Chinua Achebe – “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness”

-There exists a desire—even a need—in Western psychology to set up Africa as a foil to Europe. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness displays this desire or need.
-Conrad’s (and Western) fascination: “What thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity—like yours…. Ugly.”
-Conrad is a racist – Heart of Darkness is concerned with the evil effect Africa has on Marlow and Kurtz, rather than the evil effect the Europeans have on the Africans. Therefore, Achebe cannot see the story as a great work of art.
-This racism (of Africa being inferior to the West) is so common and accepted that it is often not noticed. It will be a difficult task to change this perception of Africa, but it must be done, and it must be done soon.