Social Roles In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

In literature, readers associate white with doves and purity, and, on the contrary, black with impending doom and storms. However, in higher literature, authors take these guidelines and use them to their advantage to create varying layers to their novels. Additionally, authors utilize classic social roles and create situations that are unique to their story to give their novel a new perspective. Heart of Darkness embodies these qualities of higher literature. While interpreted to be highly racist, the novel’s craft is more important to be analyzed rather than the racial slurs. Conrad utilizes imagery paired with paradoxes while foiling the civilized with the savages to force the reader to see the perils behind the imperialist ventures inherent in the book and how social roles can influence behavior.

In Heart of Darkness, Conrad utilizes

“The point of my observations should be quite clear by now, namely that Joseph Conrad was a thoroughgoing racist. That this simple truth is glossed over in criticisms of his work is due to the fact that white racism against Africa is such a normal way of thinking that its manifestations go completely unremarked” (Achebe 176). Achebe believes that people only accept Conrad’s work because they chalk it up to him being with his time. Achebe feels so strongly against Conrad because of his involvement with African history. Achebe’s mission is to change the way Western norms have “set Africa up as a foil to Europe” (Achebe 170). He also wants to create an African identity. However, Achebe appears to be blinded to the fact that he is extremely impacted by the political and social influences, or the norms of his time. Achebe concludes sentiments about Conrad and his beliefs solely from his portrayal of a fictional