Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in <i>Heart of Darkness</i>

Sameen Junaid

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

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Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness

Sameen Junaid

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Received: 13 February 2022 Accepted: 8 April 2022 Published: 25 April 2022

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Abstract

Joseph Conrad is a Polish-born English novelist and prose stylist who portrays the nature of evil, depth of human soul, his pessimistic approach in struggle and highlights the life of a modern man with isolation, chaos and moral decadence in his novel Heart of Darkness. This research paper sheds light on Joseph Conrad as racist who presents Europeans as heroes by hiding their villainous conduct through manipulative language, use of ambivalence and ambiguity which reveal his Eurocentric tendencies and cold heartedness against black Africans in Heart of Darkness. Moreover, this research also demonstrates that although Conrad exposes white men's insincerity, violence, economic motivation and deterioration of their moral values but at the same time, he projects Africans' image as innocent victims and stereotypes who are the accepters of unjust status quo rather resisters which reveals Conrad’s ambivalence. Furthermore, the paper also explores that the glorified illusion of civilization and development of Africa upheld by white supremacists, in utter contrast takes the shape of contemptuous acts of loot, inhumanity and violence. Heart of Darkness is the story of human pitfalls and a disclosure of Europeans’ exploitation, lust, and falseness of their ideals. Conrad reinforces Darwin's theory of “Survival of the fittest” through the depiction of Europeans substantiating racism and imperialism as justified phenomenon in Africa. After discovering Conrad's Racist tendencies, the paper also provides a struggle to bring change in the mentality of people through giving awareness on gender equality by confronting racist slurs based on skin color and opposing superiority and inferiority complexes by considering it as a mere absurdity mental phenomenon to judge human beings. It condemns Conrad's institutionalized prejudices against women and especially blacks. This, the paper comprises of an analytical approach towards Joseph Conrad’s racist ideology in Heart of darkness.

Published in	English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
Page(s)	53-56
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Racism, Ambivalence, White Supremacy, Eurocentrism, Imperialism, Superiority/Inferiority Complexes

References

[1]	Achebe, Chinua. "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness". Massachusetts Review, 1977, 251-261.
[2]	Al-Khaiat, Abdullatif. "Joseph Conrad: Defender or Condemner of Imperialism?" Jordan Journal of Modern Languages and Literature, vol. 2, no. 1, 2010, 43-61.
[3]	Blake, Susan L. "Racism and the Classics: Teaching Heart of Darkness". JSTOR, vol. 25, no. 4, 1982, pp. 396-404.
[4]	Brantlinger, Patrick. ""Heart of Darkness":"Anti Imperialism, Racism, or Impresssionism?"." JSTOR, vol. 27, no. 4, 1985, 363-385.
[5]	Cowan, Victoria. "Reading and Resisting the Representations of Black Africans in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness." University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014, 27-31.
[6]	Hawkins, Hunt. "Conrad's Critique on Imperialism in Heart of Darkness." JSTOR, 1979, 286-299.
[7]	Harrison, Nicolas. "Postcolonial Criticism. History, Theory and the Work of Fiction". Cambridge: Polity Press, 2003.
[8]	Lioyd, Jana. "Anti-Imperialism and Racism in Heart of Darkness." Inscape, vol. 23, no. 3, 2003.
[9]	Maier Katkin, Birgit, and Daniel Maier-Katkin. "At the Heart of Darkness: Crimes against Humanity and the Banality of Evil." JSTOR vol. 26, no. 3, 2004, 584-604.
[10]	Misselbrook, David. "Heart of Darkness: A Journey into the Human Condition." British Journal of General Practice, 2012, 144.
[11]	Singh, Frances B. "THE COLONIALISTIC BIAS OF "HEART OF DARKNESS"." JSTOR, vol. 10, no. 1, 1978, 41-54.
[12]	Spegele, Roger D. "Fiction as Political Theory: Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'." JSTOR, vol. 2, no. 3, 1972, 319-337.
[13]	Svensson, Morgan, and Erik Falk. "Critical Responses to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness." Sodertorns hogskola \| Institutionen for kultur och kommunikation kandidatuppsats, 2010.
[14]	Vogel, Daniel. "Joseph Conrad in the Light of Postcolonialism." Yearbook of Conrad Studies, vol. 8, 2012, 97-112.

