Heart of Darkness as a postcolonial novel

Heart of Darkness as a postcolonial novel | Joseph Conrad

Q. Consider “Heart of Darkness” as a postcolonial novel.

Answer: Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” is highly regarded as a most influential work of post-colonial literature. The novel was published in 1899. The novel represents a scornful criticism of European colonial expansion. The novel also criticizes the exploration of indigenous populations in Africa.

In this novel, the protagonist was Charles Marlowe. He was given the task of navigating the Congo River. His primary intention was to locate the elusive Ivory trader, Kurtz. When Marlowe went deeper into the heart of the colonial enterprise, he was confronted with the brutal realities of imperialism. Here, through the activities of Marlow, the civilizing mission of Western Civilization is revealed. The civilized culture of the West is thinly masked with greed, violence and the dehumanization of the colonized people.

One of the main themes of post-colonialism in “Heart of Darkness” is the omnipotent power of European dominance. Here, in this novel, the readers will find the dominance of power between the colonizer and the colonized. Marlowe’s journey into the heart of darkness can be seen as a metaphorical descent into the moral abyss of colonial rule. The native Africans are largely voiceless and invisible in the novel. They are depicted as savaged and primitive inhabitants. Thus, the novel exposes the need of European Civilized power for colonialism.

However, Conrad’s portrayal of the colonizer is far from pleasing. In this novel, Kurtz is the central figure. He is portrayed as the representative of native Africans. He deals with ivory trading. He presents the ultimate embodiment of the corrupting influence of colonial power. His dissent into madness and his ruthless exploitation of the native population challenge the notion of a European model and cultural superiority. Kurtz’s famous declaration, “the horror! the horror!” serves as a damning reflection on colonial enterprise. It also evokes the dehumanizing effects on both the colonizer and the colonized.

Also, it is to be noted that the setting of the novel is the Congo River in Africa. The interesting setting of this novel can be seen as a symbolic representation of colonial experience. The river is initially depicted as a mysterious and enduring pathway to the heart of darkness. The river, along with the brutal activities in it, gradually transforms into a metaphor for chaos, violence, and moral decay that lie at the heart of the colonial project.

Thus, the novel, “Heart of Darkness” has been the subject of intense critical analysis and debate. Most of the scholars and critics examine the work through various elements of post-colonialism. The greediness, brutality and various forms of cruelties upon the colonized Africans simultaneously justify the novel as a work of post-colonial literature.

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