Analysis Of Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad

Introduction Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad narrates the story of colonization by providing a comparison between Africa and London in 1899. Conrad tries to advance the idea that little difference exists between the European civilized people and the African savages. According to Europeans, the invasion and eventual annexation of Africa was meant to introduce ‘light’ in dark Africa. Light meant civilization according to the White Anglo-society. Fully armed with technological advancements, their European ignorance and boorishness led them to the heart of Africa, where they purposed to implement their noble plans. What the story lacks to present is the development, education, health, and technology advantages that were introduced to Africans. To date, Africans have adopted and advanced European technologies and way of life to their benefit. Without colonization, this may have never happened. So, Conrad’s story can be considered one-sided as it does not present the advantages of colonization. The story of colonization should be viewed from all angles. Furthermore, Heart of …show more content…
Interestingly, he is able to maintain an image of civility in spite of the station’s despair and deplorable condition. He is acknowledged for his great accomplishment in “teaching the African women” (Stape 50). Conrad puts it that “Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees… in all attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair” (Conrad 11). The accountant does not pay attention to a dying man placed next to his window. He continues with work as usual saying, “When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages-hate them to death” (Conrad 13). Through adhering to his cultural customs, the accountant loses his humanity and earns himself darkness within the heart. So, Conrad portrays the imperialists as cold-hearted and