Racism

Fight against racism and prejudice 

Joseph Conrad is a writer who spent his whole life fighting against racism while wide spreading knowledge of the violence involved behind the flag of British and European colonialism. Born in Poland, in 1857, Conrad was a Polish-British writer and navigator. Conrad's parents both descended from socially prominent families. Conrad’s father, Apollo, was a translator of French and English literature. The boy’s first readings introduced him to the two elements that would later dominate his life, as he liked in particular Victor Hugo’s "Sea Workers", while Shakespeare brought him into the orbit of English literature. Only a few months later in 1869, Apollo died. As a result of this tragic turn of events, the young Conrad was entrusted to the care of his uncle. At the age of 13 he announced that he wanted to become a sailor. His metamorphosis from French sailor on a British vessel allowed him to master the language in which he would eventually choose to write his novels. Joseph Conrad was almost always an outcast, marked by misfortune and with this he turned his experiences into art. Conrad had started writing "Almayer’s Madness", his first novel, in 1889. He wrote some other notable novels, among which "Heart of Darkness". He died of a heart attack on August 3, 1924.

 

Heart of Darkness

"Heart of Darkness" is a short novel written by Joseph Conrad in 1899.The novel follows the journey of Charles Marlow, a captain of a river vessel tasked with sailing up the Congo River to find Kurtz, an European agent who has become a legend for his madness. Marlow's journey reflects the darkness of the human soul and the ambiguities of Western civilization. Kurtz embodies the heart of human "darkness". Marlow's search for Kurtz becomes a search for himself, as he realizes that Kurtz represents a dark reflection of his own soul. The novel explores themes such as colonialism, power, morality and the nature of humanity itself. Conrad's writing is notable for its narrative complexity and its ability to plumb the depths of the human.

Demonstration against racism in Helsinki, Finland 2023

Racism

The main theme dealt by Joseph Conrad in the book "heart of darkness", is racism. 

Racism is an issue that involves discrimination, prejudice based on race or ethnicity. It is a social behavior used to justify unequal treatments and wrong distribution of resources and opportunities among different racial or ethnic groups.

Racism can be both individual and institutional, impacting various aspects of society like education,work, healthcare, and criminal justice. We must fight hard to unroot it from all societies. 

By Giulia Bagoli, Oumaima Bomuossaoui, Rebecca Margiani and Nicolò Sabbatini class 3f