another man named Kurtz. He arrives at his company and
comes upon slaves who are forced to do labor for them. Marlow immediately realizes the contrast in
treatment through his encounter with a guard who, "–seeing a white man on the path, hoisted his
weapon to his shoulder with alacrity" (54). Later in his trip he also encounters natives, who prove to
be hostile as they attack his boat and kill one of his members. Imperialism and colonialism are both
vividly manifested through the European's claim over Africa where they forced those who lived
there, both Africans and Natives, to make way. Through the use of colonialism and imperialism with
Africa as its main setting, the controversial topic of racism emerges from the appearance of slavery.
The author, Joseph Conrad, being the person of interest. Notably, in an essay written by Ewa
Kujawska, he discusses the fact that "In Polish scholarship Conrad has been discussed more in terms
of his nationalism than racial

Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness
Although the role of colonialism dates back hundreds of years, even prior to the finding of the
Americas. Colonialism in North America differed vastly in comparison to other contexts in the role
to which not only European states involved themselves imperialistically, but also in the role to
which they attempted to assimilate, educate and ethnocide the spiritual, religious and culture of the
people it was colonizing, all at the same time. While the force of colonialism isn't anything new in
the historical evolution of mankind, the mannerism to which the white European colonized North
America, through the role of setter colonialism rather than imperialistic colonialism of Native
Americans in America. Was something that the history of colonialism hadn't been exposed to
previously. Dating back hundreds of years the role of colonialism has played a vital role in the
historical context to many of not only our own countries history, but also the history of many other
countries around the world. The use of imperialistic colonialism was an approach ideological
approach not only focused around the economic revenue involved, but the expansion of empires, use
of labor and extraction of natural resources. As made evident throughout the beginning half of the
first semester, the role of imperialism plays off of the role to which colonialism offers, without
colonialism there is no imperialism. As witnessed throughout the reading of Heart of Darkness, the
role of imperial

The Darkness of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of...
The Light and Dark of Colonialism in Heart of Darkness
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" because it arises, by
accident, from another's weakness. Marlow compares his subsequent tale of colonialism with that of
the Roman colonization of Northern Europe and the fascination associated with such an endeavor.
However, Marlow challenges this viewpoint by painting a heinous picture of the horrors of
colonialist ventures as we delve deeper into the recesses of the novel. Here we find that Marlow sees
colonization as "robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at ...
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Like Marlow, Kurtz began his employment with the ivory company with noble intentions: he wants
to create a better way of life for the natives. However, because of extreme hardships placed upon
him by the manager, Kurtz becomes the "dark" half of the soul: he symbolizes what Marlow may
have become if placed in Kurtz' position.
As the treacherous villain of the tale the manager, signifies total darkness and blackness of the soul,
as he is responsible for the severely unbalanced priorities of the company through the extreme
importance given to the obtaining of ivory and the deficiency of importance given to human lives.
Conrad also implements minor characters to further the unexpected distinction between dark and
light, black and white. The white pilgrims are portrayed as materialistic, ivory–hungry opportunists
with "black" souls; their behavior is violent and savage. Contrariwise, the black natives are civil,
spiritual, and have "white" souls. In the beginning of the novel, Conrad creates the fellow seamen
who accompany Marlow on his present journey and listen to his tale of the Congo to establish the
contrast between the materialistic and the spiritual. The fellow sailors do not understand Marlow's
tale and chastise him throughout, showing their reluctance and inability to

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"

European Colonialism to the Congo during the early twentieth century was labeled and sold as an
idea that the Congo would be transformed from a savage jungle into a place of international trade,
education, and development. This idealistic idea of having a flourishing civilized place in Africa was
crushed by the harsh realities of imperialism. The Congo along with its people were exploited and
used as slave labor for the King of Belgium to personally profit off his new purchase. Joseph
Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness" reveals these truths about european colonialism through
Marlow's, the main character, recollection of a past voyage to the Congo he had experienced. The
novella tackles eurocentric ideas of Africans being depicted as savages, while also revealing
european supremacy as the white washed illusion it is. The author draws on his own past to tell not
only a thrilling adventure, but also expose Europe for its exploitative actions during the early
twentieth century. At the Berlin Conference of 1884, King Leopold of Belgium was granted the land
that is now known as the Congo in promise that its intended purpose was to be used for international
trade, missionaries, and education. That illusion of enlightenment was destroyed when the harsh
realities of trade and greed sat in on the land and its people. No schools or churches were built in the
land, the only promise kept by the King was for international trade to take place freely. Ivory had
become a cash crop out of

Smokescreen
"The horror! The horror! 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"(Hochschild, 1998, p. 164). Marlow, a fictional character in Heart of
Darkness, is discussing colonialism, a policy that dramatically altered the world during the
nineteenth century. While, those who plunder other nations are said to have done so in the name of
progress, civilization, and Christianity, there is a certain hypocritical attitude that leads to accounts
such as Marlow's. For while these civilizing missions, or the rationale for intervention,
accomplished some good, the movement developed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
2). By way of explanation, slavery means to forcibly assert your power over another in order to
dominate and gain economically, while the victims earn nothing. In the Congo, colonial officials
asserted themselves by threatening, kidnapping, torturing, and killing. An effective weapon to
torture natives was the chicotte, or a whip, to which was justified by the belief that the native's were
less than human. That is, Europeans believed them to be uncivilized and lazy. For this reason, they
were put to work in a similar way to animals. By using the whip, those in power hoped their
discipline would encourage the Africans to work and be civilized. For they believed the natives will
not work unless they are taught good work ethic, despite the certainty that Africans have survived on
their own. This idea of using barbaric forces to rid the natives of barbarism is hypocritical.
King Leopold's second justification was to morally uplift the natives. He stated, "To open to
civilization the only part of our globe which it has not yet penetrated, to pierce the darkness which
hangs over entire peoples, is, I dare say, a crusade worthy of this century of progress..."(Hochschild,
1998, p. 44). His actions were seemingly commendable and echoed the beliefs of the nineteenth
century. During this time, a need for an evangelical–religious awakening spread throughout
countries such as

