Heart-of-Darkness读后感

HeartofDarkness读后感HeartofDarknessisafamousbookwhichiswrittenbyJosephConrad.Thebookhasseveralthemesandwechoseoneofthemtoanalyze---thehypocrisyofimperialismorthecriticismofcolonialism.HeartofDarknessexplorestheissuessurroundingimperialismincomplicatedways.AsMarlowtravelsfromtheOuterStationtotheCentralStationandfinallyuptherivertotheInnerStation,heencountersscenesoftorture,cruelty,andnear-slavery.Forinstance,“Theywerecalledcriminals,andtheoutragedlaw,liketheburstingshells,hadcometothem,aninsolublemysteryfromthesea.”Attheveryleast,theincidentalsceneryofthebookoffersaharshpictureofcolonialenterprise.TheimpetusbehindMarlow’sadventures,too,hastodowiththehypocrisyinherentintherhetoricusedtojustifyimperialism.ThemenwhoworkfortheCompanydescribewhattheydoas“trade,”andtheirtreatmentofnativeAfricansispartofabenevolentprojectof“civilization.”Butwhattheyactuallydoistakingpainstotaketreasurebyforceandviolence.Wecanseethisfrom“ifalotofmysteriousniggersarmedwithallkindsoffearfulweaponssuddenlytooktotravellingontheroadbetweenDealandGravesend,catchingtheyokelsrightandlefttocarryheavyloadsforthem,Ifancyeveryfarmandcottagethereaboutswouldgetemptyverysoon.”Kurtz,ontheotherhand,isopenaboutthefactthathedoesnottradebutrathertakesivorybyforce,andhedescribeshisowntreatmentofthenativeswiththewords“suppression”and“extermination”:hedoesnothidethefactthatherulesthroughviolenceandintimidation.Hisperversehonestyleadstohisdownfall,ashissuccessthreatenstoexposetheevilpracticesbehindEuropeanactivityinAfrica.However,forMarlowasmuchasforKurtzorfortheCompany,Africansinthisbookaremostlyobjects:Marlowreferstohishelmsmanasapieceofmachinery,andKurtz’sAfricanmistressisatbestapieceofstatuary.ItcanbearguedthatHeartofDarknessparticipatesinanoppressionofnonwhitesthatismuchmoresinisterandmuchhardertoremedythantheopenabusesofKurtzortheCompany’smen.AfricansbecomeforMarlowamerebackdrop,ahumanscreenagainstwhichhecanplayouthisphilosophicalandexistentialstruggles.Theirexistenceandtheirexoticismenablehisself-contemplation.Thiskindofdehumanizationishardertoidentifythancolonialviolenceoropenracism.WhileHeartofDarknessoffersapowerfulcondemnationofthehypocriticaloperationsofimperialism,italsopresentsasetofissuessurroundingracethatisultimatelytroubling.Ontheotherhand,wealsofoundasymbol,fogthatcontributestothistheme.Fogisasortofcorollarytodarkness.Fognotonlyobscuresbutdistorts:itgivesonejustenoughinformationtobeginmakingdecisionsbutnowaytojudgetheaccuracyofthatinformation,whichoftenendsupbeingwrong.Marlow’ssteameriscaughtinthefog,meaningthathehasnoideawherehe’sgoingandnoideawhetherperiloropenwaterliesahead.Andthefurthermeaningiswhatseemstoberight,justandenlightenednowareactuallywrong,unjustandguilty.Inconclusion,oneofthethemeinHeartofDarknessisthehypocrisyofimperialism.Throughthistheme,JosephConradwanttorevealthecrueltywhichiscoveredbycivilizationandthedarknesswhichishiddenunderthewhiteskin.