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Heart of Darkness vs Things Fall Apart

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Heart of Darkness vs Things Fall Apart
Bias and Prejudice Essay

Showing prejudice and bias presents things in an unfair way that alters the truth. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad both show different perspectives of the colonization of Africa. Due to the different viewpoints readers are unclear of what actually happened. Determining bias within a text is significant and unfortunately, both books did show an amazing amount of bias.

Figuring out how much bias a text may have is a very important yet easy process. Here is a protocol for evaluating a piece of writing: 1. Inflammatory language is used within the text. 2. The author tells only one side and purposely withholds information. 3. The author presents false evidence to present his or her view in a more positive light. 4. Makes claims that demean or elevate one group compared to another. 5. The purpose of why the author it. 6. The audience of the writing. This protocol is used to determine the level of bias within the text. Determining bias is important because it lets the reader know that what they read may or may not be true. Also, because readers may not get the whole truth or the truth could be modified. Going through a simple protocol can save readers from trusting a bias writing.

Heart of Darkness is a very bias story about the imperialism of Africa. Conrad’s purpose for writing this story was to inform Europeans about the African colonization, but fails to show the African’s perspective. Throughout the novella many examples of bias occurred. For example, he uses inflammatory language when he compared the Africans to “dark things” and “red eyed devil” (Conrad 11). Furthermore, there are claims that elevate what the Europeans were doing is good and justified. “I was a part of the great cause of these high and just proceedings” (Conrad 11). Let alone, there are also demeaning words to the Africans that call them creatures and unearthly with no differentiating characteristics. “Black shapes

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