King Leopold's Ghost Summary

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Reading Response Paper: King Leopold's Ghost
Sydney Levine Univesity of Central Florida
World History II
A. Moreshead

Choose two of the main characters in Hochschild's story (King Leopold, Henry Morton Stanley, E.D. Morel, Roger Casement, etc.) and compare/contrast their roles in the colonization of the Congo. What do you think of Hochschild's portrayal of these individuals? Does he convincingly depict their motives, impact, etc.?

The story told by Adam Hochschild in his famous, engrossing and enthralling book “King Leopold's Ghost”, tracks back to the late nineteenth century during the period of African Colonialism. It was a time when British were all set to explore and inhabit different parts of the world and after …show more content…

D. Morel is designated as a valiant man, who knew how to struggle and fight for pertaining the justice. Despite being an ordinary man, he very bravely managed to stand against the King and exposed his reality to the general public. Morel was a thorough gentleman and a complete humanitarian. He was not lulled into the offers made to him by Elder Dempster, and nothing could hinder his way on the road of seeking justice. By the time he died, he was totally loved and adored by his people. His services for the betterment of people are appraisable.
King Leopold II of Belgium, a German prince, was a kin to Queen Victoria. He was an avaricious man, who would do anything for his personal benefit and comfort. He had decided to use every possible means, whether legal or illegal, to expand his empire even before he assumed his position as a King. He was still quite young when he got the opportunity to take over the crown. The easiest possible way to turn his dreams into reality was to find a state and make it a colony to his …show more content…

He used illegal means to expand his regime and in doing so made his slaves work like animals for him. There was no limit to the atrocities he inflicted upon the slaves who worked for him. He built his kingdom on the weak foundation of the blood and sweat of the people who toiled tirelessly for him. According to (Hochschild, 2015, Chpt. 2, P. 39), “His drive for colonies, however, was shaped by a desire not only for money but for power.” By the time his death reached him, he had become so unpopular, hated and despised thoroughly by the people, so much so that people booed at his

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