Heart Of Darkness Imperialism Essay

Joseph Conrad’s controversial novella, Heart of Darkness, reveals European colonization’s impact on Central Africa. Heart Of Darkness is narrated by Marlow, who sails through Africa on his ship, meeting people such as Kurtz and local natives along the way. Conrad describes in detail the state of the Africans and the brutal treatment from the Europeans and shows how inhumane slavery can be. In the end he discovers the humanity and darkness in the natives, Kurtz, and himself. The novel was based on his actual expedition as a sailor to the Congo, which was owned by the vicious King Leopold. Leopold made Belgium affluent from rubber in the Congo, but in return tortured, raped, and murdered hundreds of natives. Heart of Darkness showcased examples …show more content…
On the contrary, Achebe didn’t acknowledge the fact that Conrad was raised in Europe with stereotypes and racism being told to him, so he must’ve already thought the people of Africa were savages before he traveled. What’s phenomenal is that he could see past the prejudices that people fed to him and saw the Africans as human and knew that their treatment was abominable, and he was so inspired by those events that he based a novel out of his experience. “And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on earth struck me as something great, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion.” This quote shows depth in Conrad’s writing, and even Achebe couldn’t dismiss the fact that Conrad’s writing flow is exceptional. Another thing that critics point out is that Conrad makes the nature seem untamed and bizarre, but this quote and many more show a more serene view of Africa, and present the Heart of Darkness not the core of madness but a place that harbors beautiful nature and contrasting and immensely interesting