Imperialism: Good or Evil?

Kurtz's behavior in Africa. The Russian tells Marlow how he has nursed Kurtz back to health. Kurtz, however, has grown overcome with an obsession for ivory. The Russian tells us, "He [Kurtz] declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory ...because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, there was nothing on earth to prevent him from killing who he jolly well pleased." (p.72) Kurtz realizes that he has the power to kill who he wants to and take what he wants to and will do so since there is no one to overlook him and tell him not to. We learn that Kurtz has resorted to brutal raids of the country in search of ivory because of his hunger for it. Kurtz even planned an attack on Marlow's steamer so that Marlow and his crew would think he was dead. He did this so he would be able to carry out his plans for obtaining more ivory.

In "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness," Chinua Achebe criticizes Joseph Conrad for his racist stereotypes towards the continent and people of Africa. He claims that Conrad propagated the "dominant image of Africa in the Western imagination" rather than portraying the continent in its true form (1793). Africans were portrayed in Conrad's novel as savages with no language other than grunts and with no "other occupations besides merging into the evil forest or materializing out of it simply to plague Marlow" (1792-3). To Conrad, the Africans were not characters in his story, but merely props. Chinua Achebe responded with a

There are many elements to take into consideration when weighing the pros and cons of imperialism. After taking an objective look at the facts, I am of the opinion that no, the U.S. did not have the right to build an empire in the Caribbean and Pacific. Building in these areas caused many conflicts such as the Spanish-American War and the Panama Canal. In the building of the Panama Canal, the overall benefits were outweighed by problems such as diseases, and the cost was exceedingly high. The idea of freedom was also a frequent topic that occurred throughout the building of the empire. These problems that occurred through the rise to world power all convey that the United States did not have the right to build an empire in the Caribbean

Along the way, Marlow arrives at the Company’s outermost station and is appalled by what he sees: colonists are blasting a cliff without reason, machinery lies decaying, natives walk in chains, and in a grove of trees, other native labourers are slowly dying. This leads Marlow to remark that he was acquainted with a “flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly” (Conrad 13). Describing the colonials’ behaviour as such reveals that Marlow is critical of imperialism. Different from the other devils of greed, violence and desire, the devil of imperialism is foolish and futile in its actions, absent-mindedly bombing a cliff instead of repairing and making use of machinery. In order for Marlow to acquire this point of view, he had to see the chaos and absurdity of the Outer Station. Before his journey began, his aunt had thought of Marlow as an “emissary of light” who would remove “‘those ignorant millions from their horrid ways’” (Conrad 10). His aunt’s ignorance to the real purpose of the Company and the actions of the colonizers show obvious satirical irony. In Marlow’s mind, his aunt could not be more “out of touch with the truth” (Conrad 10); he seems to be the only one who expresses any concern over the dying natives, who he

Originally Kurtz had good intentions in journeying to the Congo. He honestly believed in using the ivory trade to better the social and economic aspects of the region, while simultaneously helping the natives to become civilized and part of the world which he thought was superior. Kurtz is only able to impress his own beliefs and ideals upon society and therefore help it however, by taking control of the people of the society. He establishes this control in the

Imperialism has been one of the most powerful forces in human history, serving to set the foundation of our modern world. While this has led to the formation of a global society where cultures, ideas, and innovations are spread across countries, imperialism has also left a history of exploitation, racism, and violence that is still affecting the world today. Imperial relationships are always imbalanced when it comes to power and influence; that is, one group (known as the metropole) maintains authority and control over another group (known as the periphery) with economic, political, and cultural dominance (Spiegel 2012). There are many reasons why one group chooses to dominate the other, such as expanding territory, extracting raw resources to fuel economic development, or to spread their beliefs (i.e. religion) (Spiegel 2012). In spite of these varied reasons, one of the main motivators for imperialism began with competition between empires.

Imperialism, sometimes referred to as expansionism, or colonialism, has had many outcomes for the country being taken over, the nation invading, and how its effects still influence our world today. As Imperialism in short is a nation invading another for many reasons such as power, influence, goods, and many more! Everything it did, and worked for was to be in benefit, to their ruling nation. This reason could be and seems to be the main reason the Thirteen Colonies became resentful of Britain. As the colonies blamed Britain for everything that happened, and unfortunately everything that didn’t happen. They were unhappy with the life they were being forced to live in, and as a result revolted. Not everything was bad in these countries, as the more developed nation that take over brings about with it a wave of progression. The progression movement was amazing in a sense even although the mother nation did exploit these countries, the most damaging consequence of being an imperial colony, that is still affecting us today, is that it brought Racism with it.

Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart illustrate the different ways of presenting Africa in literature. In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad shows Africa through the perspective of the colonizing Europeans, who tend to depict all the natives as savages. In response to Conrad 's stereotypical depiction of Africans, Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart through the point of view of the natives to show Africans, not as primitives, but as members of a thriving society. Things Fall Apart follows Okonkwo 's life as he strives for prestige in his community. When European missionaries come to Umuofia, Okonkwo 's clan, Okonkwo tries to protect the culture that the missionaries would destroy in the name of "civilizing" the natives. However his rigid mentality and violent behavior has the opposite of its intended effect, perpetuating the stereotype of the wild African in the eyes of the European readers.

He represents a typical European explorer who settled into Africa fulfilling his duty of “white man’s burden.” It was his moral and religious obligation to civilize and Christianize the individuals living in the jungle. His intensions as well as the European’s started out as a moral duty, but it quickly turned into a new power emerging. As long as there was Kurtz’s intellect, there was Kurtz’s power. The irony portrayed in the novel was that Kurtz’s genius was the downfall of his character. He was ethnocentric, and believed the Africans were a sub-group of a human being, describing these people as having animal-like characteristics. Kurtz judged the people of the jungle for not fitting into social norms, when in fact, he failed to realize that he did not belong with their social norms. He was the man from out of town, and he quickly turned barbaric- the same term he used to call the natives. Insanity overcame

In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, the reader is able to understand the complexity that is the Igbo village through their many different customs. The reader is also able to humanize the Africans through their strong desire to hold on to their culture, that is being ripped away from them by the Europeans. This can be seen as European writers such as, Joseph Conrad in Hearts of Darkness, falsely interprets African people, taking away their culture. Therefore, Chinua Achebe’s political purpose in writing Things Fall Apart, was to dismantle the primitive image western audiences had of Africans being savages, and tell their real story through the rich complexed culture of the Igbo village, the irony of the Europeans savagely ripping their culture apart, and the

Throughout Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Achebe addresses various criticisms stated in an essay written about Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. In the article, written by Achebe, Achebe mentions Conrad’s ruthless denunciations on African people and their humanity, Africa as being an antithesis to Europe, and further—western desire for things being in their place. Through these affirmations, Achebe argues mercilessly that Conrad is undeniably a racist, and that Heart of Darkness is a toxic novella, which through its poeticism and dense imagery undermines a race with utmost prejudice (“An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.” 1-8). Moreover, as evidence will show, one undoubtedly sees that these arguments transpire elegantly onto the pages within Achebe's Things Fall Apart.

Through language, writers can tell vivid stories and convey strong emotions to readers, Chinua Achebe and Joseph Conrad both use language quite effectively. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses language in regards to Africans with a very negative tone. Achebe, the author of the novel Things Fall Apart, illustrates the feel of tribal life in Nigeria during the time of African colonialism and the African culture and customs. Both Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart analyze the image of Africa and their perspectives of the African peoples during the time of colonialism.

Kurtz's whole orientation in the Congo was based on the quest for ever-increasing quantities of ivory. In this lay the weakness of Kurtz, for he wanted something, unlike his Russian companion. Kurtz's intelligence, his ideas, and his plans, were captive to his status as ivory gatherer. Kurtz's rejection of the validity of the 'unsound method' was not the problem. The problem with Kurtz, which Marlow does not realize, is not that Kurtz went native, but that he did not go native enough. In other words, Kurtz did not abandon the ivory-fetish. Kurtz's link with colonialism is therefore his undoing, even in the individual decay he undergoes.

Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart exemplify two different perspectives of African Literature. In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad shows the African Culture through the eyes of the ‘white man’ or colonizing Europeans. In this story the native Africans are depicted as vicious savages.

As Kurtz’s title grows, he is able to work his way into the natives’ minds. He becomes their leader, even though he is an outsider. Little does Marlow know, Kurtz’s corruptness and his imperialistic and colonialist efforts to rule the African land would become his demise. In the end, Marlow understands that Kurtz is not all he is made out to be, and finds that his practices are harsher than necessary as he reads in Kurtz’s book his plans to “Exterminate all the brutes!” (50). Kurtz is referring to the natives he befriends and uses to his advantage. While Marlow and Kurtz move throughout the Congo as foreigners of a “First World” country, the Natives of the Congo are forces reconcile with Kurtz’s colonization and rule of their land and over their people. What Conrad presents in Heart of Darkness are the dangers of naiveté regarding “First World” practices of imperialism and colonialism, and then becoming aware, as Marlow gradually does, of their implications.