A review by hangsangareader
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book is a difficult one. It will force you to use your head, as we can read it differently; there is so much meaning behind it, and we don't have access to Conrad himself to satisfy our concerns about this story. Was he indeed a "bloody racist," or was he trying to hint at some terrible ideology and way of thinking about his contemporaneity? It's difficult for me to say. I read Achebe's essay and see his point, but also, how can Achebe be sure of Conrad's intentions and his genuine way of thinking? 

This story is well written; the more you reread it, the more you can get out of it—the constant reference to darkness and its meanings, the exposition of ideas of biological racism, and social Darwinism. Marlow's ambiguity, at times, can make us doubt his stance. 

I had to read this for my English History and Culture class and loved the discussions that came out of it. We also watched an episode of<i>Exterminate All the Brutes</i>  and the documentary <i>African Apocalypse</i>. Interesting and inspired by this story. 
I'm excited to read the essays within this version of the book and deepen my knowledge of this history.