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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 9 page essay that analyzes Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and argues that it is a critique of imperialism, contrary to Chinua Achebe's opinion. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
9 pages (~225 words per page)
File: KL9_khconhodim.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
regarded as a critique of imperialism due to the observation that Conrad fails to provide sufficient frame of reference that can be used to evaluate the actions and attitudes of
his characters. While Achebes perspective is certainly legitimate, the European social ethos and understanding of imperialism when Conrads novella was first published in 1899. When this orientation is considered, it
becomes clear that Conrads disturbing, psychologically-oriented perspective on imperialism can be regarded as a devastating critique that is multidimensional in its insight into human nature and the nature of the
social restraints that govern human behavior. Achebe argues that Conrad sets up Africa as a foil to Europe and he takes particular exception to the way that Conrad compares
Marlows river journey up the Congo to ancient Roman soldiers traveling up the Thames, with Conrad commenting that Thames, at the time of the Roman Empire, was "one of the
dark places of the earth" (Conrad 67). Achebe asserts that Conrads main point is that the British conquered their primitive darkness, while Africa remains the antithesis of civilization and dominated
by "triumphant beastiality" (Achebe). Certainly, inherent in Conrads comments is the ethnocentrism that characterized Victorian society, which saw itself as the epitome of human achievement, both intellectually and morally. This
attitude is inherent in Heart of Darkness when Conrad describes the idealism and intentions of Kurtz when he first came to Africa. Marlow describes the contents of Kurtzs report
to the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs, which indicates the nature of Kurtzs decidedly ethnocentric idealism as the report left Marlow with an impression of "exotic Immensity
ruled by august Benevolence" (Conrad 123). Kurtz describes the potential for Europeans to "exert a power for good practically unbounded" but he couches this notion in words that Marlow considers
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