"L'enfer c'est les autres"--JP Sartre
This year, students will explore the theme of otherness. What defines the mainstream and how does this mainstream dictate to others? What does it mean to be marginalized? How has the mainstream impacted the world of ideas across the centuries?
In my opinion Achebe’s accusation of the presentation of Africa as a “foil to Europe” and just plain deeming the novel as racist cannot be seen as completely true because Achebe fails to recognize that Africa and its people is not in anyway the main theme of “Heart of Darkness” and that by accusing it to be so, he completely fails to get the point of the story. Yes it is true that Achebe poses some examples and some arguments that are hardly refutable such as Marlow’s admiration for British officials who keep up their neat and clean appearance in the midst of horrors that don’t seem to bother them as much as the fly buzzing in their ear. He uses some nicely found quotes such as "Fine fellows -- cannibals --in their place," or “A black figure stood up, strode on long black legs, waving long black arms. . . . as though we might expect a black figure striding along on black legs to wave white arms!” But Achebe is not completely right in addressing the novel as “racist” as he has overlooked the metaphorical and ironical significance implied in this novel to attack westernization and colonialism. The reference we read in class of the colonization of Britain by Romans brings out a feeling of old savagery lurking deep down in European hearts. The contrast between Africa and Europe gives Conrad a reason to dislike colonialism. He suggests that Europe’s claim to be civilized and superior needs to be re-examined. The Europeans see themselves as the perfect humans (we can even imply a perfect race), and yet in their arrogance they fail to see their faults and stupidity. We even talked about this in class, and my opinion still stands on this subject; Marlow was educated and is labeled as a conformist of the western world, his views on the African world could only change with experience; these descriptions were necessary to show his constant change. He even declares relating more to the natives than with his fellow white man. Therefore, it can be said that Conrad uses the third world as a background against which he examined western values. Although, Achebe points out various instances, which appear objectionable to him, he deliberately ignores Marlow’s projection as morally good individual.
In my opinion Achebe’s accusation of the presentation of Africa as a “foil to Europe” and just plain deeming the novel as racist cannot be seen as completely true because Achebe fails to recognize that Africa and its people is not in anyway the main theme of “Heart of Darkness” and that by accusing it to be so, he completely fails to get the point of the story. Yes it is true that Achebe poses some examples and some arguments that are hardly refutable such as Marlow’s admiration for British officials who keep up their neat and clean appearance in the midst of horrors that don’t seem to bother them as much as the fly buzzing in their ear. He uses some nicely found quotes such as "Fine fellows -- cannibals --in their place," or
ReplyDelete“A black figure stood up, strode on long black legs, waving long black arms. . . .
as though we might expect a black figure striding along on black legs to wave white arms!”
But Achebe is not completely right in addressing the novel as “racist” as he has overlooked the metaphorical and ironical significance implied in this novel to attack westernization and colonialism. The reference we read in class of the colonization of Britain by Romans brings out a feeling of old savagery lurking deep down in European hearts. The contrast between Africa and Europe gives Conrad a reason to dislike colonialism. He suggests that Europe’s claim to be civilized and superior needs to be re-examined. The Europeans see themselves as the perfect humans (we can even imply a perfect race), and yet in their arrogance they fail to see their faults and stupidity. We even talked about this in class, and my opinion still stands on this subject; Marlow was educated and is labeled as a conformist of the western world, his views on the African world could only change with experience; these descriptions were necessary to show his constant change. He even declares relating more to the natives than with his fellow white man. Therefore, it can be said that Conrad uses the third world as a background against which he examined western values. Although, Achebe points out various instances, which appear objectionable to him, he deliberately ignores Marlow’s projection as morally good individual.