Set at the turn of the last century and consequently at the peak of imperialism, Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, published in 1899, is to this day still one of the most critically and controversially treated works about English colonial history in Africa. The research concerning this novella has been carried out in many directions; it has been compared to Dante’s Inferno (Goonetilleke 2007, 12) and is said to have anticipated Freudian ideas of psychoanalysis (ibid. 14), it is discussed whether its main intention is to portray an image of Africa (as envisioned in Europe), the decay of European imperialism or - on a more individual level - the development and inner conflict of a subject, namely Marlow, the latter leading to the novella even being viewed as a Bildungsroman (Cahir 2004, 183). A further point of inquiry deals with the portrayal of Africa and Africans in Conrad’s work; here, Chinua Achebe’s essay has been of particular interest as he, firstly and most prominently, questions the legitimacy of Heart of Darkness being part of the literary canon and accuses Conrad of being a xenophobe (1988, 269) and a “thoroughgoing racist“ (ibid. 267). To him the novella is “offensive and deplorable“ and not worthy of being titled one of the greatest works in the English language (ibid. 268). While Achebe’s ideas have also met criticism, through their provocative nature they have nevertheless forced readers to address the issue of racism and imperialism in Heart of Darkness critically.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Postcolonial reception of Heart of Darkness
- Guiding question
- Ambivalences resulting from narrative aspects
- Characteristics of narrative form
- Marlow - an unreliable narrator?
- Ambivalences through imagery
- Symbolism in landscape portrayal
- Visual and aural ambiguities
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of imperialism and colonial domination in Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. It seeks to demonstrate that the novella's image of imperialism is inherently ambivalent, as conveyed through the narrative form and symbolism it employs. The analysis will focus on the level of narrative discourse rather than the story itself.
- Ambivalence of imperialism in Heart of Darkness
- Narrative form as a reflection of the uncertainty of imperialism's aftermath
- The role of Marlow as an unreliable narrator
- Symbolism in landscape portrayal and its contribution to the ambivalent image of imperialism
- The novella's portrayal of a turning point in history, with the negative effects of imperialism becoming evident
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction explores the extensive and controversial postcolonial reception of Heart of Darkness, highlighting its enduring relevance as a work about English colonial history in Africa. It discusses various interpretations of the novella, including its comparison to Dante's Inferno, its potential anticipation of Freudian psychoanalysis, and its possible portrayal of the decay of European imperialism or the development of a single character, Marlow. The introduction also considers Chinua Achebe's critique of Heart of Darkness, which raises important questions about racism and imperialism in the text.
Chapter 2 focuses on the ambivalence of imperialism as reflected in the narrative form of the novella. It emphasizes the significance of the narrative structure, particularly the use of framing and Marlow's unreliable narration. The chapter analyzes the intertwining of narratives, the fractured image of Marlow's account, and the resulting absence of absolute coherence and conclusion. These aspects are contrasted with the forceful, well-structured, and organized acts of imperialism, suggesting a system dissolving from within and posing the question of what follows after colonialism.
Chapter 3 examines the ambivalent impression of imperialism conveyed through imagery. It focuses on the portrayal of landscapes in the novella and the ambiguities resulting from contrasting visual and aural impressions. This analysis also explores how Conrad's work has been termed the "first modern novel," reflecting an awareness of standing on a threshold of times, a turning point in history where the negative effects of imperialism are visible. However, the question remains unanswered: what will follow?
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts central to this analysis include: Heart of Darkness, colonialism, imperialism, narrative form, unreliable narrator, symbolism, landscape portrayal, visual and aural ambiguities, postcolonial reception, Chinua Achebe, and the "first modern novel."
- Quote paper
- Silvia Gert (Author), 2013, "Heart of Darkness" and the ambivalence of imperialism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/268659
