One Students' Exceptional Journey Down the Congo River (A Collection of Sample Responses):
Heart of Darkness – Congo Diary – To the Docks (Postcolonial Criticism)
In the passage, Marlow creates a parallel between colonial imperialism in Africa and Roman conquest of England. This parallel is used to discuss several issues of colonialism including the effects of colonization on the colonized and the colonizer’s justification for colonization. Marlow initiates the comparison with the phrase “And this also has been one of the dark places of the earth”. This comment equates England with Africa in that both were areas of mystery, “darkness”, on maps at some time in history. Marlow says that the colonization of England by the Romans brought knowledge and understanding, “light”, to the island and its inhabitants. Similarly, many Europeans at the time claimed that colonizing Africa would educate and better its peoples. However, Marlow provides an unbiased testimony as to the true effects of colonization on colonized peoples. He describes colonization as no more than “robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale”. With this, Marlow condemns the colonization of England and thus the colonization of Africa. He also condemns Social Darwinism, the theory of “survival of the fittest” applied to nations and conquest. Marlow suggests that Social Darwinism based conquest is merely racism in disguise and an excuse for unregulated greed, “The conquest of the earth…”. With this, Marlow nullifies one of the main justifications for imperialism by European countries in Africa.
Heart of Darkness – Congo Diary – The Outer Station (Postcolonial Criticism)
What Marlow witnesses at the Outer Station reveals the great contrast between European justifications and pretenses for imperialism and the true effects of colonization on colonized peoples. Europeans justified the Scramble for Africa with religion and the theory of Social Darwinism. Europeans claimed, as expressed in the poem “The White Man’s Burden”, that they were obligated to bring “primitive” peoples into the “modern” world. Many aligned themselves with Teddy Roosevelt’s belief that such peoples all over the world had no right to remain as they were. With this, Europeans justified the imposition of their beliefs and customs on indigenous peoples in Africa. Those who resisted would be deemed “criminals” and subjected to harsh labor. Marlow sees these things at the Outer Station and regards them without appearing to be astonished, indignant, or at all aware of any immorality. In this way, Marlow represents the typical European who subscribed to common European prejudices. The passage reveals that the evils of colonialism originate with European governments and not with the European peoples. The white worsted string is particularly important as a symbol of the strangling effect European imperialism had on Africans. As the string was tight around the African’s neck, so were European customs to African peoples and lifestyle. Colonization forced European culture on Africans and strangled existing ones.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Central Station (Postcolonial)
This excerpt provides insight into the role of the individual in colonialism. Though many sources would encourage viewing a colonizing nation's people as separate from the imperialist ambitions of its government, individual people contribute greatly to the "unsoundness" of colonial practices in Heart of Darkness. The first way a nation's people contribute to colonialism is through the acceptance of exploited resources. In the passage, the pilgrims at the Central Station, the gateway to the unknown darkness, rely on the Eldorado Exploring Expedition for supplies "loot of innumerable outfit shops and provision stores". Though some of the pilgrims, such as Marlow, may claim to disagree with colonialism, they encourage and fund it through their reliance on the expedition's goods. In this way, the people support colonialism when they choose to accept its economic benefits. The second way the individual contributes to colonialism is through ignorance or passing the blame. Marlow, who epitomizes the average European, demonstrates this throughout Heart of Darkness. In the passage, Marlow denounces the Eldorado Exploring Expedition as "sordid buccaneers" who are "greedy without audacity, cruel without courage" with "no more moral purpose...than is in burglars". However, Marlow himself is a huge part of the imperialistic process because he is employed by a colonizing company. In this way, Marlow, even Conrad, is hypocritical in his failure to take any of the blame for the "unsoundness" of colonialism.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Inner Station (Postcolonial)
In this section, Conrad comments on imperialistic nations and their view of their relationship with their colonies. Conrad employs Kurtz as a major symbol of European imperialistic ambitions in Africa. The passage describes Kurtz as being very possessive "my Intended, my ivory..." and greedy for ivory. His greed reflects upon the avarice of the European nations in Africa. Such nations believed that Social Darwinism entitled them to aggressive exploitation of people and natural resources in Africa because they were more powerful than the natives. In this way, Kurtz represents the European feeling of entitlement to Africa's great economic opportunities. In addition, Kurtz also shows European justifications for colonialism. In the passage, Kurtz is quoted as saying "'we approach them with the might as of a deity...we can exert a power for good practically unbounded". European's often used this as a justification for imperialism, claiming that the economic prosperity and the "education" of natives that result from colonialism far outweigh the negative consequences that come with it.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Sepulchral City (Postcolonial)
The passage from the Sepulchral City comments on the refusal of many European people to contradict the imperialistic ambitions of their nations. In the passage, Kurtz's Intended claims that she "understood him better than anyone on Earth" and that "his goodness shown in his every act". These quotes clearly show how the Intended lacked a firm understanding of Kurtz and his actions in the Congo towards the end of his life. This is analogous to the relationship between European peoples and their governments colonizing Africa. Like the Intended, European peoples refused to accept or were not told of the "unsoundness" of colonial practices in Africa. For example, opposition to imperialism picked up steam only after missionaries returning from the Congo wrote about the atrocities committed by the Belgium government, such as cutting off the hands of natives. Prior to the publications, nationalistic pride drove peoples to encourage their governments in their colonial endeavors. In this way, Kurtz is to his Intended as imperial governments and their atrocities were to their respective peoples.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Sepulchral City (Postcolonial)
The passage from the Sepulchral City comments on the refusal of many European people to contradict the imperialistic ambitions of their nations. In the passage, Kurtz's Intended claims that she "understood him better than anyone on Earth" and that "his goodness shown in his every act". These quotes clearly show how the Intended lacked a firm understanding of Kurtz and his actions in the Congo towards the end of his life. This is analogous to the relationship between European peoples and their governments colonizing Africa. Like the Intended, European peoples refused to accept or were not told of the "unsoundness" of colonial practices in Africa. For example, opposition to imperialism picked up steam only after missionaries returning from the Congo wrote about the atrocities committed by the Belgium government, such as cutting off the hands of natives. Prior to the publications, nationalistic pride drove peoples to encourage their governments in their colonial endeavors. In this way, Kurtz is to his Intended as imperial governments and their atrocities were to their respective peoples.
In the passage, Marlow creates a parallel between colonial imperialism in Africa and Roman conquest of England. This parallel is used to discuss several issues of colonialism including the effects of colonization on the colonized and the colonizer’s justification for colonization. Marlow initiates the comparison with the phrase “And this also has been one of the dark places of the earth”. This comment equates England with Africa in that both were areas of mystery, “darkness”, on maps at some time in history. Marlow says that the colonization of England by the Romans brought knowledge and understanding, “light”, to the island and its inhabitants. Similarly, many Europeans at the time claimed that colonizing Africa would educate and better its peoples. However, Marlow provides an unbiased testimony as to the true effects of colonization on colonized peoples. He describes colonization as no more than “robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale”. With this, Marlow condemns the colonization of England and thus the colonization of Africa. He also condemns Social Darwinism, the theory of “survival of the fittest” applied to nations and conquest. Marlow suggests that Social Darwinism based conquest is merely racism in disguise and an excuse for unregulated greed, “The conquest of the earth…”. With this, Marlow nullifies one of the main justifications for imperialism by European countries in Africa.
