Compare and Contrast Essay on "Things Fall Apart" and "Heart of Darkness"

Introduction

The novels "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe and "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad are writings that illustrate on the representation of Africa in literature as they both take place during the imperialist era. Although the two authors strive to depict the representation of Africa in literature, their ideas and perceptions are far much different. In writing, "Heart of Darkness," Conrad illustrates Africa through a perspective of the colonial Europeans that depict all natives as savages. In an attempt to write back to Conrad's stereotypical representation of Africa, Chinua Achebe structures literary writing "Things Fall Apart" with the point of view on the natives to depicts Africans, as individuals of a society that is thriving and not as primitive as Conrad seeks to imply.

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In "Heart of Darkness" the European prejudice against Africans is evident through its description. For instance, in traveling through Africa, Marlow, the protagonist is seen describing every native he encounters as savages to the extent of comparing them to the wilderness as well as the animals. In a specific instance, Marlow finds a death pit; literally, a grove where at times natives go to dies (Conrad 17). Moreover, in his portrayal, he shows the native as unearthly creatures or shadows that are not people. Conrad describes the men as formless shapes with no humanizing characteristic that distinguishes them from another. On the other hand, Chinua Achebe has a different view as he seeks to respond to the perceptions created by Conrad. In writing, "Things Fall Apart" follows the use of Okonkwo's character and life as he strives for prestige in his society. When the European missionaries invaded Okonkwo's clan, Umuofia, Okonkwo does everything he can as he tries to protect the life and culture that the missionaries would destroy claiming to civilize the natives. Although his mentality and behavior deliver a compromising message by stereotyping the African as wild, Chinua Achebe still strives to portray Africa in a civilized and structures society.

Also, as Marlow continues to deliver the idea that Africans are indistinguishable formless shapes and how Africa is a structureless continent, he refers it to the banks as rotting in the mud. In critique and response to this Achebe writes that Africa is "setting and backdrop that eliminates the African as a human factor... devoid of all recognizable humanity, into which the wandering European enters at his peril" (Achebe, 1958). Still, as Achebe writes to perceptions created by Conrad, he ensures a proper focus on the organization of Africa and its structure. However, the protagonist, Okonkwo differs from the aim at some point following the involvement of Igbo culture that refers to masculinity and strength. Okonkwo is termed as "a man of action and a man of war" (Achebe, 1958). Either way, Chinua Achebe delivers his different perception on what Africa is as a thriving society.

Correspondingly, there are different strategies that both novels use to challenge the assumptions and outlooks of their predecessors. For example, the book "Heart of Darkness" is structured in manner elaborated by someone that likes to travel. Within the novel, the author attempts to provide some of the experiences as he explores which now deliver to the perceptions and descriptions he creates about Africa. Through the analysis and report of "Heart of Darkness," Conrad tries to sympathize with Africans as he illustrates the European notion that all Africans are similar and are inhuman, primitive and savage. On the other hand, "Things Fall Apart" assumed the use of different strategies as he seeks to respond to Conrad's novel. Chinua Achebe's attempts and strategies were rebuttals against Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" novel as Achebe wanted to show that blacks are not savages. Also, he ensures that he portrays the occurrences that Europeans are responsible for ruining the Black's way of life. Achebe does this by separating the story into sections meant to deliver his intended objective. "Things Falls Apart" tends to tell of the tragedy that occurs when individuals are out of their place, as the first section of the novel delivers events about the life of the protagonists, Okonkwo. Within this section, the life of Okonkwo is depicted in such a way that defines the Igbo culture as well as delivering the involvement of African as organized and structured individuals. Primarily, Achebe intended to show on the life of the African in the framework; however, it is not until the second section of the novel that he talks of the arrival of the Europeans. In the segment, Achebe seeks to show how the Europeans are now disrupting the life of the Africans as he mentions how it is essential for people to be in their place to Conrad. Additionally, in Conrad's novel, he writes that Africans are meant to stay in Africa and not anywhere else; however, Achebe delivers a similar point as he tries to elaborate on the problems Europeans cause with their arrival in Okonkwo's village.

Moreover, Achebe uses various themes to deliver the intended outcome. For example, he creates a colonialist perception towards Conrad's novel "Heart of Darkness" which on the other hand creates a theme of racisms. In the use of the colonialist idea, Achebe portrays the Europeans as intruders that are affecting the life of Africans leading to various occurrences. It depicted events on how the whites are making the Africans switch their religion. It is evident through the end of the novel as Okonkwo rather than being led by the Europeans as he feels he failed is people he commits suicide. To sum everything up, Chinua Achebe not only delivered a critique to Joseph Conrad's novel but also provided a story on the merging colonial styles that counter many perceptions that colonial literature has placed about Africa.

Works Cited

Chinua, Achebe. "Things fall apart." Ch. Achebe (1958): 1-117.

Conrad, Joseph. "Heart of darkness." Heart of Darkness. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 1996. 17-95.