by Samual Seward

Created on: February 08, 2009

The view that Conrad takes on Imperialism and Colonization is the separation of European cultures to African culture in order to bring to light the indistinguishable likeness of both cultures in personal characteristics. The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad uses the imperalism of Africa in order to show the reader how both cultures are similar in the intrinsic view of men.

Conrad shows the intrinsic values of men by his use of separating the cultures of Africa and Europe to come to the point that all men, no matters if they are considered savages all have the same characteristics. Conrad first attempts this by separating the two cultures of by having Europeans attempting to conquer the African interior which is full of "savages". Holding the view that Africa is full of mindless savages, Conrad was able to successfully construct the view that Europeans' find them below their social status. This is where Conrad is able to bring up separate viewpoints of the African mainland. By separating the two cultures, Conrad was able to keep the viewpoint that white Europeans presumably see themselves as a higher society which enables them to commit atrocities on the idea that Africans are in fact below them.

The European view of the African culture is the most important starting point. In The Heart of Darkness, Europeans see the people of Africa as savages and continue this viewpoint throughout the story. Marlow, as the story's main character, witnesses the atrocities inflicted on the African people and the racism that Europeans have towards the savages. Witnessing his viewpoint throughout the story allows the reader to understand the viewpoint which Europeans have for the Africans. Marlow witnesses many points of racism through the Europeans. In fact Marlow also condones and participates in this racism. Marlow refers to his helmsmen as pieces of machinery and does not attempt to understand his men's need for food when asked about offering the dead for food.

"The prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us- who could tell?" (Conrad, 44), Marlow describes the Africans as prehistoric and has no ability to understand exactly what they were attempting to do when the boat was floating down the river. This separates the Africans from the Europeans, Marlow not having the ability to understand their activities, separates the Africans by describing them as prehistoric because he cannot comprehend their alien procedures.

This racism continues throughout the story

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