Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and European imperialism in Congo

Heart of Darkness

It was written by Joseph Conrad. The story is set in London, but there is a large part of it that happened in Congo. The writer went to Congo in the year 1980, on June 12. The inspiration for his writing may have been derived from what Conrad experienced in Congo. At that time, Britain had the most influence and power in the world. The Britain Empire stretched throughout Africa, Asia and Europe. Joseph Conrad was born in 1857, in Ukraine. His original name was Jozef Konrad Teodor Korzeniowski. As the writer, Conrad was a foreigner who was looking out. He was neither of African nor British origin; hence he was an appropriate party for writing a story about Congo and Britain. After all, he had insight regarding both countries (Svensson).

Summary

According to Svensson, the novella clearly portrays the Imperialism of Europeans. The novella talks about Marlow's trip on a steamboat, as he travelled the forest in Africa, looking for Mr. Kurtz, who used to sell ivory. Marlow's intention is that of finding Kurtz, he will return him to civilization. Mr. Kurtz is so much against leaving that he organizes for the steamboat to be attacked when it nears his station. Africans love Mr. Kurtz, so he exploits his popularity among them. However, Marlow finally succeeds in making him board the steamboat. Kurt, however, dies while on their journey to England. He says his final phrase, "the horror, the horror." Marlow is forced to go back alone. On his arrival, Marlow visits the intended wife of Kurtz. He gives her the old letters of Kurtz. This brings her to remember him as great, and that he was loved by her. She asks about his final words, and Marlow says "your name."

Full-blown imperialism took place in Congo after King Leopold the 2nd began colonizing the Free State of Congo in 1878. Leopold II, in 1982, announced that every resource belonged to him. It was after that announcement that Belgians increased their search for new ivory sources. They established stations at the banks of the Congo River, to help with the exploration. The Belgians were cruel to the people of Congo; they beheaded them and cut off their limbs. The story derived its inspiration from Conrad's expedition in Congo during the Belgian colonial period. The entire story portrays exploration of Congo from a Eurocentric view. The story is directly linked to the force of redemption and the horror and waste of the dark world mission of Europe. Conrad tries to show us the great theft adventure of Kurtz and the trip by Marlow up River Congo. From the story, there is one common theme; the acts by Europeans of mastering its will and imperialism about or in Africa. There is a lot of emphasis on the Imperialism of Europeans through the entire story (Prioti).

Relevance to Contemporary Society

One part of this story that is quite interesting is the fact that the author narrated his own experience but with fiction, portraying general history as well as what impact it has on present culture. Conrad, in the story, effortlessly switches from himself to the society. He oddly changes his story into historical fiction and puts his own experience in stories about historical conflicts. According to him, the kind of conflict that existed in Congo during Belgian colonization has an impact on today's conflicts; he only needed to shape them and give them meaning, and write them down in form of a historical phase. The story about himself was meant to mythologize the modern world. People wanted to know about white traders, savages and the empire. Conrad's novella, which was written for the Blackwood's Magazine (a special magazine for outpost stories) answers people's questions. It is also published in such popular columns as the daily magazine fiction (Raskin).