Although the content within Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is universally commended for its deep thematic concepts and skillful literary techniques, there has been a spirited argument over whether the novel is itself a discriminatory work. Due to the many contradicting aspects of racism during the 17th century and the limited information known about the personality of Conrad, the question of racism versus realism is too complex to give a definitive answer. One of the passages that appears to be intuitively racist is included in Part I: “All their meager breasts panted together, the violently dilated nostrils quivered, the eyes stared stonily up-hill. They passed me within six inches, without a glance, with that complete, deathlike indifference
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Marlow’s descriptions of the natives are simply clear observations because the novel is based on Conrad’s autobiographical experience. According to Biography.com, Conrad 's service at sea took him to many foreign ports and cities, including the Belgian Congo, which makes a convincing argument that Conrad’s work is representative of his travels and first impressions of the native people in Africa. Through his work, Conrad employs realism in the most stark, honest and unnerving way that consistently portrays the actual conditions in the colonialized Congo. He talks about the latent cruelty that exists in all people, no matter if they come from a civilized place or a less developed place. The power of realism comes from its universality, not the limited and discredited field of racial superiority. In Part I, Marlow refers to man’s loneliness in the universe: “We live as we dream – alone” (Conrad 27). In addition, it is evident that Marlow feels sympathy for the natives and is sometimes disturbed by what he witnesses. Instead of aligning himself with the colonial oppressors, Marlow empathizes with the natives when he sees them in despair. He begins to visualize the "white" souls of the black people and the "black" souls of the whites who exploit them, exposing that the heart of darkness lies within his own kind. Although Marlow is a product of the 19th century European colonialism, he begins to perceive the wasteful decadence of the colonial oppressors at the expense of an innocent indigenous population. “I’ve seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! These were strong, lusty, red eyed devils that swayed and drove men- men I tell you” (Conrad 16). It is here where Marlow realizes the horror of the situation; the Europeans are barbarically taking pleasure in
Marlow’s descriptions of the natives are simply clear observations because the novel is based on Conrad’s autobiographical experience. According to Biography.com, Conrad 's service at sea took him to many foreign ports and cities, including the Belgian Congo, which makes a convincing argument that Conrad’s work is representative of his travels and first impressions of the native people in Africa. Through his work, Conrad employs realism in the most stark, honest and unnerving way that consistently portrays the actual conditions in the colonialized Congo. He talks about the latent cruelty that exists in all people, no matter if they come from a civilized place or a less developed place. The power of realism comes from its universality, not the limited and discredited field of racial superiority. In Part I, Marlow refers to man’s loneliness in the universe: “We live as we dream – alone” (Conrad 27). In addition, it is evident that Marlow feels sympathy for the natives and is sometimes disturbed by what he witnesses. Instead of aligning himself with the colonial oppressors, Marlow empathizes with the natives when he sees them in despair. He begins to visualize the "white" souls of the black people and the "black" souls of the whites who exploit them, exposing that the heart of darkness lies within his own kind. Although Marlow is a product of the 19th century European colonialism, he begins to perceive the wasteful decadence of the colonial oppressors at the expense of an innocent indigenous population. “I’ve seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! These were strong, lusty, red eyed devils that swayed and drove men- men I tell you” (Conrad 16). It is here where Marlow realizes the horror of the situation; the Europeans are barbarically taking pleasure in