The crises thickens as colonialism is presented not just as an economic and political enterprise, but as an epitome of man's capacity for evil.
What adds to this crises is the mindset of those not directly involved. Marlow's aunt for example, has an idealistic view of imperialism and indeed colonialism, and so is proud that her nephew be sent to Africa. She truly believes that the motive of colonialism is to civilize and aid the conquered peoples and relieve them of their "ignorance". Perhaps by doing this Conrad was attempting to highlight the ignorance of his contemporary society. .
Worse still is Marlow's own interpretation of the situation. He originally sees the experience merely as an adventure, as a means of adding to England's greatness. Nor does he realize or acknowledge that brute force is frequently used to "civilize" the natives. Marlow believes that with regard colonialism, the end justifies the means. This is a mini-crises in itself. It is not until he comes across the dying slaves in the bush that he realizes how destructive this process really is.
This reality is a wicked and cruel deprivation of human rights. The natives are being used to cultivate what is rightfully theirs, in order for the English upper class to continue to prosper. Let us consider for a moment what this ivory would be used for. It was fashioned into piano keys and bought by the wealthy of England. No questions would be asked with regard its origin, and none of the profit made by this enterprise would be returned to those who worked for it, but rather to their dictator, Kurtz. No effort is made by the colonialists to understand the alien population they exploit. When these natives are too week or ill to continue to work, they are simply left to die. Even the language used to describe these men; "shapes", "bundles of acute angles" (p25) eloquently express the fact that these men have been reduced to objects.
Bismarck's Domestic Policy 1871-1890. Along with getting an IB Paper 3 question about Biz's foreign policy, you might also (instead?) encounter a question about the domestic policy that Biz pursued as Chancellor of the German Empire from 1871-1890. So let's deal with that now. OK? ...
