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  • BRITISH LITERATURE 20th CENTURY ASSISSGNMENT

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    Rashmi Mehra
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    Heart of Darkness is a novella by Joseph Conrad published in 1899 that is considered a critique of colonialism. It tells the story of Marlow's journey up the Congo River in Africa to meet Kurtz, a colonialist ivory trader. Colonialism involved European countries acquiring political control over less developed countries, occupying them with settlers, and exploiting them economically. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad explores the horrors of colonialism through symbolic characters like Kurtz, who represents Europe. The novella suggests colonialism suppressed native cultures and beliefs, neglected the natives' welfare, and was primarily motivated by greed to economically exploit lands and peoples.

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    Heart of Darkness is a novella by Joseph Conrad published in 1899 that is considered a critique of colonialism. It tells the story of Marlow's journey up the Congo River in Africa to meet Kurtz, a colonialist ivory trader. Colonialism involved European countries acquiring political control over less developed countries, occupying them with settlers, and exploiting them economically. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad explores the horrors of colonialism through symbolic characters like Kurtz, who represents Europe. The novella suggests colonialism suppressed native cultures and beliefs, neglected the natives' welfare, and was primarily motivated by greed to economically exploit lands and peoples.

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    18 views1 page

    BRITISH LITERATURE 20th CENTURY ASSISSGNMENT

    Uploaded by

    Rashmi Mehra
    Heart of Darkness is a novella by Joseph Conrad published in 1899 that is considered a critique of colonialism. It tells the story of Marlow's journey up the Congo River in Africa to meet Kurtz, a colonialist ivory trader. Colonialism involved European countries acquiring political control over less developed countries, occupying them with settlers, and exploiting them economically. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad explores the horrors of colonialism through symbolic characters like Kurtz, who represents Europe. The novella suggests colonialism suppressed native cultures and beliefs, neglected the natives' welfare, and was primarily motivated by greed to economically exploit lands and peoples.

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    BRITISH LITERATURE 20th CENTURY ASSISSGNMENT

    Question. 'Heart of darkness' is critique of the colonialism? 


    Heart of darkness (1899) is a great novella by Polish -English novelist Joseph
    Conrad about the voyage up to Congo river in the heart of Africa. This setting
    provides the frame for Marlow's story of his obsession with the successful ivory
    trader Kurtz.
    In the late 1800s, there was a big push in Europe towards colonizing, or setting, up
    outposts in less developed countries especially in Africa. Colonialism is the policy or
    practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country. occupying it
    with settlers, and exploiting it economically. 
    In heart of darkness, the author, Joseph Conrad explores the nature of colonialism.
    He reveals the horrors of colonialism and is cynical of the entire process. He uses
    several symbolic characters to accomplish this. The main one being the shadowy
    and elusive Kurtz, who represents all of Europe. The disappearance and indefinable
    of Kurtz deep within the unnamed country of Marlow's visit is emblematic of this
    mystery the western mind had nurtured concerning not just Africa but any of the
    lands peopled by non-white. 'Darkness' also refers to the darkness that exists within
    Kurtz 's own mind and soul.
    Purposes of colonialism 

    1.  Suppression of the native' s beliefs and traditional way of life. Europeans
    compared their lifestyle by the modern way of life style, in result they were
    underdeveloped. Europeans buying land there and establish their company
    overseas. The natives calmed by a false sense of safety and slaved by the
    Europeans. They dominating over the natives and their resources. They are
    suspected as inhuman by the white men. 

    2.  Natives are neglected by Europeans colonizers.  White men were very selfish
    they never saw the working condition and health of the natives it is not important for
    them. They establish their law and government. They were like philanthropic
    pretence towards them

    3.  Greediness. They were greedy for the ivory. They frightened them with their
    weapons and behave with them as inhuman way. They only want ivory and make
    money and give back little or nothing to the natives that might be delayed the land
    and natives. Their main motive is to economically exploit the land.

     ROOPAL CHAUDHARY
     B.A. ENGLISH HONS. 3rd YEAR
     31811133

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