Racism in Heart of Darkness :: essays research papers

What is racial discrimination? Racism can be defined as The belief that travel accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a circumstance race is superior to others. Racism occurs when a racist group finds it needful to put down other ethnic groups in an attempt to assure their own. A very strong racist comment or achievement might make the other group feel hurtful, degrading, humiliating. The novel, Heart of evil, written by Joseph Conrad provides such instances which are racist and biased against the good deal living in Africa. Heart of Darkness is a story in which racism presents itself so deliberately that, for many, the dilemma of race must be tackled before anything else in the book may be dealt with. Conrad workd derogatory, superannuated and offensive terminology for devaluation of peoples color as savages. This use of language disturbs many readers who read this book. Although Conrad uses racist language in this book, it doesnt mean that he is really racist. When we look at the language, we are serious looking at the very surface of the story. Heart of Darkness is a story full of irony and deception. At one point, Conrad made a very interesting point. He suggested that the light is used to indicate hypocrisy in Heart of Darkness. Conrad uses the character of Marlow to make use of his own thoughts and views rough the people in the Congo. He feels pity for them as he sees them dropping down carrying heavy packages and Kurtz commanding them like a batallion of troups. This sight angers Marlow and when he gets to Kurtz, its too late. Even he has been pulled in by the darkness. Conrad makes an impelling distinction between Marlow and Kurtz.