As stated earlier, the great jungle of the Congo is eventually overpowered by the Belgian’s greed for one material object – ivory. [ ] At this point in world history, the economy of Belgium and its empire in the Congo basin is dependent on the trade of ivory. It is said that for three decades, beginning in 1875, nearly 70,000 tons of ivory was transported from the Congo to Europe every single year. [ ] While ivory was the hot, new commodity to own in Europe, it was just as a popular conversation topic in the Congo; “the word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it.” [ ] Everyone was so obsessed with the trade of ivory, yet no one was concerned with the exploitation of the land and its inhabitants
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Germany rushed to take control of South West Africa, while France dominated Algeria, both European powers taking control through the use of violence. [ ] [ ] Meanwhile, Conrad’s home country of England is using ideologies such as social Darwinism to explain their right to expand their sphere of influence in the world. The English rulers argued that they had the right to, not colonize, but govern the already established African kingdoms, because it was necessary for “lower races [to be] brought under white control” in order to be considered civilized. In addition to social Darwinism, the idea that Europeans had a duty to fulfill their ‘civilizing mission’ also played a role in the domination of the African people. With all of this further insight as to how Africa and its people were viewed in the late 19th century,it is easy to see how the characters of Heart of Darkness justified their imperialistic mind …show more content…
While talking about the exploitation of land for ivory, Marlow notes the silence of the wilderness “as something great and invincible…waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion.” [ ] Describing the search for ivory as an invasion suggests that it is unnatural, and humans should not be interacting with the jungle in this way. In another part of the novel, Marlow finds himself back in Europe, thinking that it is the Europeans who are ignorant and uncivilized, rather than the indigenous people of Congo. He even goes so far as to call the Europeans “intruders” in the world and laughs at their ignorance and lack of worldly knowledge. [ ] This poses the question of how Europeans can be the missionaries of civilization, when they themselves are ignorant of the world around them. There are many things that can be said about the role of nature in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, although only a few have been touched upon here. The characters of the novel are clearly products of their time, with the exception of Marlow at times. All of them believe in the cause of imperialism and the civilizing mission to make the African Congo and its inhabitants more civilized and human. While this makes sense given the global atmosphere at the time Heart of Darkness was written, ultimately Conrad goes against
Germany rushed to take control of South West Africa, while France dominated Algeria, both European powers taking control through the use of violence. [ ] [ ] Meanwhile, Conrad’s home country of England is using ideologies such as social Darwinism to explain their right to expand their sphere of influence in the world. The English rulers argued that they had the right to, not colonize, but govern the already established African kingdoms, because it was necessary for “lower races [to be] brought under white control” in order to be considered civilized. In addition to social Darwinism, the idea that Europeans had a duty to fulfill their ‘civilizing mission’ also played a role in the domination of the African people. With all of this further insight as to how Africa and its people were viewed in the late 19th century,it is easy to see how the characters of Heart of Darkness justified their imperialistic mind …show more content…
While talking about the exploitation of land for ivory, Marlow notes the silence of the wilderness “as something great and invincible…waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion.” [ ] Describing the search for ivory as an invasion suggests that it is unnatural, and humans should not be interacting with the jungle in this way. In another part of the novel, Marlow finds himself back in Europe, thinking that it is the Europeans who are ignorant and uncivilized, rather than the indigenous people of Congo. He even goes so far as to call the Europeans “intruders” in the world and laughs at their ignorance and lack of worldly knowledge. [ ] This poses the question of how Europeans can be the missionaries of civilization, when they themselves are ignorant of the world around them. There are many things that can be said about the role of nature in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, although only a few have been touched upon here. The characters of the novel are clearly products of their time, with the exception of Marlow at times. All of them believe in the cause of imperialism and the civilizing mission to make the African Congo and its inhabitants more civilized and human. While this makes sense given the global atmosphere at the time Heart of Darkness was written, ultimately Conrad goes against