Perspectives on Colonialism

After reading Heart of Darkness, I feel like I have gained a valuable new perspective on colonialism. Throughout middle school and high school, I learned about the widespread negative effects colonialism has had on the oppressed peoples. However, I have never deeply analyzed the effects the institution has had on the oppressor. Through the narration of Marlow and his peers aboard the ship, I learned how the callous process impacted both parties. Colonialism is without a doubt, a dehumanizing process and I am by no means in support of it. However, many people were thrown into the business for strictly financial reasons, and not because they wanted to exploit the natives. A person’s motives for partaking of the institution were sometimes no indication of his moral beliefs. Of course there were people on the other side of the spectrum who joined the business for racist reasons; they felt superior to the natives and wanted to use the natives’ position to their own advantage. Moreover, the people who acquired land and natives by force were drastically transformed. While the natives were exploited, taken for granted and forced to perform grueling manual labor, the crewmembers also lived dreadful lives. The crewmembers lived in isolation from the real world, were consumed by dark forces, and frequently went mad. I don’t think I would have empathized slightly with the oppressor had I not been introduced to Heart of Darkness.
Marlow’s view of colonialism changed throughout the course of the novel. In Part I, I was not positive if Marlow was in support of colonialism. He stated, “The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.” Yet as he continued speaking, he seemed to justify the practice by speaking of the idea behind it: “What redeems it is the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea- something you can set up and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to…” According to Marlow, in journeying thousands of miles to colonize certain territories, such acquisition was justified by the end result: civilizing the natives. Marlow originally had a profound respect for the “knight-errants” of the sea, the people who ventured out into un-chartered waters to colonize various territories and to bring pride to the mother country. But Marlow grew to despise his peers, his life on the seas, and his observations of the brutal practice of colonialism. I also found it interesting how the description of the natives changed throughout the story. At some points, they were referred to as primitive beings or cannibals. However, Marlow also recognized the humanity and developed a kinship with several of them. I think this flip-flopping of opinions is a result of the personal toll the journey had on the crewmembers (Marlow in particular).
posted by Leslie P.