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adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Honestly, this was a disgusting read. I understand for the time it very much exposed a lot of the horrors of the ivory trade but even its protagonists are wrought with colonialism, racism, and sexism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation
Moderate: Cannibalism
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read for my history class.
what the hell was this,,,,not only is it just a book of racism with absolutely no critique, it's just so boring good lord. i'm so glad to be done with this.
what the hell was this,,,,not only is it just a book of racism with absolutely no critique, it's just so boring good lord. i'm so glad to be done with this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
His was an impenetrable darkness.
Oof! This is very good, and I'm glad I waited until I knew more of the history of the Belgian Congo to read it (although I don't think it's necessary by any means).
I think it's definitely important to distinguish between Conrad's voice and Marlow's. The depiction of the native Congolese is racist, but Marlow's commentary is (I believe) intended to highlight the brutality and mistreatment, not to endorse the colonial perspective of primeval savagery. Though there are still valid criticisms to be made.
Kurtz is an Eldritch being, a rotting numen at the heart of the European presence. And it is the Europeans who are the darkness in the heart of Africa, not the unmapped places or the native people, but the brutal greed and supremacy. The capitals of Europe, those sepulchral cities, are as dark - or darker - than 'darkest Africa'.
And as contemptuous as Kurtz is, the company - with its nameless factotums - has no qualms about reaping profits until he is deemed 'unsound'. Capitalism is, and always will be, amoral.
Oof! This is very good, and I'm glad I waited until I knew more of the history of the Belgian Congo to read it (although I don't think it's necessary by any means).
I think it's definitely important to distinguish between Conrad's voice and Marlow's. The depiction of the native Congolese is racist, but Marlow's commentary is (I believe) intended to highlight the brutality and mistreatment, not to endorse the colonial perspective of primeval savagery. Though there are still valid criticisms to be made.
Kurtz is an Eldritch being, a rotting numen at the heart of the European presence. And it is the Europeans who are the darkness in the heart of Africa, not the unmapped places or the native people, but the brutal greed and supremacy. The capitals of Europe, those sepulchral cities, are as dark - or darker - than 'darkest Africa'.
And as contemptuous as Kurtz is, the company - with its nameless factotums - has no qualms about reaping profits until he is deemed 'unsound'. Capitalism is, and always will be, amoral.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Murder, Colonisation
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this was really interesting being able to see first-hand what it was like to be in Africa during the scramble for Africa era. very informative and very crazy. you learn about it in school, but you really learn about it in school, just kind of what happens on the outside, yk? not what its like in Africa. Especially from a white guy who still has enough of his humanity to be at least a little disturbed by some of the things the white people were already doing.
maya jasanoff did so good with her afterword for this edition, beautifully done.
maya jasanoff did so good with her afterword for this edition, beautifully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Racism, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this is my second time reading this story and my opinion is kinda split. while I can understand it being considered a well written book, I cannot ignore the racism in it.
the descriptions in the story really are what's appealing about it to me and the only reasons I've reread it (read it once in uni). the descriptive parts about nature are interrupted by the racism of the times, often dehumanising black people (e.g. reducing them to body parts). I understand that Conrad was condemning colonialism (also based on his own experiences with is) but the racist parts should not be entirely ignored simply because of it.
the essays printed in this version of the book really add to the reading experience and offer some deeper perspectives into the story. Especially Chinua Achebe's essay points out that the racial aspects of the story have been ignored for a long time, so I recommend giving it a read.
the descriptions in the story really are what's appealing about it to me and the only reasons I've reread it (read it once in uni). the descriptive parts about nature are interrupted by the racism of the times, often dehumanising black people (e.g. reducing them to body parts). I understand that Conrad was condemning colonialism (also based on his own experiences with is) but the racist parts should not be entirely ignored simply because of it.
the essays printed in this version of the book really add to the reading experience and offer some deeper perspectives into the story. Especially Chinua Achebe's essay points out that the racial aspects of the story have been ignored for a long time, so I recommend giving it a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an assigned reading novel. I understand it’s significance but by god is the prose boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Cannibalism
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation