Achebe

I agree hands down with Achebe that Conrad does come off as being an racist person. Through out the story Conrad constantly be Little's the African race. Conrad sees the Africans as being lower than dirt and that as we all can see is low. He made many statements in the story that where down right ignorant. For example, " what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity---- like yours- Ugly" (p 34). Conrad said out plainly that he looked at the Africans as though they where aliens from another planet yet another display of his constant downing of the Black race.

Moreover, as Achebe pointed out as I read Conrad's constant usage of referencing to Africans as "Niggers" was so disrespectful and very offensive . For it is Conrad that looks stupid and ignorant through out his journey. I wondered if maybe he couldn't see or think straight until he started talking so highly of his race. For example, "(his) calves exposed to the public gaze . . . dazzled the beholder by the splendor of their marble-like condition and their rich tone of young ivory. . . . The light of a headlong, exalted satisfaction with the world of men. . . illumined his face. . . and triumphant eyes. In passing he cast a glance of kindly curiosity and a friendly gleam of big, sound, shiny teeth. . . his white calves twinkled sturdily(P 29). I wondered why Conrad couldn't see the same beauty in Africans as he saw while describing his people.


At the end of reading the story and the analysis of Achebe just brought it home that Conrad is a racist because of his story. Maybe someone can make me see it differently but for now my opinion remains as follows.