Exposing Colonialism and Imperialism in Joseph Conrad’s...
The Evil of Colonialism Exposed in Heart of Darkness
Marlow was an average European man with average European beliefs. Like most Europeans of his
time, Marlow believed in colonialism; that is, until he met Kurtz. Kurtz forces Marlow to rethink his
current beliefs after Marlow learns the effects of colonialism deep in the African Congo. In Joseph
Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow learns that he has lived his entire life believing in a sugar–
coated evil. Marlow's understanding of Kurtz's experiences show him the effects colonialism can
have on a man's soul.
In Europe, colonialism was emphasized as a great and noble cause. It was
seen as, the white mans mission to help civilize and improve a savage ... Show more content on
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He says
the Romans were conquers and not colonialists, and explains that what saves
the colonialist is "the devotion to efficiency" and "the unselfish belief in
the idea"(Conrad 65–66). Yet throughout the novel Marlow's experiences show
how colonialism was just that, the robbing of Africa for ivory and profit by
Europeans. He says there was no improvement in Africa like the Europeans
claimed, "unless the body of a middle–aged negro, with a bullet hole in the
forehead...may be considered improvement" (Conrad 81). I think Marlow feels
this is what colonialism really brought to Africa. Some Europeans may have
genuinely believed in the idea of colonialism as being noble, but this
"belief in the idea" cannot save the horrible actions of colonialism or make

them acceptable.
Also during this time, around the 1800's, exploration was seen as a
wonderful adventure and the period of mapping out the world was under way.
Europeans saw Africa as a black place on the map waiting to be discovered.
When Marlow was young "[he] had a passion for maps. [He] would look for
hours at South America, or Africa, or Australia and lose [him–self] in all
the glories of exploration" (Conrad 66). Marlow now says, "The glamour's
off"(Conrad 67). I

Essay Contrasting Images in Things Fall Apart and Heart...
Contrasting Images in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness 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 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Darkness is everything that is unknown, primitive, evil, and impenetrable. To Conrad, Africa is the
very representation of darkness. Marlow often uses the phrase, "We penetrated deeper and deeper
into the heart of darkness" (Conrad 68), to describe his progress on the Congo. By traveling farther
and farther down the Congo, Marlow and his crew get closer and closer to the epicenter of this
foreboding darkness, to the black heart of evil. Because of Africa's physical immensity and thick
jungles, it appeared to be a land of the unknown where "the silence . . . went home to one's very
heart–its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life"(56). This portrayal of
Africa as both a romantic frontier and a foreboding wilderness continues to dominate in the minds of
Westerners even today. Conrad depicts Africa as a land where the prehistoric has been preserved. He
describes the journey up the Congo as something similar to a trip on a time machine: Going up that
river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the
earth and the big trees were kings . . . There were moments when one's past came back to one, as it
will sometimes when you have not a moment to spare to yourself; but it came in the shape of an
unrestful and noisy dream, remembered with wonder amongst the overwhelming realities of this
strange world of

Effects Of European Colonialism In Joseph Conrad's Heart...
The United Nations labeled and sold European colonization in the Congo during the early twentieth
century as the idea that the Congo would be transformed from a savage jungle into a place of
international trade, education, and development. The harsh realities of imperialism crushed this
idealistic idea of having a flourishing civilized place in Africa. The King of Belgium exploited the
Congo along with its people and used it as slave labor in order to personally profit off his new
purchase. Joseph Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness" reveals these truths about European
colonialism through the main character's recollection and retelling of a past voyage to the Congo he
had experienced. The novella tackles problematic Eurocentric ideas of Africans and their culture,
while also revealing European supremacy as the white washed illusion it is. The author draws on his
own past to tell not only a thrilling adventure, but also expose Europe for its exploitative actions
during the early twentieth century. At the Berlin Conference of 1884, the U.N. granted King
Leopold of Belgium land, the Congo, under the guidelines that it's intended purpose was to be used
for the advancement of the land such as international trade, missionaries, and education. The harsh
realities of trade and greed sat in on the land and its inhabitants and destroyed the illusion of
enlightenment. The King did not implement for any schools or churches to be built within the land,
the only promise kept was for

The subject of colonialism has appeared in various literary works. More specifically, this subject has
been viewed through a variety of different perspectives and often, these literary works tend to
address the problems and consequences related to it. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness explores the
hypocrisy of colonial efforts carried out by white Europeans, the brutal conditions and exploitation
of the black natives and Africa, as well as the effect colonialism had on white Europeans. Conrad
depicts this criticism of colonialism through his use of characters as symbolic illustrations and
distinct contrasting images and concepts. The title itself allows readers to delve into the novella for
any idea on what could be meant by the idea of darkness and Conrad reveals this to some extent.
Heart of Darkness explores different issues surrounding colonialism, but one particular issue that is
developed throughout the novella is that of the hypocrisy that envelops the white Europeans'
colonial efforts. This hypocrisy is especially evident in the rhetoric used to justify colonialism. The
company and those who colonized describe their efforts as rational, well–organized, and benevolent.
They describe it as a way of introducing civilization and providing "enlightenment" for the natives
which they target throughout Africa, specifically in the Congo for The Company. In fact, Marlow's
aunt, who aided in his receiving the position to travel to the Congo, is a symbol for the perspective

Colonialism And Imperialism In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of...
The horrors of the past do not fade with time – whether the horrors occur in one's lifetime or
decades before. In Heart of Darkness and Native Guard, Joseph Conrad and Natasha Trethewey
respectively chronicle their characters' journeys as they struggle to overcome the demons of their
personal histories and of history itself. With persistent reflection, both characters achieve a clearer
understanding of their pasts, allowing them to transform according to the truths they have
discovered. Conrad and Trethewey use water as a symbol to express the shift in their characters'
identities: Marlow from apathetic detachment to passive awareness and Trethewey's speaker from
confused turmoil to a definite identity.
In his novella Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses the symbol water to express Marlow's change from
apathy to awareness throughout his journey from the outer station to the inner station. As explained
in Albert Guerard's criticism "The Journey Within," Conrad represents his character's "spiritual
voyage of self–discovery" by having Marlow travel down a dynamic body of water (Guerard 302).
As he travels down the Congo, Marlow's belief in imperialism's noble cause and his indifference
slowly erode away with the passage of water, subtly changing Marlow. Conrad includes this change
to show that imperialism negatively affects conquerors in addition to the civilization imperialized.
At the beginning of Marlow's story, he shows only indifference to the people suffering around him.
While

Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness By Achebe
Achebe's novel ends on a western narration of colonialism that describes Africa as a place that
drives civilized men to madness, which is ironically reversed when the white men drive Okonkwo to
suicide. After Okonkwo's entire life story, The Commissioner and the white men have colonized and
taken over the country. The Commissioner's narration at the end is him reflecting on the book he
would write, "The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger," which summarizes
Okonkow's novel length story into "a whole chapter...perhaps not a whole chapter but a reasonable
paragraph," since "there was so much else to include" (146). The Commissioner claims that
including how they (Europeans) brought "civilization to different parts of ... Show more content on
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Eugene also encompasses extreme faith in religion as a Catholic, which has been instilled in him
during the colonization of Nigeria. Just as the colonizers used religion and "humanitarian" efforts to
justify colonization, Eugene uses his religion to justify his abuse and control in order to "colonize"
his family, repeatedly reminding them that, "everything I do for you, I do for your own good" (196).
He has an impossible view of perfection that involves abandoning all trace of his Nigerian past,
disowning his traditional Nigerian father, limiting contract with his sister Ifeoma and her children,
and even his own language. Eugene constantly attempts to be more English by speaking in a British
accent, which is impossible. These impossible standards effect everyone close to him, so much so
that Kambili imagines God as an old white Englishman with a British accent. Yet he is still seen as
superior and heroic, much like westerns when compared to countries that are victim of a single
story. Although Eugene is an embodiment of colonialism, he does not realize that he will always be
a Nigerian outsider to the English who has learned new tricks.
5. Purple Hibiscus. Discuss the reasons that the novel's ending, while hopeful, is not quite a happy

Colonialism and Imperialism
The European, White Male vs. the Other in Heart of Darkness
The novella Heart of Darkness has, since it's publication in 1899, caused much controversy and
invited much criticism. While some have hailed it's author, Joseph Conrad as producing a work
ahead of it's time in it's treatment and criticism of colonialist practices in the Congo, others, most
notably Chinua Achebe, have criticized it for it's racist and sexist construction of cultural identity.
Heart of Darkness can therefore be described as a text of it's time, as the cultural identity of the
dominant society, that is, the European male is constructed in opposition to "the other", "the other"
in Heart of Darkness being defined as black and/or female. Notions of cultural ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the case of the second instance it is somewhat appropriate that the "leader's" death is announced
by one of the people of the group he is seen to have joined. Therefore Africans are constructed as
being inferior to Europeans through Conrad's refusal to grant them the power of language and
speech and even when they are given the opportunity to speak, Conrad constructs Africans as being
largely inarticulate. Thus confirming the superiority of the white race.
Conrad further marginalises and degrades the African characters and race not only through the
denial of language but also the denial of human form. When Marlow first sees Africans in a small
boat on the water, he describes them in terms of their "muscles", "bones" and "white teeth", despite
also recognizing a vitality and spirit. The disembodiment continues when Marlow encounters the
chain gang at the outer station. It is when seeking "shade" however that Marlow stumbles upon the
grove of death. Here he finds emancipated and dying Africans, cast off by their imperialist "owners"
because they are no longer deemed to have monetary value, or economic viability. Instead of feeling
revulsion's at this, Marlow dehumanizes the Africans, describing them as "bundles of acute angles"
and noting how they drink on "all fours". Thus by denying the Africans their humanity, Conrad
constructs a notion

Light and Dark of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of...
The Light and Dark of Colonialism Exposed in Heart of Darkness
In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, challenges a dominant view by exposing the evil nature and
the darkness associated with the colonialist ventures. It is expressed by Marlow as "robbery with
violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind – as it is very proper for
those who tackle a darkness." The European colonialists are portrayed as blind lightbearers, people
having a façade of progress and culture, yet are blind of their actions. They think they are brining a
light to a darkness, yet they are the real darkness or evil. Conrad's critique of European colonialism
is most apparent through the oppositions of light and darkness, with the ... Show more content on
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The manager personifies the darkness with his unbalanced priorities of obtaining of ivory and the
deficiency of importance given to human lives, thus displaying an intense darkness behind the
façade of light. In the beginning of the book, Marlow comes upon a "grove of death" in the jungle
where black workers who are no longer able to function satisfactorily in the eyes of the company are
left to die. Marlow also witnesses black workers in chain–gangs throughout his journey up the river,
along with a black man shot. These atrocities against the natives are as a result of the white
colonization and the activities of the manager, a character which represents the darkness within the
supposed light that is brought to the natives. The manager is solely concerned with the safe
confiscation of the ivory and not at all with Kurtz' life, lives are seen as merely objects in the way of
the ultimate goal of ivory. Therefore the manager, with the "lightness" – a façade of bringing culture
and improvements to the natives, is in fact the real darkness, demonstrating the evil associated with
the European colonialism of Africa.
Conrad also uses minor characters to enhance the distinction between dark and light, with character
construction of good and evil along similar lines. In the beginning of the novella, the members of
the Nellie represent the contrast of the materialistic and the spiritual. The

