Joseph Conrad Imperialism

One can proclaim false virtue in imperialism. Deemed morally incorrect, its concept and execution have taken disfavor from modern day man. Although the execution of imperialism has shifted over the past century, most historians would agree that the nineteenth century was a dark period for European and African history. And in a bolder sense, that this darkness was casted by Europe upon Africa for their own benefit. Joseph Conrad puts this subject at the forefront in his novel “The Heart of Darkness”, in which he has correctly recognized and analyzed the psychology and superiority complex of the white race that has been witnessed continuously throughout world history. Conrad reveals the duplicity held by European leaders when using less-developed

From a biological perspective, our actions and attitudes come from nature, and we are born with the destiny to develop certain capabilities. From a humanistic perspective, our environment influences how we develop into the individuals we become. Frequently ignored within this debate is the violence within man’s primal instinct. A civilized and sane person would not attempt to end someone’s life if that person upset or threatened them, even if our instinct does alert us to harm them. One may feel hatred towards another, but we often choose not to act upon it because it goes against the laws of society. This does not erase the fact that man is capable of doing violent harm against someone else. Man’s primal instinct is engrained in our D.N.A. It is something we are born with that morality cannot erase. William Golding incorporates this theme into his novel, “Lord of the Flies” through the use of British school boys who, after an airplane crash, are left stranded on island. Some boys become symbols of man’s inner aggression, one boy becomes a Christ-like figure, and some boys even die (Golding, 1954). The purpose of this orchestra of madness that Golding choreographs is to pose a question to the audience asking whether or not man is born with innate goodness, or if we are all simply animals disguising ourselves as something that is a lie. Conrad utilizes

Rarely in history can we identify one whose actions genuinely came out of a place of negativity towards humanity. Man will justify their actions when they’re subconsciously aware of how it violates their moral values (Kaplan, 1997). Leon Felsinger’s “Theory of Cognitive Dissonance” proposes that we justify our actions when they violate our moral values so we do not cause ourselves intense mental distress. Even if our purpose is not harm, it cannot erase any damage we cause. Conrad correctly recognizes this through his literary interpretation of imperialism in the Congo. He emphasizes the brutality of forced labor, and the mindset of those who are for and against it. Kurtz is already convinced of the benefits of Belgium’s presence in the Congo, and holds himself in a God-like status. Marlow, however, is somewhat of a freethinker, even though he is not always vocal about his opinions. It is never blatantly stated that he is completely against the atrocities being committed, but his actions propose that he subconsciously recognizes the lack of humanity behind imperialism. Only his conscious reveals slivers of this belief, but he never acts upon it. Even when he speaks to Kurtz’ widow, he abandons a moment of truth for the comforting mentality of the white man’s burden (Tagizadeh, 2015). Conrad does this to suggest that European society has not yet come to the realization that imperialism is an ordeal