The Effects Of Greed In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness

Greed can push both ruthless and innocent people to hurt others. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Europeans wanted to imperialize many countries in Africa for land and resources such as gold and cash crops. They also desired economic, social, and political control along with the success of converting Africans to European politics and religion. Europeans sought to have an economic and political dominance over African Americans. The cruelty that the Africans faced is displayed in Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness. Raising questions about both racism and imperialism, the novel includes Kurtz, a character with greed for the valuable resource, ivory. Conrad comments on the horrific corruptibility of humanity through the narrator, Charles†¦show more content†¦The Company tries to cover up their malicious deeds by making them sound noble, even when the outcomes result in sickness and death. Their business is supposed to help the natives, but rather, they are using it for the ir own benefits. The accountant also swings over the fact that the whites dislike the natives, and the Europeans would do anything to keep their professions. Thus, Marlow’s aunt and the accountant symbolize the chicanery of imperialism and how the employees of the Company do not out any attention to the fact that they are actually hurting the innocent natives. Kurtz, who has an obsession to power is included in the novella by Conrad to symbolize the greediness for ivory and the immoral values of the Europeans. Initially, Kurtz was out to explore and actually benefit the natives, but that changes when he becomes powerful. Eventually, Kurtz makes it obvious that he is out for one thing, and that is ivory. Unlike the Company, he actually displays his greediness for ivory by threatening his own employees. Kurtz â€Å"[declares] he would shoot [the harlequin] unless [he] gave him the ivory† and then commands him to leave the country (126). This presents how he utilizes force to achieve his goals. Kurtz represents the unconcealed avarice of the Company. Kurtz is also another one of the characters that knows that he is harming others, but still desires to get as much ivory as he can. Ivory â€Å"was whispered, was sighed. You would think they wereShow MoreRelatedHeart of Darkness/Blood Diamond Essay1194 Words   |  5 PagesGreed is the Root of All Evil Greed exists at the centre of evil on not only an individual level, but also that of a communal and global level. 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