How Is The Post Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness
Post–Colonial Analysis of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
Abstract:
Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness tells the story about Marlow's journey in Africa and the other
character Kurtz who exploits the natives by imposing violence on them ,Marlow search for this.This
story is actually based on the autobiographical of Joseph journey ,that he did for learned that how
Europeans ruled over the (Africa for their own benifits. Jospeh Conrad's Heart of Darkness book is
regarded as an attack on imperialism and criticizes immoral treatments of the
European colonizers in Africa in the 19th century. Keith Booker states that "the book deals with
issues such as imperialism, capitalism, race, and gender that were very much at the
forefront ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Marlow's relationships to imperialism are just devices with which to work more effectively in the
interests of imperialist power. Said says that "Heart of Darkness works so effectively because its
politics and aesthetics are, so to speak, imperialist, which in the closing years of the nineteenth
century seemed to be at the same time an aesthetic, politics and even epistemology inevitable an
unavoidable". Said implies that colonialism is inevitable through the end of 19th century; however,
Conrad clearly criticizes the brutal application of
England.
In the novel we see the character of Kurtz who is chief of inner station , he has a lot of abilities from
art to music although he is cruel person .He is a man who reveals the violence and brutality in the
novel.Marlow says that ,Kurtz was a remarkable man who had say something to say and said it.
Kurtz as a European thinks that it is his responsibility and right to controlle on the Africans and
Marlow is critical and surprised to see this meaningless authority over black people ,that brought
violence in Africa by European colonialism.
.
Kurtz is a strong symbol of order because of the fact that he is the most

Colonialism and Imperialism Exposed in Shooting an...
Destructive Colonization Exposed in Shooting an Elephant and Heart of Darkness
As a man is captured, his first instinct is to try and break free from his shackles and chains. Primal
urges such as this often accompany humans when they are forced, as in capture, to rely on their most
basic instincts to survive.
In this manner, natives in Africa acted upon instinct when the Europeans arrived to take their land
and freedom. The short story Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell and the novel Heart of
Darkness by Joseph Conrad revolve around the time when colonialism had a foothold in many parts
of the world. This setting is one of conflict with the native peoples in these countries who are
fighting and rebelling against the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This unrest needs to be subdued so that control will remain over the conquered. In this way, Orwell
needed to exterminate an elephant because it had become wild and had killed a native man.
However, the natives "had not shown much interest while [the elephant] was merely ravaging their
homes, but it was different now that [the elephant] [is] going to be shot." (Century, 146)
Shooting this elephant has much significance because it illustrates the control over the natives that
the colonizers had. Orwell needed to kill the elephant in order to support his position of a law figure
in his town. The elephant was unruly to begin with, but it also served as a reminder for Orwell's
constituents about who was in power, and who had control.
Control is also used in The Heart of Darkness when Marlow first sees a group of natives, "dying
slowly– it [is] very clear". They had "[become] inefficient" as Marlow states. Inefficient with the job
and labor that was forced upon them by the colonizers. In this manner, it is evident that the natives
were forced to work and die against their will. Marlow recounts that these men were forced to
become slaves for England, forced to be oppressed and controlled by colonialist rule. The tyranny of
the natives led to a struggle to keep order within Orwell's and Marlow's jurisdictions.
As Orwell and Marlow struggle to keep order at times, they both

Across many countries, authors have showcased how societal structures such as imperialism and
colonialism can affect the way in which an individual experiences the world. Those born into the
so–called "First World" countries have been privileged in that they have not felt the burden of such
societal structure, as compared to those born into those "Second World" countries. These individuals
have dealt with the pressures of Westernized society in such a way that their entire way of life has
been transformed. Those whose countries hold values of imperialism and colonialism have only
imposed their ways of life onto the "Second World" countries, whose citizens have lived in those
shadows for centuries. These different worldviews can also impact ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
As Kurtz's title grows, he is able to work his way into the natives' minds. He becomes their leader,
even though he is an outsider. Little does Marlow know, Kurtz's corruptness and his imperialistic
and colonialist efforts to rule the African land would become his demise. In the end, Marlow
understands that Kurtz is not all he is made out to be, and finds that his practices are harsher than
necessary as he reads in Kurtz's book his plans to "Exterminate all the brutes!" (50). Kurtz is
referring to the natives he befriends and uses to his advantage. While Marlow and Kurtz move
throughout the Congo as foreigners of a "First World" country, the Natives of the Congo are forces
reconcile with Kurtz's colonization and rule of their land and over their people. What Conrad
presents in Heart of Darkness are the dangers of naiveté regarding "First World" practices of
imperialism and colonialism, and then becoming aware, as Marlow gradually does, of their
implications.
Secondly, in Wang Anyi's short story, "The Destination," Chen Xin experiences the changes in his
home city, Shanghai, following a ten–year period of life in rural China. In returning home, Chen Xin
embarks on a never–ending journey to find true happiness. As a young man, he volunteers himself to
move to the countryside in order to avoid the repercussions of the Communist government. The
Cultural Revolution,

Condemnation of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of...
Condemnation of Imperialism in Heart of Darkness
Though Conrad did not learn English until he was twenty–one, he still mastered the language and
artfully uses it in Heart of Darkness. One sentence of his is particularly striking, as it sums up the
views that he condemns throughout the novella. The accountant, one of the first imperialists Marlow
meets, says to him, "When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate these savages–
hate them to the death"(Conrad). This sentence is a perfect example of the typical imperialistic
belief that Marlow denounces, and serves as a synecdoche for the entire work.
One important characteristic of imperialistic belief is the impersonality that makes imperialism
happen. The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This important difference in attitude between Marlow and Kurtz and the typical imperialist is an
integral part of the novella.
The phrase "hate them to the death" also shows the dehumanization of the native Africans. When
looked at for its literal meaning, this clause suggests that until the natives die, there can be no
emotion for them but hate. It is an easy ideal to follow, and makes the complete oppression more
easily forgiven for the imperialists. Marlow, however, once again has a contrasting opinion. When
he visits the black grove of death, he feels pity for the men who are no longer human enough to die
in peace, but must remove themselves to a deserted place where they cannot be downtrodden. The
accountant is merely disturbed by the presence of a dying man where he must make his "correct
entries". This passage shows the businesslike nature of imperialism once again, as the numbers of
the business are more important to the white men, excluding Marlow, than the humanity of it.
This sentence serves as an embodiment of the imperialist theory as whole, which Conrad attacks,
through Marlow, throughout the novella. Marlow wholeheartedly disagrees with the treatment of the
natives, because he has a strong belief in the importance of work ethic and the sacredness of
humanity, as shown by his sympathy for his helmsman, and

What Is The Theme Of Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness
Abstract:
Heart of Darkness was written in the era of anxiety and oppression. Some critics said that novel is a
moral lesson about human self–indulgence or a sociological commentary upon the morality of
colonialism and imperialism. It is said that the novel is about self–discovery, colonialism and
imperialism. Heart of Darkness is written from the perspective of colonialism, its effects on the
people of Congo. Conrad depicted all the issues of the colonialism from his own point of view
which he experienced and gave the overview that how Africans were treated by Europeans and
highlighted the concept of othering and stereotyping. Title of the novel refers the darkness of heart
which is actually the darkness of African people. Conrad condemns the evil of ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Marlow says that it is impossible to reveal the truth that he experienced during his journey: "No, it is
impossible; it is impossible to convey the life–sensation of any given epoch of one's existence, – that
which makes its truth, its meaning – its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as
we dream – alone...." (32). Analysis:
A post–colonial analysis of the first chapter of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness reveals that
Othering, Stereotyping and Hybridity phenomena are persistently present in the novel. The process
of Othering and Stereotyping is spread throughout the novel in general and in the first chapter in
particular.
The violence is indispensable part of colonialism for the Europeans and it constantly occurs
throughout the novel. For example, Marlow tells that a native, thought to cause fire, has been beaten
harshly: "[a] nigger was being beaten nearby. They said he had caused the fire in some way; be that
as it may, he was screeching most horribly"

The Cruelty of Colonialism in Joseph Conrad's Heart of...
A nation of tortured slaves with bodies so emaciated one could count the ribs, death lingering in
every corner as overworked natives line the ground with their lifeless forms, a people so scarred that
evil men are allowed to rule as gods. Unfortunately, the gruesome description reigns true for African
tribes that fell victim to the cruelty of colonialism. Pointing out the abhorrent evils of the imperial
tradition, Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness to expose the possibility of malevolence in a
human being. Throughout the novella, Conrad illustrates sickening images of the horrendous effects
of colonizing African tribes while incorporating themes such as a reversal of black and white
imagery, the "fascination of the abomination", and the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Achebe also spoke around the United States and taught at the University of Massachusetts. Although
many critics commend Conrad for addressing the heavy topic of colonialism in a slightly
controversial manner, Achebe voices the idea that Conrad is not a creator of great work because of
the condescending and racist undertones throughout his magnum opus. To support Achebe's view
that Conrad is a racist, he refers to several instances throughout the novella that he believes blatantly
point out the racism behind the text. Early on in the novel, the river Thames is described as civilized
and tranquil because it runs through Europe, the epitome of imperialism. Contrastingly, the African
"...River Congo, the very antithesis of the Thames" is seen as prehistoric and dishonorable as it
"...enjoys no old–age pension" (Achebe 1). Although the contrast between the two rivers is
obviously a negative depiction of Africa, Achebe believes the main fear of Conrad voices through
Marlow is the undeniable relation to such "savage" people. Conrad believes that the natives of the
Congo are wholly uncivilized and malevolent, but through this observation he realizes that the
natives are humans and the fact that he shares a common relation to these people disgusts him (1).
Achebe also points out that while Conrad does not admire the savage nature of the natives, he does
enjoy

Nineteenth century Britain was a period of transformation driven by the industrial revolution and
was an era plagued by political and social unrest. A notable work from this period is Joseph
Conrad's Heart of Darkness, an extensive exploration of European imperialism in the African Congo
during the nineteenth century. One of Conrad's most noteworthy pieces, the novella was a
contribution to the world of literature, establishing a profoundly honest depiction of the hard
realities of colonization and the horrors brought upon the lands colonization reached. In Heart of
Darkness, Joseph Conrad criticizes madness as a result of Man's fundamental fallibility when they
are the sole judge of one's own actions. To begin with, Joseph Conrad introduces the concept of
Man's fundamental fallibility. Conrad writes, "The original Kurtz had been educated partly in
England, and – as he was good enough to say himself – his sympathies were in the right place. His
mother was half–English, his father was half–French. All Europe contributed to the making of
Kurtz" (63). Conrad develops the sense that all of Europe had contributed to Kurtz, a man, who
through the course of the novella, falls victim to madness, suggesting how the world creates a
mankind that is essentially susceptible to madness. Furthermore, Conrad implies that these innate
seeds of insanity are not just belonging to the character of Kurtz, but to all of humanity as well. In
addition, Edward Garnett, an early critic of Conrad's

Comparing Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of...
Imperialism in Heart of Darkness and Kipling's Poetry
Imperialism sprung from an altruistic and unselfish aim to "take up the white man's burden"1 and
"wean [the] ignorant millions from their horrid ways."2 These two citations are, of course, from
Kipling's "White Man's Burden" and Conrad's Heart of Darkness, respectively, and they splendidly
encompass what British and European imperialism was about – at least seen from the late–
nineteenth century point of view. This essay seeks to explore the comparisons and contrasts between
Conrad's and Kipling's view of imperialism in, respectively, Heart of Darkness and "White Man's
Burden" and "Recessional."
In a historical context, the two texts differ greatly: Heart of ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This was the occasion for which "Recessional" had been written, and it celebrated a vast empire that
had "dominion over palm and pine," and a "far–flung battle–line." The poem speaks of 'lesser breeds
without the Law,' and it is this law that "if, drunk with sight of power," must not be forgotten. It is a
prayer for the eternal altruistic mission that the white man had been destined for, as well as a
hopeful prayer that England should not decline:
Far–called, our navies melt away–
On dune and headland sinks the fire–
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget–lest we forget!4
The call to extend 'the Law' continues in Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden." However, such
an extension calls for a definition of a "white man." By this term, Kipling refers not only to those
with white skin colour. Charles Carrington points out in his biography5 that in the late 19th century
"white people" included all men with the moral standards of the civilised world. Carrington
convincingly cites Kipling's own poem "Gunga Din" about an Indian water–carrier, in which Gunga

Din is 'the finest man I knew'. I have elaborated upon Carrington's example:
[When] a'servin of 'Er Majesty the Queen,
Of all them black–faced I

