Scan barcode
jamesthomas79's review against another edition
5.0
This book should be read alongside Heart of Darkness in every school, college and university. I thought I was alone when reading Conrad's classics. I couldn't actually finish the famous novel due to how racist I found it. But when I spoke to others about how the book made me feel, I was made to feel overly sensitive. 'How could this book be racist, it's a classic!' Chinua Achebe artfully and accurately shows us how in this and powerful essay
ostrava's review against another edition
5.0
Brutal. Achebe unapologetically wipes the floor with Conrad and his most ardent defenders.
I still don't think it's unworthy of its fame, and poorly aged or not, who doesn't like a good mystery? But The Heart of Darkness is a flawed one and post-colonial literature such as the one of Achebe helps us see through the projection. Highly recommended.
I still don't think it's unworthy of its fame, and poorly aged or not, who doesn't like a good mystery? But The Heart of Darkness is a flawed one and post-colonial literature such as the one of Achebe helps us see through the projection. Highly recommended.
rosekk's review against another edition
5.0
I've not read Heart of Darkness, but from everything I've heard about it, Achebe's essay on it is more informative, entertaining and socially useful. As for the second essay, it was immensely enjoyable for an essay focussing on political problems. Achebe has the skill to give quite a lot of information in a short space without overwhelming the reader, or really letting you realise just how much your taking in.
ginimeh's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I think I just really didn't get any of it and lack background knowledge
ohnoflora's review against another edition
5.0
Worth reading just for the devastating, well-reasoned critique of Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' and the white European conception of Africa.
andy_acid's review against another edition
3.0
Before coming to the main review I wanna say that even though this book has two essays I have read only one of the i.e Chinua Achebe's criticism of heart of darkness. I can't find the full book in any of my libraries so had the settle for the open-access essay available on the Yale website. I just have finished Conrad's book and obviously, I want to read the racial problem, with it just as some other old classic.
So I am only pointing out the factors that I don't agree with and some points that I highly agree with
Achebe argued that though Heart of Darkness may be critical of colonialism it is also inherently racist in the ways that it depicts African natives. At the time of his lecture, Achebe’s focus on Conrad’s portrayal of natives as savage and inhuman was unique. The lack of communication between the two groups seems to have amplified the notion of treating them as not as equal as a fellow human
Lastly, I think this is accurate he puts it, “Africa is to Europe as the picture is to Dorian Gray"
I am rating this 3.5/5 cause Achebe analysed the plot as too simplistic and bare-boned sometimes.
So I am only pointing out the factors that I don't agree with and some points that I highly agree with
Heart of Darkness projects the image of Africa as "the other world," the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization, a place where man's vaunted intelligence and refinement are finally mocked by triumphant beastiality. The book opens on the River Thames, tranquil, resting, peacefully "at the decline of day after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks." But the actual story will take place on the River Congo, the very antithesis of the Thames. The River Congo is quite decidedly not a River Emeritus. It has rendered no service and enjoys no old-age pension. We are told that "Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world."here I want to point out how can we associate a character's thoughts with the author's main opinion. if you have read the book the speaker here is the protagonist Marlow, who is for 80% of the time spout nonsense and other time he describes the actual scenario and the hypocrisy.
First, she is in her place and so can win Conrad's special brand of approval and second, she fulfills a structural requirement of the story: a savage counterpart to the refined, European woman who will step forth to end the storythe main thing about the two women was emphasised was their function as aesthetic product and the display of wealth. IDK why Achebe thought the European fiancee is portrayed as refined and the African lover was not, their presence was purely symbolic
Weighing the necessity for consistency in the portrayal of the dumb brutes against the sensational advantages of securing their conviction by clear, unambiguous evidence issuing out of their own mouth Conrad chose the latter. As for the announcement of Mr. Kurtz's death by the "insolent black head in the doorway" what better or more appropriate finis could be written to the horror story of that wayward child of civilization who willfully had given his soul to the powers of darkness and "taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land" than the proclamation of his physical death by the forces he had joined?IIRC Marlow was present when Kurtz took his last breath with the dramatic line "the horror! the horror!" but he chickened out for some reason.
Certainly, Conrad had a problem with niggers. His inordinate love of that word itself should be of interest to psychoanalysts.he was portrayed as a poorly educated, racist vain sailor, Idk why he expected that Marlow would give be humane enough.
