Comments for English 375 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net Love, Time, & the Exotic in Literature, Summer 2006 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:31:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by Ashley http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-745 Ashley Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:13:03 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-745 I think one of the main issues with the argument that Conrad's novel is racist, is the fact that Conrad was not writing a story about Africa, or those who lived within it. From a white European male of the time's perspective, he would not no any better and his journey into the Congo makes him question everything he had previously believed. Achebe fails to see the voice that Conrad is creating. This book was not Things Fall Apart, which happens to be one of my favorite novels, but we can not expect everyone to write the same story. There is also a clear undercurrent of skepticism and sarcasm within Marlow's words. He never blindly accepts any of the other white character's opinions of the Africans within the novel. There is also the theme of humanity within the book; Marlow as well as Kurtz see the connection between themselves and those that are being dehumanized, used and neglected because they alone realize that they share the ugliness of humanity. I felt uncomfortable with the way the Africans were portrayed in the novel, but I also had to question what Conrad's intentions were and thus far I have come to a much different conclusion. Has anyone stopped to consider that Conrad perhaps is such an excellent writer that he conveyed these racist ideas without actually believing them himself? I suppose I am just frustrated with the fact that it appears that racism will never come to an end. I have grown up in a better time and yet I still see the seed of hate and assumed hatred within those of my generation and younger. We should use Conrad as well as Achebe's novels to see past this, not get stuck by the stories they tell. I think one of the main issues with the argument that Conrad’s novel is racist, is the fact that Conrad was not writing a story about Africa, or those who lived within it. From a white European male of the time’s perspective, he would not no any better and his journey into the Congo makes him question everything he had previously believed. Achebe fails to see the voice that Conrad is creating. This book was not Things Fall Apart, which happens to be one of my favorite novels, but we can not expect everyone to write the same story. There is also a clear undercurrent of skepticism and sarcasm within Marlow’s words. He never blindly accepts any of the other white character’s opinions of the Africans within the novel. There is also the theme of humanity within the book; Marlow as well as Kurtz see the connection between themselves and those that are being dehumanized, used and neglected because they alone realize that they share the ugliness of humanity. I felt uncomfortable with the way the Africans were portrayed in the novel, but I also had to question what Conrad’s intentions were and thus far I have come to a much different conclusion. Has anyone stopped to consider that Conrad perhaps is such an excellent writer that he conveyed these racist ideas without actually believing them himself? I suppose I am just frustrated with the fact that it appears that racism will never come to an end. I have grown up in a better time and yet I still see the seed of hate and assumed hatred within those of my generation and younger. We should use Conrad as well as Achebe’s novels to see past this, not get stuck by the stories they tell.

]]> Comment on J.M.W. Turner’s “Slave Ship” (1840) by Dr.D http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/05/30/jmw-turners-slave-ship-1840/#comment-441 Dr.D Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:35:31 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/05/30/jmw-turners-slave-ship-1840/#comment-441 Having rediiscovered this epic art with schama's production ! I have renewed my zeal for the abolition of slavery in my lifetime!! Having descended from kidnap victims and being of the only group of people sans control of their resources of their indigenous lands ALLUTTA CONTINUA!!!!! Question ! What have you done to rectify your ascension upon the amassed profits of your ancestors!!!!! "Don't you hate it when they say on the roadshow" "Oh !it's been in the family for six generations!" A reality stolen from the descendants of euroterror!!!! Thank You!!!! Having rediiscovered this epic art with schama’s production !

I have renewed my zeal for the abolition of slavery in my lifetime!!

Having descended from kidnap victims and being of the only group of people

sans control of their resources of their indigenous lands ALLUTTA CONTINUA!!!!!

Question ! What have you done to rectify your ascension upon the amassed

profits of your ancestors!!!!!

“Don’t you hate it when they say on the roadshow” “Oh !it’s been in the family for

six generations!”

A reality stolen from the descendants of euroterror!!!!

Thank You!!!!

]]> Comment on Map of Nigeria by kingsbol http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/map-of-nigeria/#comment-757 kingsbol Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:56:58 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/map-of-nigeria/#comment-757 i need you to send more maps to my yahoo mail i need you to send more maps to my yahoo mail

]]> Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by Marina http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-720 Marina Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:17:26 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-720 It is not so hard to admit Achebe might be right. By refusing speech to Africans, Conrad is reifying them. Let's also consider the possibility that it is just a symbolic trip to the darkness of the human heart... which consitutes, at the end of the day, another way to deny Africa and Africans their right to exist. Achebe also points to two of the three female characters depicted in the novella, the AFrican woman and Kurtz's intended, as another way of showing how the Conrad reifies Africans. It could not be more obvious the only role of the African woman ("savage, superb, wild-eyed, magnificent" epithets that could be better suited for an animal) is a structural one: a savage counterpart to the delicate European woman (pale head, floating towards me). Also, being an excellent writer does not imply your morals are right or vice versa. For Achebe, a work of art is not a mere beautiful object but it should also be a tool to call our consciences for a change. It is not so hard to admit Achebe might be right. By refusing speech to Africans, Conrad is reifying them. Let’s also consider the possibility that it is just a symbolic trip to the darkness of the human heart… which consitutes, at the end of the day, another way to deny Africa and Africans their right to exist. Achebe also points to two of the three female characters depicted in the novella, the AFrican woman and Kurtz’s intended, as another way of showing how the Conrad reifies Africans. It could not be more obvious the only role of the African woman (”savage, superb, wild-eyed, magnificent” epithets that could be better suited for an animal) is a structural one: a savage counterpart to the delicate European woman (pale head, floating towards me).
Also, being an excellent writer does not imply your morals are right or vice versa. For Achebe, a work of art is not a mere beautiful object but it should also be a tool to call our consciences for a change.

