The amount of racism present in the novel was (I believe)
not due to Conrad's beliefs as an individual. When considering other works
that have historically stood in the face of racism (such as Uncle Tom's Cabin), the controversy
might have overshadowed the story itself if he had attempted to make a blatant
social statement with the text. I believe Conrad was writing to capture the mindset
of the time, not to belittle the African people--the rest of the
world knew so little about the continent at the time that it was
impossible not to use our imaginations to fill in what we didn't
know. Marlow's character represents the common Englishman's beliefs
and opinions of the period, which paints a social portrait that straight
history might’ve not able to explain. Was ethnocentrism England’s fault?
I don’t think so. Being racist in today’s society is a choice, but it’s
imperative to understand that the only way we can initially perceive
a new culture is through the eyes of our own. Now that Africa and its
indigenous people are no longer a mystery, refusing to see through their eyes
is denial, not mere ignorance. The American colonists mistreated the
Native Americans for the same reasons. Using this text as a history
lesson can be useful in yielding many sociological clues to the lifestyle of
the English during this time.
The racial words used in the story may be a way of identification of a group of people. Mark Twain used racial words when describing his character's, not because he himself was a racist, granted he did agree with slavery early in his life, but later he change his perception of slavery, after witnessing some of the brutal practices of the foremen, slave drivers. Conrad is reflecting his times. Everyone classifies their self in some way, shape, or form whether its race, religion, ancestry, class, sex, or even grades. People naturally compare themselves to others. Perhaps it is a fault in mankind to be racist or prejudice or even to judge one another. However it remains unclear whether it is nature or it is nurture that motivates our words and actions. Marlow volunteers to captain a steamboat in a land shrouded in mystery. He also breaks bread with one of the "savages" in the "Grove of Death." It may be that Conrad is suggesting that we can overcome our differences and corroborate humanity, collaborate with one another, and even share and take communion together. The issue isn't nature or nurture. The issue is, can human beings master their own perceptions to see and to think clearly on the reasons for the boundaries between us? We are from the same origin. It really comes down to the one, too two percent of our DNA that says we are unique from each other. We are branches of the same tree. Distant, yes, but we are all related in some way, one way is we are human.
ReplyDeleteAbby, I some what agree when you say that "the amount of racism present in the novel was (I believe)not due to Conrad's beliefs as an individual." While Conrad was righting to "capture the mindset of the time" I believe that his views had a little something to do with his writing. Most people have trouble putting their views aside and not voicing their opinions on something they feel strongly about. I believe that is what Conrad is doing in the novel.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for, unlike so many other people, not being "tempo-centric." Others seem to judge the content of this book not by the time when it was written but by the time it was read, an obvious fallacy. It's interesting that you mention Uncle Tom's Cabin, though, since the controversy of that book has overshadowed its anti-slavery message.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that being racist in modern society is a choice? I'm not so quick to make that judgment. Imagine the person growing up in the rural south where only a few, if any, black people live. Their parents subtly influence their children's behaviors through their own. Racism may be taught, but that doesn't mean you can escape it unless someone shows you the exit. I don't know if people can transcend their nests so easily.
Abby, I think you make an interesting point about racism being a choice. Like Ben, however, I'm not sure how totally I can agree. People are certainly shaped heavily by their environments, and I think the most insidious racism (or sexism, etc) comes from a place of unconscious prejudice which requires a lot of self-examination to remove.
ReplyDeleteThat, however, creates a problem. If everyone's racism is simply a product of their society, how can we object to racism? The people who do it generally find themselves justified--no one wants to see themselves as the bad guy, and many more problematic beliefs come from a good place--the concept of "the white man's burden" developed from genuine attempts to help people, in some cases. Yet these beliefs are damaging, no matter how innocent the origin.
The only solution to this conundrum that I see is the conclusion that intent and choice matter less than harmful nature of the actual attitudes expressed.