Criticise Achebe
Conrad, through Marlow's language in The Heart of Darkness tries to invert the preconceived ideas of a savage Africa verses a civilised Europe. He refers to London's coast as one of "monotonous grimness" (Conrad, p15) when London is usually referred to by all Europeans as the great centre of civilisation. Conrad thorough out the novel tries to change the racial ideas of the time and present a new viewpoint on colonialism. His viewpoint is, however, as Achebe criticises, often clouded unintentionally by his racism and stereotyping of the native African people.Conrad's good intentions of reversing the views on race are obvious in his scornful portrayal of the Europeans in Africa. Marlow's men on the boat are called "pilgrims" (Conrad, p42) in an insulting manner because he knows their intentions coming up the river are not to spread religion as the term pilgrim implies, but rather to loot for their own
Marlow respects the fact that, in his current environment the man "was devoted to his books" (Conrad, p21). These descriptions contribute, as Achebe argued, to the European conception that all Africans lack human qualities and are the same. The black men are explained with a lack of differentiation between them. The accountant's precision, job, whiteness and "unexpected elegance" (Conrad, p21) is set up as a foil to the wild, dark Africans. Marlow's lack of sympathy for the natives is obvious when he complains about a native staring, saying he had an "intolerable and appalling manner" (Conrad, p19). They are seen as "unhappy savages" (Conrad, p18), "Black shapes" (Conrad, p19) or "bundles of acute angles" (Conrad, p20). He is compared to "a hairdresser's dummy" (Conrad, p21) with his "vast cuffs" (Conrad, p21) and his "brushed hair" (Conrad, p21). Yet, it can also be seen that Marlow feels a connection with this man because of their common background. Through the accountant, Conrad is ridiculing the European's necessity for order. Conrad is trapped in the barrier between cultures. Marlow refers to the accountant's dress, although he sees it as a facade, as "achievements of character" (Conrad, p21). He goes onto further point out that "each had an iron collar on his neck" (Conrad, p18). He has also neglected to realise that the words Conrad used to describe the native African people may not have had the offensive meanings then that they currently do or that Conrad's attitude was relatively refreshing in comparison to the common beliefs held at the time.
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Acceptance Essays
