The Evil of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of...

Exploring the Evil of Colonialism in Heart of Darkness A masterpiece of twentieth-century writing, Heart of Darkness exposes the tenuous fabric that holds civilization together and the brutal horror at the center of European colonialism. Joseph Conrads novella, Heart of Darkness, describes a life-altering journey that the protagonist, Marlow, experiences in the African Congo. The story explores the historical period of colonialism in Africa to exemplify Marlows struggles. Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness is most often read as an attack upon colonialism. Marlow, like other Europeans of his time, is brought up to believe certain things about colonialism, but his views change as he experiences the effects of colonialism first†¦show more content†¦Marlow also makes the comment that the accountant had verily accomplished something when he taught a native woman to do his laundry. He admired the fact that the accountant had actually done part of the real duty of colonization by civilizing a native to some degree. Marlow also learns t hat he is of the gang of virtue and that he is part of the party of the unsound method, just as Kurtz was when he arrived. The unsound method, as evidenced by the paper Kurtz came to Africa to write, refers to the movement to redirect colonization efforts toward civilizing the natives. When Kurtz dies, Marlow identifies himself as the last surviving party of the unsound method. Thus, Marlow, the hero of the book, is clearly for the colonization and civilization of other peoples. Through Kurtz, Marlow finds out what colonialism can do to a man s soul if he lets go of this morality, and gets carried away into the colonial darkness. Kurtz is a man praised by everyone for his knowledge and ability to bring progress. He is proclaimed a universal genius (Conrad 91). He is even chosen by the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs to write a report for them, but on the very last page he scribbled in, Exterminate the Brutes (Conrad 117). I think this represents the shared colonial attitude towards the African people. As Kurtz approachesShow MoreRelatedThe Darkness of Imperialism in In Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad567 Words   |  3 Pages In Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, the interpretation of pre-colonial times is interesting in a way that supersedes other books I’ve read because it’s very honest with how the world worked it that era. The central aim which the shipmates in Heart of Darkness are pursuing is the expansion of their home countries’ empires. Yet many people are hurt in this enterprise, and it’s not only the colonized territories that are impacted negatively by imperialist Europe. 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