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A review by requiredreading
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“The Horror! The Horror!”
These words from Kurtz summarize the impact of unrestrained brutality by European colonialists on the people and countries of the African continent. And the words summarize the self-assessment Kurtz offers of his own misshapen soul in light of the horrors he committed. Problematic today and to be read with a large grain of salt in terms of its racial politics, this novel’s prose still transports the reader into a powerful narrative dimension unlike much else I’ve read before.
These words from Kurtz summarize the impact of unrestrained brutality by European colonialists on the people and countries of the African continent. And the words summarize the self-assessment Kurtz offers of his own misshapen soul in light of the horrors he committed. Problematic today and to be read with a large grain of salt in terms of its racial politics, this novel’s prose still transports the reader into a powerful narrative dimension unlike much else I’ve read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism