Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, part 1

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a rich and powerful text, widely acclaimed as one of the best English works of the twentieth century. It is a classic. All the same, it has come under heavy criticism in recent years as a racist text, notably by the Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe, as a text that assumes the superiority of the white man to the black African.

Although thanks to the application of Darwinian biology to social theory in the late-nineteenth and twentieth century thought, there is little doubt that racism becomes an endemic problem in the progressive mindset, it appears that Conrad is less interested in that than the more profound concern with the depravity of the human heart.

Darkness and shadows pervade the entire novella, and Conrad's terms of description are consistently ambiguous, suggesting that for all the apparent clarity and 'progress' of Enlightenment rationalism, the moral ambiguity of the entire project is such that all its enterprises are shadowed in a gathering darkness.

Even its 'hero' Marlowe's judgments are questionable in their equivocation and apology for conquest, and in his claim that his contemporaries' colonialism is 'saved by efficiency'. This form of 'salvation' seems to me a more thoroughgoing indictment than that of the mere 'robbery with violence' with which he charges the Romans who conquered Britain.

[savagecutts]

It's a great novel, but I don't know how you can deny the racist descriptions of Africans in it. Marlow says watching the helmsman steer was like looking at a dog "in a parody of breeches." And that's just one of many examples.

[kaane]

Many thanks Mr. Masson, love and respect from Turkey.

[davidmusicmaker]

This is a powerful, objective analysis. From the outset Conrad's words depict a darkness that pervades even the most seemingy illuminated or enlightened among us. The bulk of the novella's introduction is emphatic in juxtaposing the virtues of light against a light-depriving darkness. Conrad's is a forceful and rich presentation that sets the tone for what is to come.

[Jademeia]

Hi Dr.Masson, thank you for explaining the actual text! From the outset I also got that Marlowe was not typical he seemed to be more of a deep thinker. I also thought his description of the Congolese woman was poetic and beautiful (later in the book) . I’ll definitely be back for more of your videos as I make my way through the book. Thanks so much!

[annafabjanczyk]

Sir, thank You very much for Your lectures, I find them very helpful in my studies.Greeting from Eastern Europe( Poland) .

[pauliewalnuts]

Thank you for the lecture. Thank you also for providing context but not making the whole talk about race and colonialism- there seems to be a pattern in modern university teaching of focussing on this (also gender and Marxist theory) at the expense of discussion of the actual text. Had this recently watching a lecture about Othello, where more questions were asked about race and female oppression than the actual play. Best wishes to you, sir

[michaelhall]

11:14. I want to make certain that I’m understanding you correctly here, because I’m quite frankly having a difficult time crediting my ears. Are you suggesting that, prior to Darwin, people did not engage in prejudicial attitudes towards their fellow humans of each and every sort, from petty dislikes to rationalizing generational enslavement and mass murder? Can you possibly be serious?

[kcmuanpuia]

Your connecting Darwin's evolution theory with racism is interesting.

I'm a Christian and to me racism, stated simply, is a major branch of the huge tree of pride in all humans.

It's a manifestation of human pride in relation to race, language and culture. Here too, like in all other areas, some are more prideful than others.

I haven't read the novella yet but I hold the same opinion as yours regarding the (possible) racism of the author.

[elifkareni]

Thank you so much to give us these opportunities to reach your lessons on youtube. Thank you again and again sir, stay safr and healthy!

[AudioPervert]

Given the book and the author are much celebrated and cult. However many african scholars, africa based revisionists and even european scholars deem J. Conrad an archtype euro-racist writer. Who's vision of africa and it's peoples vastly beautiful diversity was but deeply botched and flawed.