]]> Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by nain http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-716 nain Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:20:22 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-716 Richard: "Just because someone doesn’t consider the humanity of a people does not make them racist." Listen to yourself. Depriving someone of their human-ness and depicting them as merely objects or worse, beasts, is an act of racism. Richard:
“Just because someone doesn’t consider the humanity of a people does not make them racist.”
Listen to yourself.
Depriving someone of their human-ness and depicting them as merely objects or worse, beasts, is an act of racism.

]]> Comment on Protected: Readings by Fanon article is in Class Readings section of blog at ENG 375: http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/readings/#comment-52 Fanon article is in Class Readings section of blog at ENG 375: Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:32:28 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/readings/#comment-52 [...] Readings « Considering Things Fall Apart [...] [...] Readings « Considering Things Fall Apart [...]

]]> Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by Kathryn http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-642 Kathryn Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:31:13 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-642 I find that Achebe's is both correct and incorrect. He is correct in that Africa plays more as a setting but it is also a charcater of sorts. The jungle's of Africa play an important role in the story as do some of the figures that live in the jungle. And while the story does not focus on the Africans that could be simply be because it was written by a white author during a time period when culturs did not mix, not even in literature. I find that Achebe’s is both correct and incorrect. He is correct in that Africa plays more as a setting but it is also a charcater of sorts. The jungle’s of Africa play an important role in the story as do some of the figures that live in the jungle. And while the story does not focus on the Africans that could be simply be because it was written by a white author during a time period when culturs did not mix, not even in literature.

]]> Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by Monica http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-641 Monica Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:30:03 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-641 I am a little confused by this quote. I know he was calling him a racist, but at the same time he was also saying that he was more compassionate to the natives than the Europeans. It almost seems like he is pointing the finger and calling racist but leaving his audience wondering why he felt this way. Also the way he comments on how he is not criticizing his writing but in a sense he is, was like the oxymoron, a sweet blow. You can't call him a racist in one paragraph then in the next say he is an excellent writer with talent. I just don't understand why Heart of Darkness is a racist book, at least not in the way Achebe does. I am a little confused by this quote. I know he was calling him a racist, but at the same time he was also saying that he was more compassionate to the natives than the Europeans. It almost seems like he is pointing the finger and calling racist but leaving his audience wondering why he felt this way. Also the way he comments on how he is not criticizing his writing but in a sense he is, was like the oxymoron, a sweet blow. You can’t call him a racist in one paragraph then in the next say he is an excellent writer with talent. I just don’t understand why Heart of Darkness is a racist book, at least not in the way Achebe does.

]]> Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by emily http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-640 emily Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:26:28 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-640 I do not think that I entirely agree with Achebe. While the points he makes are valid, I disagree with the fact that Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a racist novella. On the other hand, I do understand Achebe's point that it is a novel that regards one man's mental deterioration, with Africa as its setting. However, when Conrad discusses the natives as chained together, I find that the emotion he revokes is sympathy and sadness towards them. Also, he blatantly makes the Eldorado company look like the "bad guys" since they are the ones who are pulling the treasures from the land. I do not think that any of Conrad's words are racist, especially not intentionally. I do not think that I entirely agree with Achebe. While the points he makes are valid, I disagree with the fact that Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a racist novella. On the other hand, I do understand Achebe’s point that it is a novel that regards one man’s mental deterioration, with Africa as its setting. However, when Conrad discusses the natives as chained together, I find that the emotion he revokes is sympathy and sadness towards them. Also, he blatantly makes the Eldorado company look like the “bad guys” since they are the ones who are pulling the treasures from the land. I do not think that any of Conrad’s words are racist, especially not intentionally.

]]> Comment on From Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’” by Richard http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-639 Richard Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:26:08 +0000 http://engl375s06.jimgroom.net/2006/06/07/from-chinua-achebes-an-image-of-africa-racism-in-conrads-heart-of-darkness/#comment-639 I think Achebe's opinion on Conrad is correct in the fact that he abandons making Africans into anything other than objects in Heart of Darkness, but I do not think this neccessarily makes him a racist. Just because someone doesn't consider the humanity of a people does not make them racist, but does not mean they are not ignorant. Conrad wants to emphasize that Kurtz has been destroyed by a lack humanity, but he could have just as easily had the story happen in the Amazon, or in the Far East. Chinua 's assessment is probably based on some other elements of racism where he is so willing to dish out the word. All it makes me think of is when someone believes another person does not like him or her and therefore that person is a racist. The story is a universal one and Conrad's lack of sensitivity is nothing more than using the generally unknown to tell a larger story that is nothing as trivial as a race story. I think Achebe’s opinion on Conrad is correct in the fact that he abandons making Africans into anything other than objects in Heart of Darkness, but I do not think this neccessarily makes him a racist. Just because someone doesn’t consider the humanity of a people does not make them racist, but does not mean they are not ignorant. Conrad wants to emphasize that Kurtz has been destroyed by a lack humanity, but he could have just as easily had the story happen in the Amazon, or in the Far East. Chinua ’s assessment is probably based on some other elements of racism where he is so willing to dish out the word. All it makes me think of is when someone believes another person does not like him or her and therefore that person is a racist. The story is a universal one and Conrad’s lack of sensitivity is nothing more than using the generally unknown to tell a larger story that is nothing as trivial as a race story.

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