As I said earlier Conrad did not originate the image of Africa which we find in his book. It was and is the dominant image of Africa in the Western imagination and Conrad merely brought the peculiar gifts of his own mind to bear on it. For reasons which can certainly use close psychological inquiry the West seems to suffer deep anxieties about the precariousness of its civilization and to have a need for constant reassurance by comparison with Africa.obviously their hypocrisy and shortsightedness originated from their lack of confidence among themselves
Achebe argued that though Heart of Darkness may be critical of colonialism it is also inherently racist in the ways that it depicts African natives. At the time of his lecture, Achebe’s focus on Conrad’s portrayal of natives as savage and inhuman was unique. The lack of communication between the two groups seems to have amplified the notion of treating them as not as equal as a fellow human
Lastly, I think this is accurate he puts it, “Africa is to Europe as the picture is to Dorian Gray"
I am rating this 3.5/5 cause Achebe analysed the plot as too simplistic and bare-boned sometimes.
alexjhandra's review against another edition
5.0
A short, but very dense essay. I can only imagine it would make Nigerians feel more feelings than I have felt, as an outsider. But what a deep analysis of a country! Don't let the size fool you!
cornreads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
skersh68's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book last year but ended up not finishing it until now. The Image of Africa consists of two essays...The Image of Africa...Racism in Conrad's The Heart of Darkness. I have not read The Heart of Darkness yet but plan to soon. In this essay, Achebe lashes out at Conrad's racists' remarks that he makes about Africa and the people of Africa. After doing some research I later found out that Achebe wrote another book entitled...Things Fall Apart defending Africa and its people. I also have not read Things Fall Apart so I cannot elaborate or give my opinion. In the second essay entitled...The Trouble with Nigeria, Achebe points out 10 areas specifically that he found wrong with Nigeria and explains how those areas can be fixed. Good leadership is the main focus.
calwhimsey's review against another edition
To begin, I want to express my admiration and respect for Achebe, the father of African literature, and his wonderful lifelong work in pointing out the beauty and the riches of the Nigerian culture, thought and art. Indeed, it had been about time to draw the world's attention to it since the eyes of the "Western" culture sometimes tend to see but dimly through the fog of cultural differences.
However, I believe there are 2 things Achebe was not or did not make much effort to be aware of. First of all, in his essay he praises the missionary Albert Schweizer, who dedicated his life to improving hospitals in Africa, for having said: "The African is indeed my brother but my junior brother." Now, Heart of Darkness was published in 1899. Achebe wrote his essay in 1989. Wouldn't it be appropriate to look at Conrad as at "a junior brother" who was apparently and inevitably influenced by the contemporary thought? If we manage to look at Conrad's writing being well aware of the 19th century zeitgeist and popular beliefs, we might even be surprised how liberal his books were at the time of the publication.
Secondly, Conrad was not a British colonizer. Joseph Conrad was Polish, born in Polish Ukraine occupied (or shall I say colonized?) by the Russian Empire. Conrad grew up in Poland and did not even speak English until his early 20s, which is sufficient for his national identity to be deeply rooted in his soul and mind. The Poles are a nation which was repeatedly colonized (although this word is sadly not in popular use for the East European nations, maybe it's finally time to call things their proper names?) by the neighbouring nations. Conrad spent many years trying to get rid of his Russian citizenship in exchange for the British one, which he surely perceived as an escape to safety. Therefore he was not part of the imperialistic machinerie, quite the contrary, he was himself victim of imperialism and even denounced colonialism in his Heart of Darkness - using the means and thoughts available to him.
In my opinion, Chinua Achebe and Joseph Conrad have more in common than either of them would have expected.
However, I believe there are 2 things Achebe was not or did not make much effort to be aware of. First of all, in his essay he praises the missionary Albert Schweizer, who dedicated his life to improving hospitals in Africa, for having said: "The African is indeed my brother but my junior brother." Now, Heart of Darkness was published in 1899. Achebe wrote his essay in 1989. Wouldn't it be appropriate to look at Conrad as at "a junior brother" who was apparently and inevitably influenced by the contemporary thought? If we manage to look at Conrad's writing being well aware of the 19th century zeitgeist and popular beliefs, we might even be surprised how liberal his books were at the time of the publication.
Secondly, Conrad was not a British colonizer. Joseph Conrad was Polish, born in Polish Ukraine occupied (or shall I say colonized?) by the Russian Empire. Conrad grew up in Poland and did not even speak English until his early 20s, which is sufficient for his national identity to be deeply rooted in his soul and mind. The Poles are a nation which was repeatedly colonized (although this word is sadly not in popular use for the East European nations, maybe it's finally time to call things their proper names?) by the neighbouring nations. Conrad spent many years trying to get rid of his Russian citizenship in exchange for the British one, which he surely perceived as an escape to safety. Therefore he was not part of the imperialistic machinerie, quite the contrary, he was himself victim of imperialism and even denounced colonialism in his Heart of Darkness - using the means and thoughts available to him.
In my opinion, Chinua Achebe and Joseph Conrad have more in common than either of them would have expected.