In our day and age, when the word "nigger" is used in reference to an African person, most people are shocked and offended. In fact, I feel strange simply typing the word. However, one hundred years ago, it was as common as the word "and". When reading The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad the opinions of Conrad's racism always surface. Although, as with the use of the word "nigger", we must take into consideration the time period and setting that Conrad was living in. Nineteenth century Europe already had its roots deep into imperialism and it would be odd if Conrad had opposing views of the place he lived. Achebe did have strong points portraying racism in Conrad's writing, however there are examples and reasons that prove Conrad should not be dismissed as a racist.
Many of the European countries in the late nineteenth century had imperialistic goals of exploring and settling Africa. They also believed that Africa had very little settled land and the land that was inhabited was inhabited by uneducated and "uncivilized" (by their definition) African cultures. Yes, nowadays we know they were wrong to think that, but this was the idea back then. Conrad could not help to have some of these thoughts ingrained in his head. Just as the few examples we see of Native Americans today are warriors shooting arrows and wearing headdresses, so were the depictions of African savages. However, despite the common thoughts and ideas of his time, Conrad still proved to show anti-racist views. Also I would believe that intelligent readers of this book would realize the difference in times and forgive the subtle racism.
Conrad had an objective enough point of view to give positive pictures of African culture. Marlow was clearly shaken after the death of his helmsman and took pity on him by throwing him overboard. .
" The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.
Also, Conrad is not racist, he is just inexperienced. Conrad is not racist, and his book should not be regarded as so. ... The final reason why Conrad is not racist is because he is not racist, just inexperienced. ... Joseph Conrad is not racist. ... Conrad's book is not racist, and neither is he. ...
Within Conrad's characters one can find both racist and colonialist views, and it is the opinion, and the interpretation of the reader which decides what Conrad is really trying to say in his work. ... Assuming that the lack of speech (in Conrad's eyes) is a racist factor-which is a valid assumption-Achebe still did not support his comment that "Conrad was a thoroughgoing racist" (Achebe, p.257). ... Belief that Conrad was a racist is not hard to come by, especially after reading Achebe's convincing essay. ... Personally, I agree that Conrad did have quite a few racist pa...
In "An Image of Africa", Chinua Achebe condemns Conrad as a "bloody racist," depicting the African natives as inferior and savage (17). Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness represents its time period by conveying racist ideas. ... (Conrad 8) Conrad describes the jungles attempt to lure mankind back to his primeval roots. Chinua Achebe sees Conrad's negative tone towards Africa, but fails to recognize Conrad's harsh outlook towards Europe. ... Conrad, though racist against the Africans, shows the negative aspects of humanity. ...
Assuming that the lack of speech (in Conrad's eyes) is a racist factor--which is a valid assumption--Achebe still did not support his comment that "Conrad was a thoroughgoing racist."... It is my opinion, that Chinua Achebe searched for things that he felt could be considered racist, and when they were found, he'd call the author some harsh names and accuse him of slander. ... Belief that Conrad was a racist is not hard to come by, especially after reading Achebe's convincing essay. ... Personally, I agree that Conrad did have quite a few racist passages in his story, yet I also...
Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness has long been considered a classic. ... Achebe despises this condescending attitude of Marlow/Conrad. ... Certainly Conrad had a problem with niggers." ... It is also clear that Achebe considers Heart of Darkness to be simply a racist text, one "which parades in the most vulgar fashion prejudices and insults from which a section of mankind has suffered untold agonies and atrocities in the past and continues to do so in many ways and many places today. ... He does, however, blame Conrad for perpetuating the myth. ...
Chinua Achebe in his essay on Heart of Darkness describes Joseph Conrad as a racist in how he characterizes the native Africans in the novel. ... In Chinua Achebe's essay, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness,"" Achebe contends that Joseph Conrad's portrayal of Africa, and the African people, in his book Heart of Darkness, is that of a racist. However, the points Achebe makes are weak, and he is wrong in his argument that Conrad was a racist. ... This quote does not make Conrad a racist. ... If Conrad wrote this book to show the atrocities of European imp...
Yet, despite Conrad's great story telling, he has also been viewed as a racist by some of his critics. ... Conrad probably would have been criticized as being soft hearted rather than a racist back in his time. ... As mentioned before, Conrad was not only racist but also ignorant. ... Ugly" (Conrad 35). ... (Conrad 37). ...
Throughout his narrative in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Charlie Marlow has a chance to encounter the indigenous peoples of Africa. ... Conrad describes Africa through the perspective of Marlow who tend to depict all the natives as savages. ... The Natives who embody it, on the other hand, are considered "dead in the center" (Conrad 15). ... " (Conrad 40). ... Even though there are several levels in which the racist thought appears, different from the stereotyped "whites versus blacks" bias such as the animalistic and bestial descriptions of black Africans w...
Joseph Conrad's use of light and dark to represent good and evil in the Heart of Darkness helps in developing the theme and the plot of the novel. Conrad uses the symbol of light and darkness repetitively throughout the novel in order to disclose his insight to the reader. Conrad uses light and darkness when referring to the Thanes and Congo Rivers, the skin color of the whites and blacks, and shadows. Conrad's use of light and dark is evident from the opening of the novel. ... Therefore, the allegations deeming Conrad racist are merely the result of ignorant readers who do not...
