The Horrors of Colonialism and Imperialism in Conrads Heart of Darknes

From the onset of the novella bone marrow of Darkness, the narrator Marlow compares his subsequent tale of colonialism with that of the Roman colonization of Union Europe and the fascination associated with such an endeavor. However, throughout his narration, Marlow challenges this viewpoint by painting a heinous picture of the horrors of colonialist ventures. In the opening of his tale, Conrad, through Marlow, establishes his thoughts on colonialism. He says that conquerors only use brute force, nothing to boast of because it arises, by accident, from anothers weakness. Marlow sees colonization as Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and workforce going at it blind - as it is very proper for those who tackle darkness. Furthermore, he sees such conquests as taking land and materials away from those people who suffer a different complexion or slightly flatter noses. This epitomizes the futility in such an undertaking. Moreover as he understands it, coloni zation is only successful if thither lies within it a devotion to efficiency and a creation of civilization, not exploitation (Conrad, 4). In his novella, through the eyes of his narrator Marlow, Conrad offers a frank recapitulation of European imperial colonialism through the numerous oppositions of black and white and dark and light. Through the individual characterization, Conrad creates the division between dark and light ... ...of Anthropology, Lawrence Univ.). Africa and Africans in Conrads Heart of Darkness. A Lawrence University Freshman Studies Lecture, 24 Jan. 1996. Rpt. James Banks, Willamette Univ. & Free Speech Television http//www.freespeech.org/james/conrad/heart.htm (Accessed Apr. 2002) Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness, New York Dover, 1990. Dintenfass, Mark. Heart of Darkness A Lawrence University Freshman Studies Lecture. 14 Mar. 1996. *http//www.acsu.buffalo.edu/csicseri/dintenfass.htm* (2April 2002). Hayes, Dorsha. Heart of Darkness An Aspect of the Shadow, S pring (1956) 43-47.. McLynn, Frank. Hearts of Darkness The European Exploration of Africa. New York Carol & Gey, 1992.