In Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness, an English sailor tells the tale of his voyage on the Congo River in Africa. The novel, which is set during the height of British imperialism in Africa, contrasts “civilized” Europeans with “uncivilized” African natives and describes the brutal treatment of Africans by European traders. Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel Things Fall Apart provides a contrast to Conrad’s story, describing the British colonization of Africa from the perspective of Africans. In this audio story, Achebe talks about how his understanding of Heart of Darkness changed over time.
Story Length: 4:37
© 2009 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
10/15/2009
https://app.listenwise.com/students/lessons/284-achebe-on-heart-of-darkness
How did Achebe feel about “Heart of Darkness” when he read it as a child?
What did Achebe eventually realize about the novella?
What is Achebe’s main criticism of “Heart of Darkness”?
What does Achebe want modern readers of “Heart of Darkness” to understand?
When Achebe says, in regards to “Heart of Darkness,” “Read it this way,” what does he mean?
