Zhukova, Badalova, Stolyarova, Grigorev by Mikhail Grigorev

1. Was Conrad aware of the modern understanding of racism (highly critical, negative)?

mikemagic05 — 2021-04-21 16:31:50 UTC

As a matter of fact, at the very beginning of the 20th century racism was a real thing and it was not critiсized as it is nowadays. Racism was a kind of norm, which was even scientifically explained. Additionally, racism was a dominant world view in developed countries. In our opinion, Joseph Conrad was not aware of the situation. There is some evidence that proves this point of view. To begin with, Conrad lived during the time when imperialism and colonialism were widespread all over the world. Aspects of imperialism and colonialism can be found in the majority of his works. Apparently, 'Heart of Darkness' is one of the most powerful indictments of colonialism ever written, as it was stated in 1978 by Francis B. Singh. Although very racist.

HOMEWORK ("Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad) - 28.04.2021

mikemagic05 — 2021-04-27 12:19:46 UTC

The ultimate question is: "Is "Heart of Darkness" a racist novella?"

Conclusion: Overall, all the mentioned below evidence proves that Heart of Darkness is a racist novella. This story depicts African people in a negative, "wrong" way, severely criticising African population and associating them with embodiment of underdeveloped, lower-class society. The author did his best to relentlessly represent Africans as an uncivilized, negligible people in order to declare the superiority of European “civilized” society. The story itself is a good example of racism as such, although it raises quite a few different questions and issues, such as imperial power, human nature, alienation and vice. However, despite the fact that the story represents Africa and African people in an utterly negative way, it certainly is a great work of art.

2. Can we associate Marlow with Conrad?

mikemagic05 — 2021-04-27 12:37:21 UTC

Charles Marlow is the protagonist in the novella. It is a widespread phenomenon that writers are used to expressing their own opinions and beliefs through the words of main characters. Sometimes writers use first-person view type of narrator to facilitate or reinforce description of their convictions. Indeed, in “Heart of Darkness” the author has done the very same thing, unifying the protagonist with the narrator of the story. Thus, we believe that it is entirely possible to associate Marlow with Conrad. In order to prove such a statement, it is possible to draw a parallel between Marlow’s and the writer’s lives. In the story, it is described that Marlow went to the Congo River, as well as the writer himself who experienced such a thing in his life. Furthermore, Marlow is Conrad’s constant character that is found not only in Heart of Darkness, but also in other Conrad’s works.

3. Are African people depicted in a negative way in the novella? 4. Are Europeans shown only as developed, more advanced people? 5. Is Africa presented as a dehumanized area in contrast to Europe?

mikemagic05 — 2021-04-27 13:20:47 UTC

From our point of view, we strongly agree with the opinion that African people were described severely in the novella. Personally, we believe that the story not only represents Africans as a “lower class” people, but it demonstrates intolerance to them and dehumanization of African people. As Chinua Achebe said during his lecture in 1975, "Joseph Conrad was a thoroughgoing racist. <...> 'Heart of Darkness' projects the image of Africa as 'the other world,' the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization, a place where man's vaunted intelligence and refinement are finally mocked by triumphant bestiality." According to the critic, Joseph Conrad demonstrated superiority of white men to African people. The evidence for this statement can be found in the novella. When the people of Africa were described, Conrad depicted it as another, opposite side of civilization, especially in Marlow’s monologue: “... Land in a swamp… all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men… Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate.” Moreover, Conrad used such words as "dark", "savage" and “n*gger” numerous times while describing Africa and African people. The writer even associated Africans with sort of breeds: “While I stood horror-struck, one of these creatures rose to his hands and knees, and went off on all-fours towards the river to drink. He lapped out of his hand, then sat up in the sunlight, crossing his shins in front of him, and after a time let his woolly head fall on his breastbone.” As it is possible to notice, Conrad even wrote ‘one of these creatures’ referring to one of African men, instead of calling the person a human being. The last but not the least quotation from the story to prove the statement is Marlow's words while thinking of African population: "It was as unreal as everything else - as the philanthropic pretence of the whole concern, as their talk, as their government, as their show of work. The only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages."

6. Was Conrad critical about imperialism?

mikemagic05 — 2021-04-27 13:33:46 UTC

Conrad’s opinion on imperialism in the story is presented as ambiguous and not quite certain. Its range can be determined from supporting the ideas of imperialism to criticizing its influence in Africa. In the novella, as it was said by Marlow, "... with a large, white, rascally grin, and a glance at his charge, seemed to take me into partnership in his exalted trust. After all, I also was a part of the great cause of these high and just proceedings." Thus, it is possible to claim that on the one hand, the author supported imperialism being a part of it (the last sentence in the quotation). However, on the other hand, he also criticised imperialism: “The conquest of the earth, which mostly means 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.” In fact, Conrad’s ambiguity in opinions on imperialism makes the novella more complex. Meanwhile, the coverage of imperialism as a “civilizing mission” was well established during the publication of the novella in 1899. Conrad despises imperialism in general, conquering the land violates the culture of its native inhabitants (Abderrahmane Alamrani, 2016). In Heart of Darkness though, Marlow changes his views. In conclusion, Conrad uses Marlow to describe his controversial attitude to imperialism, the absurd reality that separates the official promoted ideal of the civilizing mission of Africa, from the exploitation of the natives as forced workers, depletion of natural resources with the excuse of establishing in Africa an industrial civilization.

Homework (ex.5) - 22.04.2021

mikemagic05 — 2021-04-27 15:10:55 UTC

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15BCZcdabk0p44vAE8EUbNUiCg7QvXn-Rqn8g0h1KIEA/edit?usp=sharing