Colonialism and Imperialism
A Post–colonial Study of Heart of Darkness
In this paper, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness will be examined by using a recent movement,
Post–colonial Study that mainly focuses on the relationship between the Self and the Other, always
intertwined together in considering one' identity. The Other is commonly identified with the margin,
which has been oppressed or ignored by Eurocentric, male–dominated history. Conrad is also
conscious of the Other's interrelated status with the Self, but his main concern is the Self, not the
Other, even though he deals with the natives. As Edward W. Said indicates in his Orientalism, the
Orient (or the Other) has helped to define Europe (or the West) as its contrasting image, idea, ...
Namely, Marlow focuses on an "idea"––an ideal slogan––which is employed to impose "higher"
civilization on uncivilized world: "What redeems it is the idea only . . . not a sentimental pretense
but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea––something you can set up, and bow down before,
and offer a sacrifice" (7). Seeing the idea as a false concept fabricated by ideological colonialism,
Said notes: the idea is only a man's desire for protection from the impinging confusions of the
world. Immediately after the intellectual organization of the world, according to the idea, there
comes the expedient of devotion to the idea,which in turn breeds conquest according to the idea.2
Consequently, the "idea" reflects Eurocentric self–image. As soon as this Eurocenric image is
constructed, Westerners begin to think that the world should be reorganized according to the image.
From the beginning of the novel, imperialism is thus justified even as a sacred mission to deliver
light to the darkness of uncivilized society by Marlow's colonial discourse, which does not consider
the marginal, silenced voices of the natives, or the Other in the text.
Marlow attempts to compare his journey into the Congo to one that penetrates a primitive world.
Since Europeans like Conrad possess a progressive, Eurocentric vision of world history, the Congo
is described as the

Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' leaves the reader with a sense that something is not quite right
in regards to late nineteenth century society, and the human condition. Throughout the text,
Marlow's vast descriptions of the landscape leave a captivating, yet eery sensation on the reader.
One must consider that Marlow's distinct lack of adjectival emphasis towards the unnamed
characters of the novella is done so to dehumanise members of society, whether they be of western
or eastern ethnicity. With only few members of this story being referred to by name, and the rest
known only as a title, or "Black figures", this lays a further emphasis on Conrad's focus on the
barbaric nature of the Congo, and thus, the inner darkness that resides in all of us. Literary critic
Edward Said considers Conrad's dehumanisation of those involved in this novella, and further
develops his view that Conrad was demonstrating that there really was not much difference between
Imperialist and African society. In comparison, Chinua Achebe evaluates Conrad was a "a
thoroughgoing racist", and that he was fully aware of his biased rhetoric.
For Conrad, much consideration relating to the Imperialists' spread of "the germs of empire" was put
forward throughout the text. It is evident that Marlow's journey throughout the text can not only be
seen as a literal path, yet a metaphorical allegory of the continuous expansion and destruction led by
western society. Through Achebe, the reader considers whether

European Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad
European colonization in the Congo during the early twentieth century was labeled and sold as the
idea that the Congo would be transformed from a savage jungle into a place of international trade,
education, and development. This idealistic idea of having a flourishing civilized place in Africa was
crushed by the harsh realities of imperialism. The Congo along with its people were exploited and
used as slave labor for the King of Belgium to personally profit off his new purchase. Joseph
Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness" reveals these truths about European colonialism through the
main character's recollection and retelling of a past voyage to the Congo he had experienced. The
novella tackles problematic Eurocentric ideas of Africans and their culture, while also revealing
European supremacy as the white washed illusion it is. The author draws on his own past to tell not
only a thrilling adventure, but also expose Europe for its exploitative actions during the early
twentieth century. At the Berlin Conference of 1884, King Leopold of Belgium was granted land,
that would later be named the Congo, under the guidelines that it's intended purpose was to be used
for advancement of the land such as international trade, missionaries, and education. That illusion of
enlightenment was destroyed when the harsh realities of trade and greed sat in on the land and its
inhabitants. No schools or churches were built within the land, the only promise kept by the King
was for international

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
Helpwriting.net ...
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

The Horrors of Colonialism and Imperialism in Conrad's...
From the onset of the novella Heart of Darkness, the narrator Marlow compares his subsequent tale
of colonialism with that of the Roman colonization of Northern Europe and the fascination
associated with such an endeavor. However, throughout his narration, Marlow challenges this
viewpoint by painting a heinous picture of the horrors of colonialist ventures.
In the opening of his tale, Conrad, through Marlow, establishes his thoughts on colonialism. He says
that conquerors only use brute force, "nothing to boast of" because it arises, by accident, from
another's weakness. Marlow sees colonization as;
"Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind – as it is very
proper for those who ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Throughout the tale, Marlow is disgusted with what he sees during his employment in the ivory
company. He is shocked and angered at the horrible treatment of the black workers. By the end of
his tale, Marlow has turned from the brutality of the whites to the truth and reality he sees in the
black jungle natives. In this way, through his realization of his kinship with the blacks, Marlow
emerges as the "light" half: what Kurtz may have been if he had not had to suffer the hardship he
did.
Like Marlow, Kurtz began his employment with the ivory company with noble intentions: he wants
to create a better way of life for the natives. However, because of extreme hardships placed upon
him by the manager, Kurtz becomes the "dark" half of the soul: he symbolizes what Marlow may
have become if placed in Kurtz' position. A stark reminder of what can happen if fate takes its
course.
As the treacherous villain of the tale, the manager signifies total darkness and blackness of the soul.
He is in charge of the company and its appalling activities that take place within it. The manager
humanizes the severely unbalanced priorities of the company through the extreme importance given
to the obtaining of ivory and the deficiency of importance given to human lives. In the beginning of
the book, Marlow comes upon a "grove of death" in the jungle where black workers are merely
discarded like rusty machinery, no longer able to function satisfactorily in the eyes of the company.
Marlow

