Heart of Darkness beyond Conrad

In history, the United States has taken on the role time and time again as bearer and ensurer of democracy around the world. We have also brought aid to countries in "need". Need is in quotes because it's all relative. In the text, Heart of Darkness Europeans thought the Congolese people were in "need" of proper civilization. When the need is in terms of money, who determines how much? This SNL skit addresses this question in a comical yet important way.

I found myself laughing, along with the millions of others who have watched this video, but it is a serious topic. The video mirrors the text, Heart of Darkness in many ways. First, Africa is associated in many minds as one country, not a continent made of countries. Although Heart of Darkness is set in the Congo, Europeans sought to civilize "all of Africa and the savage Africans".

Also, the video emphasizes the absence of mutual recognition. Donations are asked for without knowledge of what the money is going towards and what amount of money is actually needed. Also, many commercials for donations to African countries do not show some of the thriving areas of the country that can debunk the stereotype that poverty is due to laziness. On a personal level, as a Nigerian American young woman I wish there was more coverage of the positives of African countries, Nigeria for example. Industrialization and economic growth in cities such as Lagos is part of the hidden image of Africa. Marlow and especially Kurtz, in their quest for ivory and the riches the Congo land has to offer, do not achieve mutual recognition with the Congolese people.

As Marlow was devoted to his work and efficiency as a way to avoid darker realities, I believe the United States devotes itself to the "aid" and volunteer work overseas without dealing with bigger problems. Problems such as the message it's sending at home about these countries and the people who live there.

Achebe writes, "For reasons which can certainly use close psychological inquiry the West seems to suffer deep anxieties about the precariousness of its civilization and to have a need for constant reassurance by comparison with Africa" (261). In other words, he argues Westerners (us) keep faith in our society and the many systems within in it by thinking we must be doing something right, at least we're not Africa. A sense of identity and security dependent on the refutation of others' qualities must be tiresome.