Two Visions in The Heart of Darkness by Edward Said - Essay Example

Two Visions in The Heart of Darkness by Edward SaidAn important question in the contemporary post-colonial society, where domination and inequities of power and wealth are perennial facts, is how we perceive the post-colonial situation, in which the former colonies of Europe enjoy political independence, but are as dominated and dependent as they were during the colonial periods. The two essential visions of this post-colonial situation include, 1) it is the result of self-inflicted wounds of the colonies, and 2) the Europeans are sweepingly responsible for the present misfortunes of these nations.

According to Edward Said, it is essential for us to look at these matters as a network of interdependent histories. Therefore, in a reflective analysis of the impact of colonialism and imperialism on the colonized nations as well as the visions provided in the novel Heart of Darkness, it becomes lucid that the author makes an important point when he refers to a network of interdependent histories. As Edward Said maintains in his article “Two Visions in The Heart of Darkness”, the network of interdependent histories provide the best illustration of why the former colonies of the European countries undergo a fundamental crisis in the cotemporary.

The situation in these countries is not the result of self-inflicted wounds or the total responsibility of the colonizers. According to the author, “blaming the Europeans sweepingly for the misfortunes of the present is not much of an alternative. What we need to do is to look at these matters as a network of interdependent histories that it would be inaccurate and senseless to repress, useful and interesting to understand.” (Said, 422) A reflective analysis of the famous novel by Conrad, which reflects the imperialist settings of Africa, confirms that there is a network of interdependent histories which resulted in the contemporary situation of the post colonial world.

The role of patriotism, chauvinism, ethnic, religious, religious, and racial hatreds in worsening the current situation makes the argument clear. In short, the author makes an essential point when he suggests that a network of interdependent histories have contributed to the contemporary, post-colonial, situation of the world. Critical Essay: Journal 2In the article “Two Visions in The Heart of Darkness”, Edward Said maintains that his second argument about the post-colonial situation is less objectionable, because his argument is in parallel with the ideas of Conrad in the novel Heart of Darkness.

According to him, the natives were incapable of achieving independence and there was no other alternative to imperialism. However, a realistic analysis of colonial history confirms that this second argument of the author is as objectionable as the first one, if not more. In the article, Said purports that Conrad does not give the readers the sense that he could imagine a fully realized alternative to imperialism. Accordingly, “the natives he wrote about in Africa, Asia, or America were incapable of independence, and because he seemed to imagine that European tutelage was given, he could not foresee what would take place when it came to an end.

” (Said, 422) Therefore, the author places his arguments along with those by Conrad in his novel Heart of Darkness. However, it is important to realize that the author’s argument here is as objectionable as anyone else, if not more than them. First of all, it is simply impractical to realize that the colonized nations could not secure independence on their own, and all the people of Africa, Asia, or America have proved that they are capable of independence, by gaining it. Even Conrad provides a similar view in his novel.

Therefore, it is not safe for the author to consider that his argument here is less objectionable. Work Cited Said, Edward. “Two Visions in The Heart of Darkness.” P 422.