Analysis of the Book Hearts of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Essay Sample)

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Hearts of Darkness – Cultural Views
The work of Joseph Conrad “Heart of Darkness” focuses more on the African story during the period of colonialism. This literature questions more about the issue of imperialism as well as the racism by showing two cultural ideas on the difference between the group of people who are regarded as civilized and those who are called savages. This fact covers the cultural as well as psychological perspectives of individuals. The cultural idea within the novel has been communicated clearly through discussing three levels of darkness. The writer of the novel talks about the darkness of the African natives within Congo wilderness, the darkness of the harsh Belgium colonial rule on Africans as well as the deep darkness which drives every individual to commit evil acts. The book was written in the early years of 20th century. During this period European culture was regarded as superior and therefore they could justify their cruelty towards African society. This story also puts more attention on the life of two main characters to communicate the cultural views between Africans and Europeans. This study attempts to explain cultures views that have been used in Joseph Conrad’s novel and to show that it is the dominant view in the literature. These views are given from the psychological perspectives of the “heart of darkness”
The work done by Conrad received a lot of receptions from people offering heir views about his work. From a psychological perspective, it is evident that the work produced by Conrad was highly criticized. One of the critiques states that Conrad’s work has a unique propensity to ambiguity. His work has been criticized for great levels of racism posed in the work as well as greatness in the heart of darkness. One of the charters in the book (Kurtz) has been used to communicate the theme of culture in several ways. Kurtz appears to help African in the first instances of their interaction but finally change and focus more on exploiting the African natives. Bloom notes that culturally, these changes reflect the colonial culture of the western European countries which put emphasis on the exploitation of the African people through cruel means such as corruption among others as witnessed during the colonial era across Africa. Kurtz was able to introduce ways of changing Africans attitude which largely affected their spiritual connections as their traditions as a whole. For instance, the introduction of guns into the hand of African gave them an opportunity to be in position of great threat to themselves (13). This disrupted the peace that had existed among Africans for long.
Kurtz was determined to introduce Western enlightenment to the African setting. According to Kurtz Europeans where the ‘only people who were in possession of truth’. In this connection, Kurtz regarded Africans as primitive people who were to be guided into understating a new culture that of the European countries (Bloom 15). To Kurtz the African way of life was so strange. Kurtz observe that African people valued behaviors that were linked to superstition and this made Kurtz thought that Africans were savage. With such kind of thoughts Kurtz believed that Africans were supposed to be taken through a new form of enlightenment. Ironically, Kurtz never understood the African ways of life but only become overwhelmed subjectively to African culture. Due to the fact that Kurtz was in “isolation” whereby he was in the company of few European and in constant interaction with African who were the majority he was more likely to have a felling that of isolation. In deed, he was spiritually and culturally isolated since he was far away from the original mother land. Marlow appears critical on the manner in which he views the colonization process. Culturally Marlow feels that African are uncivilized and thus they must be civilized through participating in western culture. According to Marlow the engagement of Europeans in Africa to civilize Africans degrades the European way of life. The justification of Marlow is based on the idea that such act would attempt European into violent actions due to the nature of “lawlessness” that existed in Africa. (Lawtoo 20). Marlow thought that such project was too overwhelming since African were very savage. For instance, Marlow observes that African within their culture has a very ugly and horrifying kinship. Additionally, in order to justify that African were hostile, Marlow observes that one day after travelling through the river, they witnessed a house burring and some trade goods got burns as some native workers dace delightfully . In fact, Marlow narrates that one of the natives was directly associated to the cause of fire.
In the novel Conrad strongly criticize religion which a critical part of African Culture. Two groups of individuals which includes the pilgrims and the natives are associated to unique religion. Marlow describes the right in the woods which appeared more alien and is considered more dangerous too. According to Lawtoo (25) throughout the novel Kurtz seem to have attention in both religion that of the African people as well as the Christianity of which Kurtz seems to belong to either of the religion. Marlow maintains that Kurtz was a genuine critic of the two religion. This shows the reason why Kurtz hold his own opinion concerning various religious as well as traditional matters that related to religion.
In the novel the Africans life tend to revolve around the resources that they have. This is the main factor that contributed to the presence of colonists among them. As colonist interact with Africans they realize that Africans had precious ornaments such as jewelry in their environment. Besides, they notice that there is more ivory within the African land. The colonialist were more determined to interact with Africans so that they can ship its resources to their mother land (Mwikisa 26). One of the women in the novel who is associated with Kurtz displays an impressive appearance. The woman was in possession of bangles and other prestigious ornaments. The manner in which she appears makes her to have both attractive look. Ironically, most people mentioned in the novel show little interest in jewelry and this how much they are detached from the benefits that they get (Gene 10). The mistress who is closely linked to Kurtz functions as a direct reference of the differences in both values and wealth of the two societies. In the novel Marlow often assert that women function as keepers of illusion. Marlow claims that such illusion as the main causes of social fictions that are used to support both economic expansion. This clearly shows that women are the main people who benefit from the wealth since they are used as the object upon which men can show case both their success and status in the society.
At one point while Marlow was in Kurtz station, he notices a man along the riverbank. The man on the riverbank waved back to him holding his arm. It is at this point that the pilgrims while having heavy arms escort the manger to the place where they could retried Kurtz. In fact, the man along the riverbank was a Russian wanderer whose work at the moment was exploring Kurtz camp. The explanation of the Russian wanderer shows that he was Kurtz had left a note an abandoned hut within the camp. During his conversation with Marlow, Marlow is able to learn that was Kurtz was worshiped and his life was characterized by several ills. According to Gene the Russian attitude towards Kurtz is that of admiration because he believed that Kurtz was very intelligent as well as a great poet (16). Besides, the Russian reveals that Kurtz was using his power through open mind. Within the station Marlow notes that there were several natives who were ready to battle. Along the show the natives were fast to assemble and shout unintelligibly since they thought that Kurtz health would finally take him to final rest. In this situation, the pilgrims acted fast and come up with their arms ready to fire. It is only through the intervention of Marlow that they relaxed as the natives ran for their safety (Norman 20).
Another cultural aspect that is mentioned in the novel is illness. The writer communicates the issues of illness in both physical and mental form. For instance, Marlow is hired to take part of the man who committed suicide. Since Marlow is more concerned about his health, the first things he does after being appointed is to visit a doctor. The doctors was given the responsibility of checking both his mental and physical health. On the other hand, Africans were more comfortable attending to their traditional medicine men any moment they got ill (Firchow 17). The writer also maintains that Africans were responsible for both mental and physical illness. For instance, in relation to madness, Kurtz is portrayed as mad in many instances. Madness in this case has been used to show the picture of people in different social situations so that they can be sole arbiter of their actions (Achebe 30). Socially in African setting mad people had no authority to whom they were answerable but to themselves.
Kurtz also experience illness which finally is responsible for his demise. The illness of Kurtz is partly blame on the nature of the climate of the African society. On the other hand, Marlow social network was mainly compost of people who were part of Kurtz live during his life time (Sid 22). Through a series of involvement with people who form Kurtz former life Marlow appears to reflect on the values that he replaced on memories concerning Kurtz. At one point Marlow encounters Kurtz’s mistress whom he praises for having observed fidelity and possess mature some mature believes.
Both Kurtz and Marlow experience during...