Corruption Of Imperialism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of...

It can be said that we as humans have the potential for both good and evil, and that perhaps one trait will prevail over the other when placed in a certain situation. When a person is placed in an unfamiliar and unforgiving setting, they may be introduced to corruption that is present in this situation, possibly causing them to act in a corrupt manner. However, some individuals may maintain their integrity in corrupt situations, and therefore not become corrupt themselves. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad relates to both the idea that an individual can become corrupt in a corrupt environment, and that some individuals can uphold their integrity in a corrupt situation. Both of these reactions can be seen in the main characters of Heart of†¦show more content†¦The symbolism of the ivory further shows how Kurtz has become corrupt, in that his â€Å"outer appearance† is that of civility and morality, whereas his â€Å"inner appearance† is that of corruption and g reed. In addition to Kurtz greed, it can be said that he has become corrupt in that he uses violent means in order to satisfy his greed for ivory. Kurtz’ violent actions can be seen when Marlow describes the dissevered heads in front of Kurtz’ quarters as â€Å"symbolic† rather than â€Å"ornamental†(133). This description of the heads shows the extent to which Kurtz is willing to go in order to obtain ivory and fuel his greed. The symbolism of the heads is once again important in that they are described as â€Å"dark†and having â€Å"shrunken dry lips†. When these descriptions are in connection to Kurtz, it can be interpreted that the darkness is representative of Kurtzs corruption, as dark colours are normally associated with corruption and evil, and the dryness of their lips can be seen as relating to the meaninglessness of Kurtz’s eloquent words in relation to his uncivil actions. However, despite obvious signs of corruption in K urtz, there are still some aspects of him that can be seen as showing integrity. The most prominent example of this is his ability to be truthful about the darkness and corruption in the Congo when most of the other imperialists cannot. His ability to tell theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Hearts of Darkness: Post Colonialism850 Words   |  4 PagesWrite a critique of Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, based on your reading about post-colonialism and discussing Conrads view of African culture as other. What would someone from Africa think about this work? Heart of Darkness starts out in London and also ends there as well. Most of the story takes place in the Congo which is now known as the Republic of the Congo. Heart of Darkness was essentially a transitional novel between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. 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