Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, first published serially in Blackwood’s Magazine in 1899, has been regarded not only as the first truly modern work of fiction in the English language but also as the "first great work of literature in which a characteristic feature of the colonial experience" is recorded. Based on Conrad’s own experiences in the African Congo region between June and December 1890, when he was working for a Belgian trading company that exploited the Upper Congo for raw materials, Heart of Darkness can been seen as a historical document of its time, the time of European imperialism.
During this time the European colonization of the world set up a hierarchy by dividing the world into the West and the non- West. This division caused a consciousness for the ‘Other’, so that the question of identity arose. Due to the fact, that constructing identity implies constructing the identity of the ‘Other’, differences between the West and the non- West became the center of interest. For the first time in history the idea of culture and race turned up. Since its publication Heart of Darkness has been read as an assault upon imperialism and has been attacked as being offensively racist in projecting "the image of Africa as ‘the other world’, the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization".
Starting from Stuart Hall’s theory of "Representation", this paper is supposed to demonstrate the problem of representation and to offer a discussion as to whether or to what degree Conrad’s Heart of Darkness can be considered imperialist and racist. By the established dichotomy between Africa and Europe, the presence of stereotypes in the novel will be investigated and connected to Achebe’s conclusion, that Conrad "was a bloody racist".
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Historical background
- King Leopold and the Congo
- The meaning of 'imperialism' and 'racism' for Conrad
- Representation
- Representation in theory
- Representation, culture and language
- Representation of the 'Other'
- Representation in Heart of Darkness
- The mapping of the world
- The opening scene: past and present
- Work and work ethic
- Languages
- Nature and culture
- Representation in theory
- Final remark
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to examine the problem of representation in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, analyzing whether and to what extent the novel can be considered imperialist and racist. It will achieve this by exploring the established dichotomy between Africa and Europe within the novel, investigating the presence of stereotypes, and connecting these findings to existing criticisms of Conrad's work.
- Representation in colonial literature
- The historical context of European imperialism in the Congo
- The evolution and meaning of "imperialism" and "racism"
- Stereotypes and their role in shaping perceptions of the "Other"
- Conrad's portrayal of Africa and its people
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by establishing Heart of Darkness's significance as a landmark work of colonial literature and highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding its portrayal of Africa and imperialism. The author introduces the central question of the paper: to what extent is Conrad's work imperialist and racist? The chapter also briefly outlines the theoretical framework based on Stuart Hall's theory of representation that will guide the analysis.
Historical background: This section provides crucial historical context for understanding the novel. It details King Leopold II's exploitation of the Congo, highlighting the Belgian king's personal acquisition of the region and his motivations for doing so, emphasizing the economic and political forces driving the colonial enterprise. It further explores the evolving understanding of "imperialism" and "racism," noting the absence of the term "racism" during Conrad's time and contrasting its contemporary meaning with the prevalent racial attitudes of the late Victorian era. The chapter differentiates between the various forms of imperialism and how Conrad saw the differences between British colonialism and other forms of imperial rule.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, colonialism, imperialism, racism, representation, Africa, Europe, the Other, stereotypes, postcolonialism, King Leopold II, Congo Free State.
Heart of Darkness: A Comprehensive Language Preview - FAQ
What is this document?
This is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a scholarly analysis of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the main objectives of the analysis?
The analysis aims to examine the problem of representation in Heart of Darkness, investigating whether and to what extent the novel can be considered imperialist and racist. It explores the dichotomy between Africa and Europe, analyzes the presence of stereotypes, and connects these findings to existing criticisms of Conrad's work.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include representation in colonial literature, the historical context of European imperialism in the Congo, the evolution and meaning of "imperialism" and "racism," stereotypes and their role in shaping perceptions of the "Other," and Conrad's portrayal of Africa and its people.
What historical context is provided?
The analysis provides a detailed historical background, focusing on King Leopold II's exploitation of the Congo and the evolving understanding of "imperialism" and "racism" during the late Victorian era. It differentiates between various forms of imperialism and Conrad's perspective on them.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters: an introduction establishing the context and central question; a historical background section; a section on representation in theory and in Heart of Darkness itself, examining aspects like mapping, the opening scene, work, language, and nature/culture; and a final remark.
What theoretical framework is used?
The analysis utilizes Stuart Hall's theory of representation as its theoretical framework to guide the analysis of representation within the novel.
What are the key aspects of representation analyzed in the novel?
The analysis of representation in Heart of Darkness includes examining the mapping of the world, the opening scene (its relationship between past and present), work and work ethic, languages used, and the interplay between nature and culture.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, colonialism, imperialism, racism, representation, Africa, Europe, the Other, stereotypes, postcolonialism, King Leopold II, Congo Free State.
What does the introduction chapter cover?
The introduction sets the stage by highlighting Heart of Darkness's significance, outlining the ongoing debate surrounding its portrayal of Africa and imperialism, and introducing the central research question regarding the novel's imperialist and racist aspects. It also briefly outlines the theoretical framework.
What does the historical background chapter cover?
This chapter details King Leopold II's exploitation of the Congo, explains the economic and political forces driving colonialism, and explores the evolving understanding of "imperialism" and "racism," contrasting their contemporary meanings with those prevalent during Conrad's time. It also differentiates various forms of imperialism.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2010, Representation in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/468461
