CULTURAL IDENTITY IN HEART OF DARKNESS
             A text reflects the cultural identity of the society it was written in, through its construction of race gender, class and ethnicity. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a recount of Marlow's journey through Africa. It is seen by some as a critique of the colonialism that was being undertaken by Europeans in the 19th century. While it may not defend all the aspects of its society, it is possible to gain an understanding of the dominant values and attitudes that prevailed during this period, by studying the novel's portrayal of women and Africans and the self image of its characters as a reflection of their ethnicity.
             The impression that the reader is given throughout Heart of Darkness is the superiority of the European culture over that of the African's. Marlow draws a distinction between the invasion of England by the Romans and the invasion of Africa. 'What saves us is efficency... and an unselfish belief in the idea,'claims Marlow. Here it is shown that the Europeans considered themselves to be an advanced society. The idea of being 'an emissary of light', which Marlow tells us his society has a fascination with, is another indication of this self image of supremacy.
             Kurtz has traveled to Africa order to bring enlightenment to the savages and see through his ideas of advancing their culture. Although he succumbs to madness, Marlow respects him because of his dedication to his ideas. It is clear that the Europeans regarded themselves and their ideas in higher regard than the African lifestyle. A post colonialist modern stance encourages readers to be accepting of different cultures. In this text however, the portrayal of the European culture as 'civilized' and progressive, while the Africans are ignorant and savage shows the high regard in which the Europeans held their own culture and the disregard they had for anything that was contrad
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