Anti-imperial rumbling in Joseph Conrad's heart of darkness

الملخص EN

This study opposes those critics who read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness as a work that explores human evil while overlooking imperialism as a cause of this evil.

Conrad uses symbolism to criticize the atrocity and inhumanity of imperialists in Africa while at the same time sympathizes with the natives whom he presents as victims of the greediness of those imperialists.

He announces that the Europeans are not emissaries of civilization, but of destruction and poverty.

He also condemns the corruption and hypocrisy of the Europeans who claim that their presence in the Congo is for humanitarian purposes, while in reality stealing the resources of the land.

Therefore, Conrad aims at uncovering the deceptive practices of imperialists through his novella rather than justify imperialism as some critics may claim.