Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness

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A 6 page essay that discusses racism within Joseph Conrad’s 1903 novel Heart of Darkness, which is generally acknowledged as a literary classic due to the insight that Conrad provides into the human psyche. In many ways, Conrad foreshadowed the atrocities committed in the twentieth century by offering an explanation for Kurtz’s descent into barbarity. This aspect of the novel is undisputed by scholarship. However, there is debate concerning whether or not Conrad’s text is racist in the manner in which Conrad makes this point. Citing Chinua Achebe, the writer discusses this debate, siding with Achebe. Bibliography lists 7 sources.