Postcolonialism And Colonialism In Joseph Conrads Heart...

Postcolonialism is the literary theory that speaks about the human consequences of external control and economic exploitation of native people and their lands. Colonialism is a major theme in the novella Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. The story follows an introspective sailor named Marlow and his journey into the African Congo to meet Mr. Kurtz, an enigmatic and idealistic man. During his journey deeper into the jungle, Marlow witnesses various atrocities committed by his fellow colonists against the Native Africans. In Heart of Darkness, the noble and romantic cause of bringing civilization and progress to the darkness at the heart of Africa is corrupted into an oppressive occupation and brings to light the evils of colonialism and†¦show more content†¦This kind of rationale is shown when Marlowe meets a man who tells him he â€Å"was looking after the upkeep of the road† (Conrad 68). Marlowe doesn’t see any road or upkeep but he sees â€Å"the body of a middle- aged Negro, with a bullet hole in the forehead† (68) The man describes it â€Å"as a permanent improvement† (68) So, the native is killed for the sake of order. In the eyes of the murderer, murder is easily rationalized because the native’s savagery is impeding progress and order. Mr. Kurtz is the only member of the company to partake in the atrocities and oppression of the natives without a rationalization for his actions. His motivation for exploiting and dehumanizing the Africans is personal gain, and for the pleasure of exercising control over others, much like the other colonists. However, they rationalize these actions by considering them necessary in order for the progress of the West to reach Africa. Kurtz does not hide behind the idea of European progress, he does what he wants for himself and for power, often going even farther than the others of the company. The cultural clash between Europeans and the African natives is a major focus of the novella. The Europeans are technologically superior and are able to assert their control over the Africans and they do so mercilessly. Marlow relates many instances of the brutal way the Africans are treated, used as slaves, overworked, chained, and left to die all inShow MoreRelatedEssay on Hearts of Darkness: Post Colonialism850 Words   |  4 PagesWrite a critique of Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, based on your reading about post-colonialism and discussing Conrads view of African culture as other. What would someone from Africa think about this work? Heart of Darkness starts out in London and also ends there as well. Most of the story takes place in the Congo which is now known as the Republic of the Congo. Heart of Darkness was essentially a transitional novel between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. During the nineteenthRead MoreThe Post Colonialism Theory : Opinions And Opposing View Points1842 Words   |  8 PagesThe Post Colonialism Theory: Opinions Opposing View Points The postcolonialism theory is a theory that has brought many controversies and opposing viewpoints across the world of literature. In, -this theory, a set of lost identities, use of language in writing, and the questioning of the real definition of this theory are some of the characteristics highlighted in this concept. On the other hand, conflicting opinions, multiple perspectives, and authors not agreeing on the definition of this theoryRead MoreThe Distorted Images in Heart of Darkness4513 Words   |  19 PagesThe distorted images in Heart of Darkness Abstract In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exposes the evil of the imperialism and pays sympathy to the oppressed Africans. But affected by imperialist ideology, he serves as a racist and a defender of the imperialism when he attempts to condemn the colonizers. This paper will be analyzing the distorted images in Heart of darkness from the perspective of post-colonialism and Orientalism theory. The present paper is divided into five parts: Part 1 is