In this literary article, Achebe discusses the relentless racism found in Conrad’s book The Heart of Darkness. Specifically, Achebe is concerned with how Conrad uses Marlow as a way to be indirectly racist. Achebe does allow that this racism might be learned in the unconscious mind and not intentional, but he does not downplay how degrading and immoral it can be.
Achebe writes about how he sees racism against Africa in everyday society. He claims that in Western psychology there is a desire to set a foil to Europe. In this case it would be Africa. This idea of creating a foil can be traced back to Shakespeare and his famous plays. Another desire that is present in society is the need to create an “other.” Conrad puts African natives in the role of the “other” to white Europeans.
Achebe condemns Conrad in much of his article and called Conrad’s heart a true “heart of darkness.” He claims that Conrad makes the African natives seem inhumane. In addition, he writes that Conrad made the Africans seem lesser than modern humans. Conrad would often throughout the book describe the African atmosphere and natives as dark. Achebe says in his article that Conrad probably had an obsession with this darkness. He does not doubt that Conrad was a very talented and brilliant writer who had his moment of true greatness. However, Achebe calls Conrad irrational and not clear-minded. According to Achebe, Marlow may have been a tool to protect Conrad from the “psychological predisposition” of his readers. Conrad created a “narrator behind a narrator.” Achebe is still respectful for Conrad’s work, but sheds light on the racism it contains.
In his article, Achebe brings a different perspective to Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Although the article does not diminish Conrad’s great book, it does reveal its racism.