Heart of Darkness – Congo Diary – The Outer Station (Postcolonial Criticism)
What Marlow witnesses at the Outer Station reveals the great contrast between European justifications and pretenses for imperialism and the true effects of colonization on colonized peoples. Europeans justified the Scramble for Africa with religion and the theory of Social Darwinism. Europeans claimed, as expressed in the poem “The White Man’s Burden”, that they were obligated to bring “primitive” peoples into the “modern” world. Many aligned themselves with Teddy Roosevelt’s belief that such peoples all over the world had no right to remain as they were. With this, Europeans justified the imposition of their beliefs and customs on indigenous peoples in Africa. Those who resisted would be deemed “criminals” and subjected to harsh labor. Marlow sees these things at the Outer Station and regards them without appearing to be astonished, indignant, or at all aware of any immorality. In this way, Marlow represents the typical European who subscribed to common European prejudices. The passage reveals that the evils of colonialism originate with European governments and not with the European peoples. The white worsted string is particularly important as a symbol of the strangling effect European imperialism had on Africans. As the string was tight around the African’s neck, so were European customs to African peoples and lifestyle. Colonization forced European culture on Africans and strangled existing ones.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Central Station (Postcolonial)
This excerpt provides insight into the role of the individual in colonialism. Though many sources would encourage viewing a colonizing nation's people as separate from the imperialist ambitions of its government, individual people contribute greatly to the "unsoundness" of colonial practices in Heart of Darkness. The first way a nation's people contribute to colonialism is through the acceptance of exploited resources. In the passage, the pilgrims at the Central Station, the gateway to the unknown darkness, rely on the Eldorado Exploring Expedition for supplies "loot of innumerable outfit shops and provision stores". Though some of the pilgrims, such as Marlow, may claim to disagree with colonialism, they encourage and fund it through their reliance on the expedition's goods. In this way, the people support colonialism when they choose to accept its economic benefits. The second way the individual contributes to colonialism is through ignorance or passing the blame. Marlow, who epitomizes the average European, demonstrates this throughout Heart of Darkness. In the passage, Marlow denounces the Eldorado Exploring Expedition as "sordid buccaneers" who are "greedy without audacity, cruel without courage" with "no more moral purpose...than is in burglars". However, Marlow himself is a huge part of the imperialistic process because he is employed by a colonizing company. In this way, Marlow, even Conrad, is hypocritical in his failure to take any of the blame for the "unsoundness" of colonialism.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Inner Station (Postcolonial)
In this section, Conrad comments on imperialistic nations and their view of their relationship with their colonies. Conrad employs Kurtz as a major symbol of European imperialistic ambitions in Africa. The passage describes Kurtz as being very possessive "my Intended, my ivory..." and greedy for ivory. His greed reflects upon the avarice of the European nations in Africa. Such nations believed that Social Darwinism entitled them to aggressive exploitation of people and natural resources in Africa because they were more powerful than the natives. In this way, Kurtz represents the European feeling of entitlement to Africa's great economic opportunities. In addition, Kurtz also shows European justifications for colonialism. In the passage, Kurtz is quoted as saying "'we approach them with the might as of a deity...we can exert a power for good practically unbounded". European's often used this as a justification for imperialism, claiming that the economic prosperity and the "education" of natives that result from colonialism far outweigh the negative consequences that come with it.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Sepulchral City (Postcolonial)
The passage from the Sepulchral City comments on the refusal of many European people to contradict the imperialistic ambitions of their nations. In the passage, Kurtz's Intended claims that she "understood him better than anyone on Earth" and that "his goodness shown in his every act". These quotes clearly show how the Intended lacked a firm understanding of Kurtz and his actions in the Congo towards the end of his life. This is analogous to the relationship between European peoples and their governments colonizing Africa. Like the Intended, European peoples refused to accept or were not told of the "unsoundness" of colonial practices in Africa. For example, opposition to imperialism picked up steam only after missionaries returning from the Congo wrote about the atrocities committed by the Belgium government, such as cutting off the hands of natives. Prior to the publications, nationalistic pride drove peoples to encourage their governments in their colonial endeavors. In this way, Kurtz is to his Intended as imperial governments and their atrocities were to their respective peoples.
Heart of Darkness - Congo Diary - The Sepulchral City (Postcolonial)
The passage from the Sepulchral City comments on the refusal of many European people to contradict the imperialistic ambitions of their nations. In the passage, Kurtz's Intended claims that she "understood him better than anyone on Earth" and that "his goodness shown in his every act". These quotes clearly show how the Intended lacked a firm understanding of Kurtz and his actions in the Congo towards the end of his life. This is analogous to the relationship between European peoples and their governments colonizing Africa. Like the Intended, European peoples refused to accept or were not told of the "unsoundness" of colonial practices in Africa. For example, opposition to imperialism picked up steam only after missionaries returning from the Congo wrote about the atrocities committed by the Belgium government, such as cutting off the hands of natives. Prior to the publications, nationalistic pride drove peoples to encourage their governments in their colonial endeavors. In this way, Kurtz is to his Intended as imperial governments and their atrocities were to their respective peoples.