The European characters in the novel often view the African characters as inferior. For example, Marlow's initial perception of the natives is influenced by the colonial mindset. He sees them as part of the 'darkness' that needs to be civilized.
Well, in 'Heart of Darkness', many of the European characters act as colonizers. Kurtz is a prime example. He goes into the Congo with the intention of making a name for himself in the colonial enterprise. He uses the native Africans as his workforce for ivory collection. He doesn't see them as equals but as means to his end of achieving wealth and power in the colonial context. The other European characters also either support or are complicit in this exploitation of the Africans, which clearly shows the colonialist nature of the novel through its characters.
The native characters in Heart of Darkness are symbols as well. They are often presented as a mass, representing the 'primitive' that the Europeans both fear and are attracted to. They are a contrast to the European characters, highlighting the differences in culture and the supposed 'civilized' nature of the Europeans. But as the story progresses, we see that the Europeans' so - called civilization is just a thin veneer, and the natives' simplicity may hold more truth about human nature. In a way, they are symbols of the real, uncorrupted state that the Europeans have lost.
It portrays the Congo as a place for the Europeans to exploit. The white colonizers are shown as having power over the native Africans. They view the land and its people as resources for their own economic and imperial gains.
Heart of Darkness can be seen as an anti-colonialist work. It shows the darkness within the colonial enterprise and questions the supposed benefits and righteousness of colonial expansion.
Yes, it is. Heart of Darkness is widely regarded as an anti-colonialist novel as it critiques the negative impacts and moral corruption associated with colonialism.
The story's meaning is also related to the concept of alienation. Marlow is alienated from the society he came from during his journey. He sees the hollowness of the so - called civilized world. This alienation makes him question his own values and the values of the society around him. It's a story that makes the reader think about how individuals can become detached from the values they once held dear in the face of new and disturbing experiences.
The detectives themselves are often very interesting characters. They usually have unique quirks. For instance, Hercule Poirot with his fastidiousness and his little grey cells. These quirks make them stand out and be memorable.
The complex and fragmented narrative structure of Heart of Darkness contributes to its classification as a modernist novel. It doesn't follow a linear plot, which was unconventional at the time.
There are multiple factors. Firstly, the language used to describe the African characters is demeaning. They are not treated as equal humans. Secondly, the power dynamics in the story always put the white characters in a superior position over the Africans. And thirdly, the overall atmosphere of the novel seems to suggest that Africa needs to be 'civilized' by the white man, which is a common and offensive colonial - racist idea. This shows that the novel is deeply influenced by the racist ideology of its time.
The journey in Heart of Darkness. Marlow sails into the heart of Africa, which is like a different world. The strange landscapes and the sense of the unknown make it an adventure.
One element is the portrayal of the power imbalance. The colonizers in the novel have all the power over the colonized Africans. They can decide the fate of the natives, which is a typical situation in colonial times.