Heart Of Darkness Imperialism

The Belgian Colonialism turned Congo into the capitalist world system beginning with the establishment of the personal rule of King Leopold II of Belgium in 1885. During the time of colonialism Belgium colonized Congo, he exploited the natives for rubber and ivory. The Congo Free State was a corporate state privately controlled by Leopold II, through the Association Internationale Africaine, a non-governmental organization. Under Leopold II’s administration, the Congo Free State became the site of one of the most infamous international scandals of the turn of the twentieth century. In 1902 Joseph Conrad, Polish-English author, who published his literary work, Heart of Darkness, expresses the horrors of European colonialism for ivory. This novella

This letter was written in July 3, 1890. Even though the document is originally in French, I took French in high school and some at the University. I can still read and interpret the document. The tittle of the letter is Leopold II bequeathed the Congo to Belgium. In summary, King Leopold II is stating that L'histoire enseigne que les pays à territoire restreint ont un intérêt moral et matériel à rayonner au-delà de leurs étroites frontières . In other words, History shows that countries with limited territory have moral and material interests to radiate beyond their narrow borders. He went on giving histories of other European countries success such as Greece, Italy (Venice), and Netherlands. Leopold starts describing the Congo and gives the advantages of having Congo under Belgium’s rule. The vast Congo River system above opens our efforts quick and economic communication channels that can directly penetrate into the center of the African continent. The construction of the railway in the area of the cataracts, now assured thanks to the recent vote of the legislature, significantly increase the ease of access. Under these conditions a great future is reserved in the Congo, which will soon burst immense value to all eyes. The early companies such as those concerned about both is difficult and expensive. A King, a service to his country, should not be afraid to design and promote the

This novella tells that King Leopold II send Europeans agents to the Congo to bring Ivory back to Belgium. Conrad shows how Heart of Darkness shows the brutally and cruelty of European colonialism towards the natives in the Congo. Throughout the novella, it explores the historical period of European colonialism in Congo to demonstrate Marlow’s struggles. Marlow, the main protagonist, like other Europeans of his time is brought up to believe certain things about colonialism. The ideal mission of every European is to bring the “light” or civilization to the natives. Although Marlow’s views transformed as he experiences the effects of colonialism from his point of view. As the novella continues Marlow realizes Kurtz’s experiences shows him the effects that colonialism can have on a man’s soul. In a European point of view they comprehend the concept of colonialism as a good thing because Europeans think they are assisting the natives that live in these lands. The Bedford Anthology of World Literature in the part one of the novella, Davis claims, “I was thinking of old times, when the Romans first came here, nineteen hundred years ago… light came out of this river since- you say Knights… may it at last as long as the old earth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday” (38). The image of colonialism is specified in a