The Effects of European Imperialism on the Current Day Essay Example

to impose this ideology through imperialism is an example of this concept. L�opold Louis Philippe Marie Victor of Belgium, born on April ninth, 1835, was a lanky, ungraceful man who was designated as the successor to the throne after his father, King Leopold I, abdicated.

King Leopold was a renowned traveler before becoming the King of Belgium in 1865, arousing his desire to settle foreign lands. As king, he campaigned to the parliament to permit him to send expeditions to Africa with the goal of finding new territories. Consequently, he laid claim to 2 lands.

King Leopold claimed ownership of the southern Congo, covering 3 million square miles, under the name of The Congo Free State. He promised to improve the treatment of slaves and initiate positive changes in the area, but that turned out to be untrue. Instead, he started to exploit the Congolese people and accumulate wealth for himself after establishing his authority in the Congo.

Despite never physically traveling to the Congo, King Leopold ruled the region with an iron hand, issuing commands from his home country of Belgium. His primary resources were ivory and rubber, which he allowed private companies to harvest in exchange for at least fifty percent of their profits. This practice closely resembles the actions of Kurtz in The Heart of Darkness, further highlighting the parallels between the two figures.

The ivory trade was a violent and dangerous industry driven by greed. Both Kurtz and King Leopold were obsessed with acquiring ivory, going to extreme lengths to obtain it. Demonstrating the immense value he placed upon it, Kurtz even threatened to kill someone over a small amount of ivory. The more

they obtained, the more money they made, fueling their desire for greater quantities. Meanwhile, King Leopold used his fortune amassed from being Congo's largest landowner thanks to its wealth to indulge in extravagant luxuries such as yachts, mistresses, art collections and luxurious getaways. As a result of his actions during this era of immense wealth, he became one of its most notorious figures.

King Leopold was responsible for the deaths of about 15 to 20 million Congolese during his reign, which lasted 23 years. Although Belgium intervened in 1908 to stop this, little was done to correct the situation and officials even hid Leopold's actions. After he was removed from power in 1908, there was not much progress made in the Congo Free-State under Belgian rule for another six decades until it gained independence.

For 60 years, the inhabitants of the area were oppressed, compelled to obey other nations' commands. No one could express themselves or establish a movement for their own national identity. The sudden emancipation of an unprepared populace resulted in prolonged violence, chaos, and separatist conflicts.

Johnstone states that Joseph Mobutu took power in 1965 and ruled the same way King Leopold did. Mobutu had a corrupt regime that often persecuted his own people while benefiting from Congo's resources. Despite attempts to hold elections since 1997, no progress has been made, resulting in civil wars, instability, and disorganization. The legacy of King Leopold and years of Belgian rule started the foundation for fighting and disorder in a region with plenty to offer its people.

Johnstone asserts that the Congo is deeply entrenched with corruption and violence. The character Kurtz can be compared to King Leopold,

although to a lesser degree. Both men show little regard for human life and exploit innocent people for their own gain, causing great harm to an otherwise harmless nation. Conrad draws a parallel between Kurtz and King Leopold, having witnessed first-hand the terrible conditions of imperialism during the time of Leopold's rule in the Congo. Kurtz serves as a means to highlight the corruption of those in power and shed light on the hardships faced by the people.

The character of Kurtz, resembling Leopold, was a ruthless individual who dominated the ivory trade just as Leopold ruled the nation. Like Leopold, Kurtz was feared and showed no mercy, causing people to suffer immensely. It is possible that Conrad used Kurtz and Marlow in his writing to expose King Leopold and the corrupt company as villainous entities responsible for the misfortune in the area. This persecution has been ongoing for many years, with no aid or refuge available. Even with newfound freedom, the Congolese people continue to face numerous challenges including tyranny, corruption, police brutality, hunger, malnutrition, and reduced life expectancy.

According to Edgerton, the prolonged suffering of the people in The Democratic Republic of The Congo is truly tragic. The hope is that one day they will emerge from the weight of oppression thrown upon them by Europeans and rebuild their country to achieve a state of peace.