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 benefit. Perhaps the best example of Conrad's attitude towards the whites is the accountant. Conrad portrays the accountant as a man lacking in empathy. The accountant's disgust at the sick man and his hate for "those savages" (Conrad, p22) shows up the European's lack of compassion towards the native African people. Conrad also mockingly portrays the accountant as a sort of facade. He is compared to "a hairdresser's dummy" (Conrad, p21) with his "vast cuffs" (Conrad, p21) and his "brushed hair" (Conrad, p21). The accountant's precision, job, whiteness and "unexpected elegance" (Conrad, p21) is set up as a foil to the wild, dark Africans. Through the accountant, Conrad is ridiculing the European's necessity for order. Yet, it can also be seen that Marlow feels a connection with this man because of their common background. Marlow refers to the accountant's dress, although he sees it as a facade, as "achievemen...