Set at the turn of the last century and consequently at the peak of imperialism, Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, published in 1899, is to this day still one of the most critically and controversially treated works about English colonial history in Africa. The research concerning this novella has been carried out in many directions; it has been compared to Dante’s Inferno (Goonetilleke 2007, 12) and is said to have anticipated Freudian ideas of psychoanalysis (ibid. 14), it is discussed whether its main intention is to portray an image of Africa (as envisioned in Europe), the decay of European imperialism or - on a more individual level - the development and inner conflict of a subject, namely Marlow, the latter leading to the novella even being viewed as a Bildungsroman (Cahir 2004, 183). A further point of inquiry deals with the portrayal of Africa and Africans in Conrad’s work; here, Chinua Achebe’s essay has been of particular interest as he, firstly and most prominently, questions the legitimacy of Heart of Darkness being part of the literary canon and accuses Conrad of being a xenophobe (1988, 269) and a “thoroughgoing racist“ (ibid. 267). To him the novella is “offensive and deplorable“ and not worthy of being titled one of the greatest works in the English language (ibid. 268). While Achebe’s ideas have also met criticism, through their provocative nature they have nevertheless forced readers to address the issue of racism and imperialism in Heart of Darkness critically.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Postcolonial reception of Heart of Darkness
- 1.2 Guiding question
- 2. Ambivalences resulting from narrative aspects
- 2.1 Characteristics of narrative form
- 2.2 Marlow - an unreliable narrator?
- 3. Ambivalences through imagery
- 3.1 Symbolism in landscape portrayal
- 3.2 Visual and aural ambiguities
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. Bibliography
- 5.1 Primary Literature
- 5.2 Secondary Literature
Objectives and Key Themes
The main objective of this paper is to analyze Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and examine how the novella portrays and evaluates imperialism and colonial domination. Instead of focusing on the characters or authorial background, the analysis will concentrate on the narrative form and symbolism to demonstrate the inherent ambivalence of the text's depiction of imperialism. This approach will showcase the novella's innovative narrative techniques and its portrayal of a historical turning point where the negative effects of imperialism are becoming evident.
- The ambivalent portrayal of imperialism in Heart of Darkness
- Analysis of narrative structure and its contribution to ambiguity
- The role of Marlow as an unreliable narrator
- The use of symbolism and imagery in conveying the complexities of imperialism
- The innovative narrative techniques employed by Conrad
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, highlighting its enduring critical and controversial reception since its publication in 1899. It surveys existing scholarship, mentioning diverse interpretations, including comparisons to Dante's Inferno and Freudian psychoanalysis, as well as debates about the novella's portrayal of Africa, the decay of imperialism, and Marlow's psychological development. The chapter specifically addresses Chinua Achebe's critique, which questions the novella's place in the literary canon and accuses Conrad of racism, thereby setting the stage for the paper's central question: how does the novella itself portray and evaluate imperialism? The chapter concludes by outlining the paper's methodology: analyzing narrative form and symbolism to reveal the inherent ambivalence of the text's depiction of imperialism.
2. Ambivalences resulting from narrative aspects: This chapter delves into the narrative structure of Heart of Darkness, arguing that the ambivalence towards imperialism is mirrored in the novella's form itself. It examines the framing narrative, with the anonymous narrator on the Nellie introducing Marlow's story, which in turn contains Kurtz's narrative (though incompletely presented). The chapter highlights the unconventional nature of this framing, emphasizing the lack of a clear, logically structured, and concluded narrative. The disruption of the expected narrative frame, particularly Marlow's abrupt interruption of the first narrator's reflection on imperialistic figures, is analyzed as a challenge to the justification of imperialism. The chapter further explores Marlow's embedded narrative, its frequent interruptions, and the use of innovative narrative techniques, such as shifting narrative levels and fragmented dialogue. These techniques contribute to the fragmented and ambiguous portrayal of imperialism, contrasting with the seemingly forceful, organized nature of imperialism itself, and suggesting the system's internal dissolution.
Keywords
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, imperialism, colonialism, narrative structure, unreliable narrator, symbolism, imagery, ambivalence, postcolonial reception, narrative techniques, Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions: Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness - A Critical Analysis
What is the main objective of this academic paper?
The paper analyzes Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, focusing on how the novella portrays and evaluates imperialism and colonial domination. Instead of concentrating on characters or authorial background, the analysis examines narrative form and symbolism to reveal the text's inherent ambivalence towards imperialism. This approach highlights the novella's innovative narrative techniques and its portrayal of a historical turning point where the negative effects of imperialism become apparent.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the ambivalent portrayal of imperialism in Heart of Darkness; analysis of narrative structure and its contribution to ambiguity; the role of Marlow as an unreliable narrator; the use of symbolism and imagery in conveying the complexities of imperialism; and the innovative narrative techniques employed by Conrad.
What is covered in the introduction?
The introduction establishes the context of Heart of Darkness, highlighting its controversial reception since 1899. It surveys existing scholarship, including diverse interpretations and debates about the novella's portrayal of Africa and imperialism. It directly addresses Chinua Achebe's critique, setting the stage for the central question: how does the novella itself portray and evaluate imperialism? The introduction outlines the paper's methodology: analyzing narrative form and symbolism to reveal the text's inherent ambivalence.
How does the paper analyze the narrative structure of Heart of Darkness?
The paper argues that the ambivalence towards imperialism is mirrored in the novella's form. It examines the framing narrative (the anonymous narrator, Marlow's story, and Kurtz's fragmented narrative), highlighting its unconventional nature and lack of a clear, logically structured narrative. The disruption of the expected narrative frame and Marlow's interruptions are analyzed as a challenge to the justification of imperialism. The analysis explores Marlow's embedded narrative, its interruptions, and the use of innovative narrative techniques (shifting narrative levels and fragmented dialogue) which contribute to the fragmented and ambiguous portrayal of imperialism.
What is the role of symbolism and imagery in the analysis?
The paper explores how Conrad uses symbolism and imagery to convey the complexities of imperialism. While specific examples aren't detailed in this preview, the analysis undoubtedly delves into the symbolic meaning of the landscape portrayal and visual/aural ambiguities within the novella, contributing to the overall understanding of the ambivalent depiction of imperialism.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis of Heart of Darkness?
The keywords include: Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, imperialism, colonialism, narrative structure, unreliable narrator, symbolism, imagery, ambivalence, postcolonial reception, narrative techniques, and Africa.
What types of sources are included in the bibliography?
The bibliography includes both primary literature (presumably Heart of Darkness itself) and secondary literature (critical works on Conrad and his novel).
- Quote paper
- Silvia Gert (Author), 2013, "Heart of Darkness" and the ambivalence of imperialism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/268659
