Heart Of Darkness Research Paper
Racism in Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad’s work might be looked at in different perspectives, such as a critical work of imperialism, or might even be considered an ironic novel with racism portrayed in it, due to the way Charles Marlow perceives and describes all there is around him. I personally believe that a racist is that one who firmly believes in the inferiority of people because of different factors such as skin color, culture, language, etc; or mainly those who participate in acts that strengthen this belief, in order to discriminate others. Then, it would not be totally correct to call him a racist for the fact that he is not ignoring the ‘reality’ of things, but rather describing and interpreting them in his particular way. It …show more content…
Peter Firchow also states that: “nowhere in the novel does Conrad or any of his narrators, personified or otherwise, claim superiority on the part of Europeans on the grounds of alleged genetic or biological difference” (Firchow 237). Then, if Conrad’s work has to be considered a racist work, it should be that of a weak racism based on the suggestion by Frank Reeves of separating racism into three distinct categories: weak racism, medium racism, and strong racism. Where weak racism “is the belief that races (however defined, including ethnic and national groups) do exist and that they help to account for social phenomena.” (Firchow …show more content…
Therefore, going back to the degree of Conrad/Marlow’s racism toward the Africans, it would definitely be recognized as a weak racism, because Marlow does understand about the brutal actions that are followed through in a selfish and unjust manner by the colonist Europeans. Therefore, even though Conrad/Marlow does portray “weak racism”, it is notorious that he also criticizes the European imperialism and colonialism for its brutality and produced cruelty. Marlow refers to the Congo as a dark place; however, in the beginning of the book he also refers to Europe/England as a place that once was a dark place too: “And this also, has been one of the dark places of earth.”, (Conrad 5), suggesting that England was as “savage” and “uncivilized” as Africa is; and if we really consider the native African the savages in the map, then we would be ignoring the cruel imperialism of the Europeans that along with racism brought the isolation, injustice and slavery to the
Joseph Conrad’s work might be looked at in different perspectives, such as a critical work of imperialism, or might even be considered an ironic novel with racism portrayed in it, due to the way Charles Marlow perceives and describes all there is around him. I personally believe that a racist is that one who firmly believes in the inferiority of people because of different factors such as skin color, culture, language, etc; or mainly those who participate in acts that strengthen this belief, in order to discriminate others. Then, it would not be totally correct to call him a racist for the fact that he is not ignoring the ‘reality’ of things, but rather describing and interpreting them in his particular way. It …show more content…
Peter Firchow also states that: “nowhere in the novel does Conrad or any of his narrators, personified or otherwise, claim superiority on the part of Europeans on the grounds of alleged genetic or biological difference” (Firchow 237). Then, if Conrad’s work has to be considered a racist work, it should be that of a weak racism based on the suggestion by Frank Reeves of separating racism into three distinct categories: weak racism, medium racism, and strong racism. Where weak racism “is the belief that races (however defined, including ethnic and national groups) do exist and that they help to account for social phenomena.” (Firchow …show more content…
Therefore, going back to the degree of Conrad/Marlow’s racism toward the Africans, it would definitely be recognized as a weak racism, because Marlow does understand about the brutal actions that are followed through in a selfish and unjust manner by the colonist Europeans. Therefore, even though Conrad/Marlow does portray “weak racism”, it is notorious that he also criticizes the European imperialism and colonialism for its brutality and produced cruelty. Marlow refers to the Congo as a dark place; however, in the beginning of the book he also refers to Europe/England as a place that once was a dark place too: “And this also, has been one of the dark places of earth.”, (Conrad 5), suggesting that England was as “savage” and “uncivilized” as Africa is; and if we really consider the native African the savages in the map, then we would be ignoring the cruel imperialism of the Europeans that along with racism brought the isolation, injustice and slavery to the