Belaboring_Colonialism

Belaboring Colonialism Belaboring Colonialism In the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the reader is given a look at Belgium’s colonialism, and how grimly corrupt that policy is. Colonialism is a “policy in which a nation maintains or extends its control over foreign dependencies.” (The American Heritage Dictionary, ‘colonialism’) Usually a country like Britain would take over a primitive country such as Africa civilize it and make some sort of trade or stimulate mutual economic growth. However, in Heart of Darkness, colonialism detracts from the civility of Africa and adds a brutal element. Conrad uses this inhumane description of colonization to support other themes in the novel. This technique enhances the most prevalent themes in the novel. The Plot of Heart of Darkness revolves around the trade or removal of ivory from Africa. It becomes more than a trade though; the search for ivory becomes a greedy obsession to all involved. The following quote shows the tainted greed and obsession ivory has brought. “The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse.”(HoD, 44) The way the British wished colonialism, darkness, conrad, novel, africa, africans, theme, system, shows, one, ivory, trade, throughout, themes, reader, over, marlow, however, horrible, heart, description, conrad’s, being, word, wished, whether, way, trying, treatment, toward, time, through, though, simply, seems, quote, prevalent, policy, point, place, obsession, nigger, men, make, look, idea, gives, country, change, chain