Read the excerpt from "An Image of Africa: Racism in
Conrad's Heart of Darkness."
In my original conception of this essay I had thought to
conclude it nicely on an appropriately positive note in
which I would suggest from my privileged position in
African and Western cultures some advantages the
West might derive from Africa once it rid its mind of old
prejudices and began to look at Africa not through a haze
of distortions and cheap mystifications but quite simply
as a continent of people-not angels, but not
rudimentary souls either-just people, often highly gifted
people and often strikingly successful in their enterprise
with life and society.
Read the excerpt from Heart of Darkness.
And between whiles I had to look after the savage who
was fireman. He was an improved specimen; he could
fire up a vertical boiler. He was there below me, and,
How are the writers' views different in these excerpts?
O Conrad presents all Africans as mechanically gifted,
while Achebe does not.
O Achebe presents Africans as prejudiced, while
Conrad presents them as unbiased.
O Conrad values those who excel, while Achebe values
only everyday people.
O Achebe understands Africans as complex people,
while Conrad presents them as caricatures.