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Sameen Junaid. (2022). Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness. English Language, Literature & Culture, 7(2), 53-56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

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Sameen Junaid. Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2022, 7(2), 53-56. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

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Sameen Junaid. Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2022;7(2):53-56. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11,
  author = {Sameen Junaid},
  title = {Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {53-56},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20220702.11},
  abstract = {Joseph Conrad is a Polish-born English novelist and prose stylist who portrays the nature of evil, depth of human soul, his pessimistic approach in struggle and highlights the life of a modern man with isolation, chaos and moral decadence in his novel Heart of Darkness. This research paper sheds light on Joseph Conrad as racist who presents Europeans as heroes by hiding their villainous conduct through manipulative language, use of ambivalence and ambiguity which reveal his Eurocentric tendencies and cold heartedness against black Africans in Heart of Darkness. Moreover, this research also demonstrates that although Conrad exposes white men's insincerity, violence, economic motivation and deterioration of their moral values but at the same time, he projects Africans' image as innocent victims and stereotypes who are the accepters of unjust status quo rather resisters which reveals Conrad’s ambivalence. Furthermore, the paper also explores that the glorified illusion of civilization and development of Africa upheld by white supremacists, in utter contrast takes the shape of contemptuous acts of loot, inhumanity and violence. Heart of Darkness is the story of human pitfalls and a disclosure of Europeans’ exploitation, lust, and falseness of their ideals. Conrad reinforces Darwin's theory of “Survival of the fittest” through the depiction of Europeans substantiating racism and imperialism as justified phenomenon in Africa. After discovering Conrad's Racist tendencies, the paper also provides a struggle to bring change in the mentality of people through giving awareness on gender equality by confronting racist slurs based on skin color and opposing superiority and inferiority complexes by considering it as a mere absurdity mental phenomenon to judge human beings. It condemns Conrad's institutionalized prejudices against women and especially blacks. This, the paper comprises of an analytical approach towards Joseph Conrad’s racist ideology in Heart of darkness.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness
AU  - Sameen Junaid
Y1  - 2022/04/25
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
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JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 53
EP  - 56
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
AB  - Joseph Conrad is a Polish-born English novelist and prose stylist who portrays the nature of evil, depth of human soul, his pessimistic approach in struggle and highlights the life of a modern man with isolation, chaos and moral decadence in his novel Heart of Darkness. This research paper sheds light on Joseph Conrad as racist who presents Europeans as heroes by hiding their villainous conduct through manipulative language, use of ambivalence and ambiguity which reveal his Eurocentric tendencies and cold heartedness against black Africans in Heart of Darkness. Moreover, this research also demonstrates that although Conrad exposes white men's insincerity, violence, economic motivation and deterioration of their moral values but at the same time, he projects Africans' image as innocent victims and stereotypes who are the accepters of unjust status quo rather resisters which reveals Conrad’s ambivalence. Furthermore, the paper also explores that the glorified illusion of civilization and development of Africa upheld by white supremacists, in utter contrast takes the shape of contemptuous acts of loot, inhumanity and violence. Heart of Darkness is the story of human pitfalls and a disclosure of Europeans’ exploitation, lust, and falseness of their ideals. Conrad reinforces Darwin's theory of “Survival of the fittest” through the depiction of Europeans substantiating racism and imperialism as justified phenomenon in Africa. After discovering Conrad's Racist tendencies, the paper also provides a struggle to bring change in the mentality of people through giving awareness on gender equality by confronting racist slurs based on skin color and opposing superiority and inferiority complexes by considering it as a mere absurdity mental phenomenon to judge human beings. It condemns Conrad's institutionalized prejudices against women and especially blacks. This, the paper comprises of an analytical approach towards Joseph Conrad’s racist ideology in Heart of darkness.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Sameen Junaid

