Jojo
Södertörns högskola | Institutionen för kultur och kommunikation Kandidatuppsats 15 hp | Engelska | Vårterminen 2010
Critical responses to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Critical responses to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Av: Morgan Svensson Handledare: Erik Falk
Abstract:
This essay will revolve around the critical reception of Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness. The focus will be on three primary sources: firstly, the early critical reception and how the novella was received when it was originally published in 1902, secondly, Chinua 's famous critique in 1977 when he called Conrad a racist and condemned both the author and the novella, and thirdly, Said 's defence and contextualization of Conrad’s novella in 1992. The essay will explore how the critics have been influenced and from what standpoints they have entered into the debate on Conrad and show how the discussion has changed over time. Furthermore, it will show that the early responses ignore the ‘race’ aspect because ‘race-thinking’ was seen as something natural. It will also explain why Achebe might feel so strongly against Conrad. He is after all fighting for a strong African identity after the colonies gained their independence. Said defends and contextualizes Conrad as a creature of his time. Finally, the essay will discuss and contrast the critics, concluding that each critique is highly influenced by the time-period in which it was written.
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CRITICAL RESPONSES TO JOSEPH CONRAD’S HEART OF DARKNESS ............ 1 Abstract: ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction: .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Critical responses:
Critical responses to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Critical responses to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Av: Morgan Svensson Handledare: Erik Falk
Abstract:
This essay will revolve around the critical reception of Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness. The focus will be on three primary sources: firstly, the early critical reception and how the novella was received when it was originally published in 1902, secondly, Chinua 's famous critique in 1977 when he called Conrad a racist and condemned both the author and the novella, and thirdly, Said 's defence and contextualization of Conrad’s novella in 1992. The essay will explore how the critics have been influenced and from what standpoints they have entered into the debate on Conrad and show how the discussion has changed over time. Furthermore, it will show that the early responses ignore the ‘race’ aspect because ‘race-thinking’ was seen as something natural. It will also explain why Achebe might feel so strongly against Conrad. He is after all fighting for a strong African identity after the colonies gained their independence. Said defends and contextualizes Conrad as a creature of his time. Finally, the essay will discuss and contrast the critics, concluding that each critique is highly influenced by the time-period in which it was written.
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CRITICAL RESPONSES TO JOSEPH CONRAD’S HEART OF DARKNESS ............ 1 Abstract: ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction: .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Critical responses:
Cited: Primary source: Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. Editor Armstong. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. Print. Secondary sources: Achebe, Chinua. “An Image of Africa” in Things Fall Apart: A Norton Critical Edition. Ed Francis Abiola Irele.1st Edition. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 169-81. Print. Agatucci, Cora eds. African Timelines. Central Oregon Community College. 02 January 2010. Web 27 May 2010. Appiah, Kwame Anthony. In my Father 's House. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 1992. Print. Armstrong, Paul B. Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. Print. Benita, Parry. “The instituationalization of postcolonial studies” in The Cambridge Companion to Postcolonial Literary Studies. Cambridge University Press. 2004. 66-82. Print. Brantlinger, Patrick. “Imperialism, Impressionism, and the Politics of Style” (1988) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 386-95. Print. Brooks, Peter. “An Unreadable Report: Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” (1984) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 376-86. Print. Gilroy, Paul. Small Acts. London: Serpent Tail. 1994. Print. 18 Guerard, Albert J. “The Journey Within” (1958) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 326-36 Print. Firchow, Peter Edgerly. “Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, Empire” (2000) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 233-41. Print. Harris, Wilson. “The Frontier on Which Heart of Darkness Stands.” Research in Afrian Literature 12.1 (Spring 1981): 86-93. Hawkins, Hunt. “Heart of Darkness and Racism” (1982) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 365-75. Print. Hawthorn, Jeremy. “The Women of Heart of Darkness” (1990) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 405-15. Print. McLeod, John. Beginning Postcolonialism. New York: Manchester University Press. 2000. Print. Miller, Joseph Hillis. “Heart of Darkness Revisited” in Heart of Darkness. Ed Ross C Murfin. 2nd ed. New York: Bedford Books. 1996. 206-20. Print. Murfin, Ross C. Heart of Darkness. New York: Bedford/St. Martin 's. 1996. Print. Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. Print. Torgovnick, Marianna. “Primitivism and the African Woman in Heart of Darkness” (1990) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 396-405. Print. Watt, Ian. “Impressionism and Symbolism in Heart of Darkness” (1979) in Heart of Darkness: A Norton Critical Edition. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 349-65. Print. 19