Racism In Imperialism

Within imperialism exists racism, an intrinsic trait within its core ideas. Even before Marlow sets out on his journey, racism exists, and the idea comes from imperialism. When Marlow speaks about the people in the colony, he admits that “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” because of “the weakness of others” (Conrad 8). The colonists take advantage of the natives for profit, and they escape with no penalty because every colonist believes the natives exist for their benefit. They think only about how the native benefits their profit and no one speaks out against that injustice, but if “robbery with violence” occurs within a european city, the robbers …show more content…
Imperialism allows colonists to profit through robbery and murder of a “lower” race without penalty, causing the racism within the colony. Shortly afterwards, he tells the crew about “hindering you fellows[colonists] in your work and invading your homes, just as though I had got a heavenly mission to civilize you” (Conrad 9). Marlow compares imperialism to staying in someone’s home for too long with a mission to civilize him. In comparison, the colonists do the same thing, invading the colonies and “civilizing” the natives of that colony. Civilizing means bringing the people out of their savage ways, and saying the natives act savagely demeans them. Imperialism and its mission to civilize causes racism. Similarly, when Marlow’s aunt speaks to him before his journey, she tells him about “weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways,” (Conrad 17). From the idea of civilizing the natives comes derogatory thoughts and ideas about their culture; however, just because a culture practices differently from another does not mean one exists below the other in