9. Discuss your views on the racism inherent (or not) in Conrad’s novella. What implications does this have for reading, teaching, and its place in the canon?
While the racism and inhumane actions within Heart of Darkness make many readers, including myself, very uncomfortable and angry, it is important to take into consideration how the racism is a part of that time period. One cannot simply ignore the fact that racism occurred and that it was a social norm. Its crudeness gives valuable lessons and invites the readers to reflect on themselves. To tell students and teachers that they are not allowed to study the novel takes these lessons away. It also demeans the history itself. To turn a blind eye is to say that the event does not matter. It is to say that the event did not occur. In order to gain insight and wisdom that helps shape the future, one must delve into the gross, nasty topics. As we discussed in class, art offends. One of the main purposes of art is to inspire reflection and reaction.
One could bicker back and forth on whether Conrad was racist, but in the long run that is not of importance. Most people in that day and age were what we would consider racist. What matters is that we take the lessons presented to us in the novel and learn from them. It is important we look inside ourselves and study our own hearts of darkness. Without the racism, there would be no lesson. And without the lesson, we would stay in the dark.
I totally agree with your view point on the blunt racism in the book, it was incredibly uncomfortable and upsetting to read, but that was a part of the period and the treatment of the Africans in the novel shows who really are the dark characters. Plus if Conrad had not depicted the racism as he did it would call into question the accuracy of the novel, because basic history does not teach us that the Europeans came over and everything was happy and good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your blog post on the view that there is indeed wrongful racism throughout the book, as well as your comment that this racism is no reason to shield people from this book. Without proof of wrongdoing, there is no way to learn from the past, and it is my belief that history provides the wonderful gift of allowing future generations to learn from past mistakes. Turning a blind eye would be an incredibly foolish decision. The lessons provided within the book certainly have merit and should not be discredited.
ReplyDeleteI agree when you say that the racism makes you uncomfortable, but I too think it does not take away from the art of the literature. Art should be thought provoking and make some people uncomfortable. Your blog made me think of how people create "banned books" list to keep children from reading them. While the content may not what we all want to hear, it is a work of art, and has value to it simply in the fact that it provokes thought.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with what you wrote. The way Marlow talked about the natives also made me uncomfortable, but, as you said, art offends. It is meant to make people think and question why things happen. After some research done on the time period, it came to my attention the racism in the novel was actually mild when considered in the context of the period. Some people also seem to ignore that whites are not the only people who enslaved others. African tribes would take over other tribes and either kill the other members, or keep them as work and sex slaves. It is not a matter of color, but a matter of human character. Instinct tells us we need to be more powerful that others or we will be killed. What better way to exert that power than by showing someone else you control them and they cannot change it?
ReplyDeleteWe read to learn , and learning does not mean subscribing to ideas presented, but discussing, considering, and reflecting upon them. In fact, your psot reminds me of this quote,
ReplyDelete"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
Aristotle
Because of our comfort in our capacity to think rationally and be educated we are able to handle such sensitive issues in the context of literature. to deny us this in protecting our minds or even ceasing to offend others should be considered insulting to our intellectuality.