European Presence In Africa Essay Example
European Presence In Africa Essay Example

European Presence In Africa Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (306 words)
  • Published: January 17, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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During his time in England from 1898 to 1899, Joseph Conrad penned the novella Heart of Darkness, set in Africa at the pinnacle of European imperialism. Heart of Darkness chronicles the expedition of Marlow, a captain of a steamboat, as he navigates up the Congo River. Marlow ventures to Africa in search of liberation from the strictures of European society. An idealist at heart, Marlow enthusiastically embarks on his journey up the Congo, driven by a desire to validate the benefits of European presence in Africa. However, despite his quest for evidence of imperialism's virtues, Marlow encounters none.

Marlow, eager to meet with Kurtz, another trader in the Congo, believes that Kurtz will prove to him the presence of good in European colonization of Africa. However, as Marlow travels up the Congo and witnesses the impact of European imperialism on th

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e continent, he realizes that there is no goodness in the presence of Europeans. Additionally, he discovers his own heart of darkness, which he has observed in other Europeans in Africa. Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness after a journey through the Congo in the early 1890s, addressing European imperialism in Africa during that time. At that period, Africa was under the ownership of King Leopold II of Belgium.

Leopold believed his mission was to bring civilization to the African people and reduce their barbarism. Europeans viewed Africa as the Dark Continent, seeing its people as uncivilized, uneducated, and lacking culture and a real government. Europeans felt obligated to bring culture and civilization to Africa, leading to the start of imperialism in the continent. Conrad examines the heart of darkness through Marlow, the protagonist of his novel.

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As Marlow travels up the Congo River, he witnesses the horrors of European imperialism on the African people.

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