In the article, “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness,” Chinua Achebe describes the novella, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, as being racist. He supports this idea with examples from the text and with criticisms of the imagery used throughout the work. Achebe claims that by portraying Africa as “the other world,” Conrad is seeking to project Africa as the opposite of Europe and therefore, civilization. This point is then proven by a quotation from the novella where it is stated that, “the earth seemed unearthly.” Also in a passage from the novella, the African natives are described as being barbaric and inhuman. By doing this, Achebe believes that Conrad’s true inclination toward racism is shown. Achebe again makes an accusation of Conrad being racist in the sense of things needing to remain in their intended place. In the novella, it is stated: “Fine fellows—cannibals—in their place,” meaning that “tragedy begins when things leave their accustomed place.” As Achebe points out, the European men left their “place” to go to the heart of darkness, thus implying that people of different race should be segregated. The many examples used in this article by Chinua Achebe allow the reader to see how Joseph Conrad can be viewed as a racist. He even retaliates against the idea that Conrad intended the book to be from the narrator’s eyes. Achebe claims that “Conrad seems to me to approve of Marlow” which is supported by the similarities between the author and Marlow. Conrad’s diction throughout the novella is also used as evidence of his racism. He refuses to regard the Africans as brothers. Instead he uses vulgar language to describe them as inferior to the white men.
I think that Chinua Achebe makes many valid points. However, I do not believe that Joseph Conrad intended to make Heart of Darkness a racist work. I think that the racism found in the novella is based on the individual’s interpretation of civilization and barbarism. I think that it opens one’s eyes to the idea that it is indeed cruel to view another’s culture as uneducated or barbaric because each culture holds ideas that seem strange and impossible to another. Contrary to promoting racism, the novella promotes the essence of humanity, in that all human beings are barbaric. Therefore, I disagree with Achebe’s viewpoint and I believe that Conrad was indeed attempting to exemplify the cruelty of the European imperialists by using Marlow’s thoughts and perception of his surroundings.
