Question

Write a paragraph evaluating Chinua Achebe’s claim about the depiction of Africans in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Examine whether or not the evidence effectively develops his argument.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation: Achebe's "Things fall apart"(1958) was actually a response to Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". Achebe who is also known as the father of modern African literature felt that Conrad was racist in his approach and methodology in the depiction of Africans and their culture. In his essay titled "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'" interrogates the stereotyped manner of the portrayal of Africans in Conrad's book. He felt that Conrad being an outsider can never feel the true pain and worth of the struggle and suffering of the Africans and he(Conrad) had further added to their domain of treating them(Africans) as savage instead of portraying it in its natural form. To undo Conrad's racist portrayal according to Achebe, he has glorified the African culture in "Things fall apart".

Answer 2

Sample Answer:

Achebe effectively argues that Conrad’s Heart of Darkness presents racist views of Africa and the African people. He primarily uses well–thought-out and thorough textual evidence to support his claim. This is best exemplified by a comparison of two descriptions from Conrad’s text. One is a description of a British woman, and the other of an African woman. The British woman is depicted in a positive light, while the African woman is portrayed negatively, using stereotypes and harsh terms. By examining this contrast, Achebe effectively shows Conrad’s biased point of view.

Explanation:

This is the exact correct answer. I highly recommend changing it before pasting into the text box. Best of luck!