Essay on Images of Africa in Heart of Darkness and Things...
Images of Africa in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart
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 ...
Darkness is everything that is unknown, primitive, evil, and impenetrable. To Conrad, Africa is the
very representation of darkness. Marlow often uses the phrase, "We penetrated deeper and deeper
into the heart of darkness" (Conrad 68), to describe his progress on the Congo. By traveling farther
and farther down the Congo, Marlow and his crew get closer and closer to the epicenter of this
foreboding darkness, to the black heart of evil. Because of Africa's physical immensity and thick
jungles, it appeared to be a land of the unknown where "the silence . . . went home to one's very
heart–its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life"(56). This portrayal of
Africa as both a romantic frontier and a foreboding wilderness continues to dominate in the minds of
Westerners even today.
Conrad depicts Africa as a land where the prehistoric has been preserved. He describes the journey
up the Congo as something similar to a trip on a time machine:
Going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation
rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings . . . There were moments when one's past came back
to one, as it will sometimes when you have not a moment to spare to yourself; but it came in the
shape of an unrestful and noisy dream, remembered with wonder amongst the overwhelming
realities of this

Degeneration of Kurtz, Colonialism, and Imperialism in...
Degeneration of Kurtz and Colonialism in Heart of Darkness
Kurtz was a personal embodiment, a dramatization, of all that Conrad felt of futility, degradation,
and horror in what the Europeans in the Congo called 'progress,' which meant the exploitation of the
natives by every variety of cruelty and treachery known to greedy man. Kurtz was to Marlow,
penetrating this country, a name, constantly recurring in people's talk, for cleverness and enterprise.
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a portrait of the degeneration of the ideal of Kurtz
symbolizing the degeneration of the ideal of colonialism as 'civilizing work'.
The fading of the idealist mirage of 'civilizing work' in Africa has to be one of the central ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Marlow also spoke to Kurtz's journalist colleague, who remembered about Kurtz: "Heavens! how
that man could talk! He electrified large meetings. He had the faith – don't you see – he had the
faith. He could get himself to believe anything – anything" (Conrad 71). The other thing Kurtz met
in the Congo was silence. The dialogue became a monologue, because the other side of the
conversation is only wilderness.
Kurtz's whole orientation in the Congo was based on the quest for ever–increasing quantities of
ivory. In this lay the weakness of Kurtz, for he wanted something, unlike his Russian companion.
Kurtz's intelligence, his ideas, and his plans, were captive to his status as ivory gatherer. Kurtz's
rejection of the validity of the 'unsound method' was not the problem. The problem with Kurtz,
which Marlow does not realize, is not that Kurtz went native, but that he did not go native enough.
In other words, Kurtz did not abandon the ivory–fetish. Kurtz's link with colonialism is therefore his
undoing, even in the individual decay he undergoes.
Kurtz, more than anyone, was a signal of human potential to Marlow, the 'universal genius', the
'extraordinary man' found the limits of his potential much more easily in his isolation: "Believe me
or not, his intelligence was perfectly clear – concentrated, it is true, upon himself with a horrible
intensity, yet clear..."(Conrad 65). Kurtz's abilities had nothing to work on

Glorified Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of...
Imperialism Glorified in Heart of Darkness
Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is, as Edward Said states a story about European "acts of imperial
mastery" (1503)–its methods, and the effects it has on human nature. Furthermore I hold the
presumption that Conrad incorporates much of his own experience in the Congo and his opinions
about imperialism. Another recent critic also suggests: "he seems to approve of Marlow," the
narrator (Achebe 1492). These revelations of the author are conveyed to the reader through
Marlow's observations, descriptions, reactions, and statements.
Whilst "Heart of Darkness" is at times very critical of European imperialism, that criticism for the
most part is directed at the false idealistic claims made ... 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 way the Belgians are approaching 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." Moreover he is even more disappointed in the
Belgians' approach to trade when he sees the overturned truck, decaying machinery, the natives
chained together, and the natives 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) In reality the trade business is doing nothing for the people of the land, and
all it appears to be doing is supplying a false consciousness of fairness and trade.
Furthermore, not only are the methods of the Belgians unfair, but they are also inefficient. This

Theme Of Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness
The novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a story about a man named Marlow who has a
sense of adventure in his heart, and by following his heart, he tells us a story about a time of his life
where he was a riverboat pilot the Belgian Congo. His story is about him going on a journey to find
a man of many skills and abilities named Kurtz. In his story, Marlow applies to The Company, it's a
trade firm for ivory. Then he begins to hear people talking about Kurtz, and suddenly, Marlow wants
to find him and meet him. But there is one particular question that is raised in the book, is
colonialism horrible? In the novel, it focuses more on the evils of colonialism has than all of its
strengths. Later in the book, we find out that Kurtz made himself look like a god to the Natives, he
hypnotized them to thinking that he is the all most powerful. He even makes them help him in his
shady business of stealing ivory. This only shows the bad things that colonialism can do. He returns
more ivory to The Company than all the other stations put together, and he does it by force and
through wrong methods. Throughout the novel, there are lots of examples that show the evilness of
colonialism. We see that Marlow adores Kurtz from what he heard about him, he looks up to him
like he's his hero. But when Marlow finally meets him, he realizes that he turned into a monster and
he showed Marlow that all men have darkness in their hearts. In the book, it states "'Kurtz got the
tribe to follow

Of Colonialism In Gilgamesh, The Tempest, And Heart Of...
Exploration during the postcolonial era was very popular in footings for people to try and reach out
to find ways to set up ground for themselves. In Gilgamesh, the Tempest, and Heart of Darkness, it
seems oppression and race played an important factor as to how one coexisted from events that took
place to express all that existed during this period. From both good to bad, one feeling strong to
weak, or even included or excluded, oppression and race were amongst the many postcolonial lenses
that could be viewed from these three pieces of literature. These three stories reveal how racial
difference is used to justify oppression during the time of the colonial period. Racial difference
allowed those in power to disregard the humanity of people who had a different appearance. In
Gilgamesh, the Tempest, and Heart of Darkness the literature demonstrates how otherness such a
different appearance allowed colonizers to justify their supremacy over colonized peoples that had
to follow leading to oppression. From Heart of Darkness early on in the novella we learn not only
from race when one sets themselves apart but also how just one could easily be shunned and
ultimately separated from power, keeping them at the bottom of the hierarchy indefinitely such as
the famous quote: "They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force – nothing to boast
of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.
They grabbed what they could get

Postcolonialism And Colonialism In Joseph Conrad's Heart...
Postcolonialism is the literary theory that speaks about the human consequences of external control
and economic exploitation of native people and their lands. Colonialism is a major theme in the
novella Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. The story follows an introspective sailor named
Marlow and his journey into the African Congo to meet Mr. Kurtz, an enigmatic and idealistic man.
During his journey deeper into the jungle, Marlow witnesses various atrocities committed by his
fellow colonists against the Native Africans. In Heart of Darkness, the noble and romantic cause of
bringing civilization and progress to the darkness at the heart of Africa is corrupted into an
oppressive occupation and brings to light the evils of colonialism and ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This kind of rationale is shown when Marlowe meets a man who tells him he "was looking after the
upkeep of the road" (Conrad 68). Marlowe doesn't see any road or upkeep but he sees "the body of a
middle– aged Negro, with a bullet hole in the forehead" (68) The man describes it "as a permanent
improvement" (68) So, the native is killed for the sake of order. In the eyes of the murderer, murder
is easily rationalized because the native's savagery is impeding progress and order. Mr. Kurtz is the
only member of the company to partake in the atrocities and oppression of the natives without a
rationalization for his actions. His motivation for exploiting and dehumanizing the Africans is
personal gain, and for the pleasure of exercising control over others, much like the other colonists.
However, they rationalize these actions by considering them necessary in order for the progress of
the West to reach Africa. Kurtz does not hide behind the idea of European progress, he does what he
wants for himself and for power, often going even farther than the others of the company. The
cultural clash between Europeans and the African natives is a major focus of the novella. The
Europeans are technologically superior and are able to assert their control over the Africans and they
do so mercilessly. Marlow relates many instances of the brutal way the Africans are treated, used as
slaves, overworked, chained, and left to die all in

Colonialism and Imperialism in Joseph Conrad's Heart of...
Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, describes a life–altering journey that the protagonist,
Marlow, experiences in the African Congo. The story explores the historical period of colonialism in
Africa to exemplify Marlow's struggles. Marlow, like other Europeans of his time, is brought up to
believe certain things about colonialism, but his views change as he experiences colonialism first
hand. This essay will explore Marlow's view of colonialism, which is shaped through his
experiences and also from his relation to Kurtz. Marlow's understanding of Kurtz's experiences
show him the effects colonialism can have on a man's soul.
In Europe, colonialism was emphasized as being a great and noble cause. It was seen as, the ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He says the Romans were conquerors and not colonialists, and explains that what saves the
colonialist is "the devotion to efficiency" and "the unselfish belief in the idea"(pg.65–66). Yet
throughout the novel, Marlow's personal experiences show how colonialism was just that, the
robbing of Africa for ivory and profit by Europeans. He ascertains that there were no improvement
in Africa like the Europeans claimed, "unless the body of a middle–aged negro, with a bullet hole in
the forehead...may be considered improvement" (pg.81). This notion of extreme physical violence is
something that threads its way through the novella.
The above epitomizes what Marlow thinks about what colonialism really brought to Africa. Some
Europeans may have genuinely believed in the idea of colonialism as being noble, but this "belief in
the idea" cannot save the horrible actions of colonialism or make them acceptable. Indeed this false
belief in an idea, rather then the practicalities of colonialism only aids to brutality of such actions.
Furthermore at the time of the writing of this novella, approximately within the 1800's, exploration
was seen as a wonderful adventure and the period of mapping out the world was well under way.
Europeans saw Africa as a black place on the map waiting to be discovered. When Marlow was
young "[he] had a passion for maps. [He] would look for hours at South

Colonialism And Colonialism In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of...
Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness is a very famous book which has been considered by my many a
key reading into the insight of colonialism. Heart of Darkness is a novel that focuses on colonialism
of Africans specifically the Congo and the effect that has on the indigenous people who inhabit it as
well the European colonists. The book focuses on a trip that the main character Marlow takes and
what he sees and how it changes him. The book is based off the author Conrad real–life experience
when he traveled to the Congo and captained a ship that sailed down the Congo River. He would
later become ill during his travel and returned home. He then returned home and wrote the Heart of
Darkness. Heart of Darkness is a novel that looks at the true darkness of men in their quest for
power and wealth. In my paper, I will give a summary of Heart Darkness its relation to colonialism
and some of its major themes.
The story itself seems to be a dramatized retelling of some of the experiences that Conrad saw on his
own travels to the Congo. The story focuses on Marlow's job as captain of an ivory transporter ship.
A major catalyst of the book is Marlow sailing the Congo to meet a man named Kurtz an ivory–
procurement worker who is said to be an idealistic but highly capable and smart man. Upon his
travel to the central station, Marlow is shocked upon seeing what the European traders have done to
the natives. Marlow discovers on his travels brutality and senseless overworking of the natives.

Heart of Darkness is a novel about the complexity of human nature, as well as the relevant matter of
imperialism and colonialism, written by Joseph Conrad, one of the most famous novelist in the
history of English literature. The novel focuses on Charlie Marlow, a boat caption, and his
experience up the Congo river. Throughout the novel, Conrad is critical of European imperialism,
and expresses his opinions through symbols and characters. Marlow's story in Heart of Darkness
takes place in the Belgian Congo, which is one of the European colonies in Africa that is famous for
the greed and brutalization of the native people. The novel reveals the deceptiveness of the entire
colonial effort. In Europe, the colonization of Africa was justified because people were told that it
would bring wealth to Europe, and it would also civilize and educate the so called "savage" African
natives. In the Heart of Darkness, Conrad explores the nature of colonialism, he exploits the horrors
of it and is skeptical of the entire process. He uses characters to express his opinions, the main one
being Kurtz, who is shady and mysterious. He represents all of Europe, "All Europe contributed to
the making of Kurtz" (Page 29). Kurtz himself is a symbol of Western civilization. This quote is
important because Kurtz went mad while being in the wilderness of Africa, and since Europe created
Kurtz this suggests that all of Europe contributes something to mankind that will eventually make
them mad. His

European Colonialism In Heart Of Darkness And Things Fall...

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