"Inscriptions of Resistance in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness" (original) (raw)

A Psychoanalytic criticism of Heart of Darkness from the Freudian perspective

Introduction Geographical discoveries and economic developments from the sixteenth to nineteenth and to the early half of twentieth centuries deeply influenced to every field of life from the politic to the literature, cultures and the lifestyles of people. The geographical discoveries and the need of imperial powers for the markets changed the balance. As the results of changes during the 16 th century, some governments such as Portugal, Russia, France and England became the great powers of the world in terms of colonialism and imperialism. Besides discovering new lands and markets they also advanced technologically that enabled them to dominate over their colonies. The aim of this study is to explain colonialism, imperialism and capitalism and their relationships. The colonization process will be discussed in terms of historical development and how it was started. In addition, colonialism process will be explained through its causes and effects. The study aims to focus on fifteenth and sixteenth century colonial period accepted as the beginning of modern colonialism and to emphasize the colonial and imperial ideologies of western nations not only among the Africans but also through the other parts of the world. The relationship between colonizer and colonized people will be discussed as a subject matter that shows different features in different periods of time. Decolonization is defined as the separation of the colonies from their colonizers. This works aims to represent changes and developments during the decolonization which cannot be associated with a certain period of time. The basic concepts related to the nineteenth century ideologies and attitudes of West toward Africans will be examined and discussed in order to clarify basic ideas that the novel reveals to the readers. Joseph Conrad's experiences of his childhood related to imperialism and colonialism, and the harsh circumstances that he witnessed will be discussed. The politic, and economic problems that change the way of his life, will be examined and also these problems he witnessed that is associated with his decisions and future are going to be explained in terms of their relations with his psychological problems which cause him to make same fatal mistakes. His life and his experiences, career and his devotion of the sea will be discussed in the sense that how this all affects his vision through his famous novella Heart of Darkness. Apparently, Joseph Conrad is very much influenced by his experiences and repressed memories which shape his literary perspective. Heart of darkness is discussed as one of the most famous literary texts written on the western imperial activities in the first half of the twentieth century. Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) is an eminent writer of postmodern literature who represents the colonial ideology of colonizer during the late of the nineteenth century. The main intention of famous writer is to draw attention to the exploitation of Africans and to illuminate what is going on through the dark center of Africa. The story is mainly based upon the experiences of Charlie Marlow, who associated with the writer. Joseph Conrad narrates Congo as a center of colonialism and imperialism upon the activities of western civilization that he witnessed. Colonizing activities of European countries in Heart of Darkness enable to perceive the brutality of colonization and imperialism. As a work of modern period Heart of Darkness not only represents the colonial and imperial facts about West in Africa and also it shows how western nations have certain attitudes against both Orient and the others who are rejected as primitive or undeveloped. The author also represents the general atmosphere of the Victorian period. The general views of Europeans towards Africans and their mistreatment will be examined through critical discussions of Hart of Darkness upon the views of the scholars and the critics in terms of colonization and imperialism. Besides, it represents the general condition of Africa in the nineteenth century and aims of Western civilizations. The book represents Africa as a common property of Europeans in the 19 th century.