Institute of English Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

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Sameen Junaid. (2022). Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness. English Language, Literature & Culture, 7(2), 53-56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

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ACS Style

Sameen Junaid. Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2022, 7(2), 53-56. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

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AMA Style

Sameen Junaid. Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2022;7(2):53-56. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11,
  author = {Sameen Junaid},
  title = {Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {53-56},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20220702.11},
  abstract = {Joseph Conrad is a Polish-born English novelist and prose stylist who portrays the nature of evil, depth of human soul, his pessimistic approach in struggle and highlights the life of a modern man with isolation, chaos and moral decadence in his novel Heart of Darkness. This research paper sheds light on Joseph Conrad as racist who presents Europeans as heroes by hiding their villainous conduct through manipulative language, use of ambivalence and ambiguity which reveal his Eurocentric tendencies and cold heartedness against black Africans in Heart of Darkness. Moreover, this research also demonstrates that although Conrad exposes white men's insincerity, violence, economic motivation and deterioration of their moral values but at the same time, he projects Africans' image as innocent victims and stereotypes who are the accepters of unjust status quo rather resisters which reveals Conrad’s ambivalence. Furthermore, the paper also explores that the glorified illusion of civilization and development of Africa upheld by white supremacists, in utter contrast takes the shape of contemptuous acts of loot, inhumanity and violence. Heart of Darkness is the story of human pitfalls and a disclosure of Europeans’ exploitation, lust, and falseness of their ideals. Conrad reinforces Darwin's theory of “Survival of the fittest” through the depiction of Europeans substantiating racism and imperialism as justified phenomenon in Africa. After discovering Conrad's Racist tendencies, the paper also provides a struggle to bring change in the mentality of people through giving awareness on gender equality by confronting racist slurs based on skin color and opposing superiority and inferiority complexes by considering it as a mere absurdity mental phenomenon to judge human beings. It condemns Conrad's institutionalized prejudices against women and especially blacks. This, the paper comprises of an analytical approach towards Joseph Conrad’s racist ideology in Heart of darkness.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Unraveling Joseph Conrad's Racist Ideology in Heart of Darkness
AU  - Sameen Junaid
Y1  - 2022/04/25
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 53
EP  - 56
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.11
AB  - Joseph Conrad is a Polish-born English novelist and prose stylist who portrays the nature of evil, depth of human soul, his pessimistic approach in struggle and highlights the life of a modern man with isolation, chaos and moral decadence in his novel Heart of Darkness. This research paper sheds light on Joseph Conrad as racist who presents Europeans as heroes by hiding their villainous conduct through manipulative language, use of ambivalence and ambiguity which reveal his Eurocentric tendencies and cold heartedness against black Africans in Heart of Darkness. Moreover, this research also demonstrates that although Conrad exposes white men's insincerity, violence, economic motivation and deterioration of their moral values but at the same time, he projects Africans' image as innocent victims and stereotypes who are the accepters of unjust status quo rather resisters which reveals Conrad’s ambivalence. Furthermore, the paper also explores that the glorified illusion of civilization and development of Africa upheld by white supremacists, in utter contrast takes the shape of contemptuous acts of loot, inhumanity and violence. Heart of Darkness is the story of human pitfalls and a disclosure of Europeans’ exploitation, lust, and falseness of their ideals. Conrad reinforces Darwin's theory of “Survival of the fittest” through the depiction of Europeans substantiating racism and imperialism as justified phenomenon in Africa. After discovering Conrad's Racist tendencies, the paper also provides a struggle to bring change in the mentality of people through giving awareness on gender equality by confronting racist slurs based on skin color and opposing superiority and inferiority complexes by considering it as a mere absurdity mental phenomenon to judge human beings. It condemns Conrad's institutionalized prejudices against women and especially blacks. This, the paper comprises of an analytical approach towards Joseph Conrad’s racist ideology in Heart of darkness.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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