Joseph Conrads Views On Colonialism Essay - 1502 Words

What redeems it is the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea. Those who read me know my conviction that the world, the tempered world rests, notably, on the idea of Fidelity. This is a running theme through most Conrads books. As a sailor he learned that to survive, every crewman did the job he was assigned, and that the survival of the ship, and therefore the community, depended on each man doing his duty. The heart of darkness can be read as a political critique of western imperialism as exercised by the Belgians, who more or less raped the Congo of its resources while brutalizing the countrys people and making them slaves of unbridled political avarice. At the time Heart of†¦show more content†¦The bitterness of Marlows recollection demonstrates Conrads own strong bias against colonialism, which he wants to impart to the reader According to Marlow, such barbarism cannot be justified on any grounds; however it can be compensated for by a legitimate and just cause behind it. Colonialism to him was Just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale It was not an exchange of resources, but a cruel and unjust domination and usurpation of the resources of the weaker party by the stronger, in this case the usurpation of the natives ivory by the pilgrims. The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much The Europeans were a so-called cultured and sophisticated race whose professed aim was the betterment of the African lot. The resources at their disposal, their culture, their food, and their finances, none of these were transferred to the Africans in order to improve their living standard; instead all concentration was focused on getting as much wealth out of the land as possible, even at the cost of the lives of the natives. Had the purpose behind this unjust domination been something worthwhile, the sins of the pilgrims might have been atoned for. But there is no such purpose; no moral betterment,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness1276 Words   |  6 PagesIn the present era of decolonization, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness presents one of fictions strongest accounts of British imperialism. Conrad’s attitude towards imperialism and race has been the subject of much literary and historical debate. Many literary critics view Conrad as acceptin g blindly the arrogant attitude of the white male European and condemn Conrad to be a racist and imperialists. 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