Heart Of Darkness Imperialism Analysis
In the late 18th and early 20th century, European nations with vast wealth and power saw opportunities in increasing their sphere of influence by exploiting weaker or smaller nations of Africa for their resources. In Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”, the political principle of imperialism is depicted by Conrad to show the mechanisms and attitudes of the world along with his views. Imperialism is the ideology that drives the Europeans in the “Heart of Darkness” towards the Congo for its ivory. In the Congo, the only things worth paying attention towards are those that provide monetary benefits, and this can be seen when Conrad states “Some, I heard, got drowned in the surf; but whether they did or not, nobody seemed particularly to care.
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For instance, when the pilot is struck by a spear from the natives and Marlow is about to remove it, Conrad states that “ he looked at me anxiously, gripping the spear like something precious, with an air of being afraid I would try to take it away from him. I had to make an effort to free my eyes from his gaze…” (122). This piece from the text is metaphor to Africa and how people do not want see or know what they are doing to Africa. Marlow has seen the first-hand effects of imperialism in the Congo but does not come out and show his dissatisfaction but goes along with the violence and cruelty surrounding him station to station. Conrad is showing how people know that others are being slaughtered along with destruction of nature but pretend to turn away from these facts by “ closing their eyes” like Marlow. The reasoning for this is that people know that the reason this is occurring is because of their materialistic needs but they attempt to the hide from the truth. Conrad uses this technique of metaphors to allow the reader to judge right from wrong by giving an understanding and view of what imperialism does. Moreover, Conrad sums the entire purpose of imperialism into a phrase. Conrade practically defines imperialism by stating that it is the “ the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience and
For instance, when the pilot is struck by a spear from the natives and Marlow is about to remove it, Conrad states that “ he looked at me anxiously, gripping the spear like something precious, with an air of being afraid I would try to take it away from him. I had to make an effort to free my eyes from his gaze…” (122). This piece from the text is metaphor to Africa and how people do not want see or know what they are doing to Africa. Marlow has seen the first-hand effects of imperialism in the Congo but does not come out and show his dissatisfaction but goes along with the violence and cruelty surrounding him station to station. Conrad is showing how people know that others are being slaughtered along with destruction of nature but pretend to turn away from these facts by “ closing their eyes” like Marlow. The reasoning for this is that people know that the reason this is occurring is because of their materialistic needs but they attempt to the hide from the truth. Conrad uses this technique of metaphors to allow the reader to judge right from wrong by giving an understanding and view of what imperialism does. Moreover, Conrad sums the entire purpose of imperialism into a phrase. Conrade practically defines imperialism by stating that it is the “ the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience and