In the essay “An Image of Africa,” Chinua Achebe argues that
Heart of Darkness gives a false
portrayal of Africa. The book is written by Joseph Conrad and is reflective of
the way Europeans viewed Africa during Colonial times. Africans are described
as inhuman black monsters. This description is completely different from the
way he views his beautiful European people. Achebe criticizes Conrad for the
way Africa itself is described in his book. He says, “Western psychology to set
up Africa as a foil to Europe, a place of negations at once remote and vaguely
familiar in comparison with Europe’s own state of spiritual grace will be
manifest.” He basically describes it as a place of destruction that needs
salvation. There is recognition of the fact that they are human and live
differently with their own customs. Rather, the Africans are looked down upon
as beasts that need to be taught how to be European. Rather than describing
Africa, he describes everything that Europeans think they are not. Conrad’s
description of Africa makes it seem as though, “He chose the role of purveyor
of comforting myths.” What this quote means is that he passed on lies about
Africans in order to make Europeans feel better about themselves.
I find it interesting that you chose to focus upon the fact that Conrad presents Africa as an antithesis to Europe. Despite Conrad's linguistic prowess - or, perhaps, because of it? - this results in the idea of Africa evoked as something constructed more of void than substance, compiled of things it is not rather than traits it boasts on its own. Through this, we see the cultural relativism that floods so much xenophobic work, and come to understand that it is a simple lack of understanding that breeds said xenophobia.
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