Prejudice, Racism and Power in Heart of Darkness Essays -- HOD Joseph

Race and Power in Heart of Darkness      Ã‚   In Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, the socially constructed differences of African and European cultures are effective in representing the power sites of the time. The alleged `superiority' of the European culture can be recognized by comparing their ideologies to those of the primitive, `inferior' `savages.' Conrad's personal experiences in the Belgian Congo, in the 1890s, influenced the compilation of Heart of Darkness, reflecting the waste and inefficiency of British Colonialism. Conrad referred to the colonization of Africa as, "the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience and geographical exploration."(Joffe, 78) The cultural differentiation between the two races is utilized as a mechanism for the European society to justify the cruelty, suppression and alienation towards the African people.    Contrasts between white and black throughout the text, encourage the reader to identify the marginalized and the dominating race. The European society being `white' is presented as `greater' against which the `black' African society is judged as `lesser.' Marlow refers to the city of Brussels as a "whited sepulchre"(p24), which represents the splendor and glory of the city, hiding the corruption and darkness beneath. This ostentatious image of Brussels is then contrasted to the calamity visited upon an African village. "The village was deserted, the huts gaped black, rotting, all askew within the fallen enclosures."(p24). This austere image of death and desolation, confronts the reader with the power and callousness of the European society. The horrific scene of dying natives, "in every pose of contorted collapse... ...ds the Africans and positions them to challenge the power structures in their own society. As a modern reader, I bring my knowledge of aboriginal racism in Australia to the text, to acquire an enhanced understanding of the unequal power relationships in Conrad's Eurocentric society. The text has confronted me with the reality of the discrimination in my own society, which is inherent throughout the ideologies surrounding race, gender and class.    Works Consulted: Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Editor Robert Kimbrough. New York: Norton, 1988. Guetti, James. 'Heart of Darkness and the Failure of the Imagination', Sewanee Review LXXIII, No. 3 (Summer 1965), pp. 488-502. Ed. C. B. Cox. Ruthven, K. K. 'The Savage God: Power in Heart of Darkness,' Critical Quarterly, x, nos 1& 2 (Spring and Summer 1988), pp. 41-6. Ed. C. B. Cox.       Prejudice, Racism and Power in Heart of Darkness Essays -- HOD Joseph Race and Power in Heart of Darkness      Ã‚   In Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, the socially constructed differences of African and European cultures are effective in representing the power sites of the time. The alleged `superiority' of the European culture can be recognized by comparing their ideologies to those of the primitive, `inferior' `savages.' Conrad's personal experiences in the Belgian Congo, in the 1890s, influenced the compilation of Heart of Darkness, reflecting the waste and inefficiency of British Colonialism. Conrad referred to the colonization of Africa as, "the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience and geographical exploration."(Joffe, 78) The cultural differentiation between the two races is utilized as a mechanism for the European society to justify the cruelty, suppression and alienation towards the African people.    Contrasts between white and black throughout the text, encourage the reader to identify the marginalized and the dominating race. The European society being `white' is presented as `greater' against which the `black' African society is judged as `lesser.' Marlow refers to the city of Brussels as a "whited sepulchre"(p24), which represents the splendor and glory of the city, hiding the corruption and darkness beneath. This ostentatious image of Brussels is then contrasted to the calamity visited upon an African village. "The village was deserted, the huts gaped black, rotting, all askew within the fallen enclosures."(p24). This austere image of death and desolation, confronts the reader with the power and callousness of the European society. The horrific scene of dying natives, "in every pose of contorted collapse... ...ds the Africans and positions them to challenge the power structures in their own society. As a modern reader, I bring my knowledge of aboriginal racism in Australia to the text, to acquire an enhanced understanding of the unequal power relationships in Conrad's Eurocentric society. The text has confronted me with the reality of the discrimination in my own society, which is inherent throughout the ideologies surrounding race, gender and class.    Works Consulted: Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Editor Robert Kimbrough. New York: Norton, 1988. Guetti, James. 'Heart of Darkness and the Failure of the Imagination', Sewanee Review LXXIII, No. 3 (Summer 1965), pp. 488-502. Ed. C. B. Cox. Ruthven, K. K. 'The Savage God: Power in Heart of Darkness,' Critical Quarterly, x, nos 1& 2 (Spring and Summer 1988), pp. 41-6. Ed. C. B. Cox.      

Machinal’s Representation of Gender

The representation of gender particularly in the past has been strongly manifested in theater, music, dance, and other performance practices. Most of the time, these performances aim to explore gender inequality which is one of the most controversial political issues in history especially during the early 20th century. The issue of gender inequality seems to be an unending concern that is still highly debated in the contemporary world. Human’s cultural, religious, and social orientation differences make this subject timeless. A woman’s social role in history is confined and regimented to home, motherhood, and sexual partner. In the past, these constructed social roles given to women used to prevent them from being involved in politics and many social activities which, as a result, hindered them to fully explore their potentials and capability. The play â€Å"Machinal† written by Sophie Treadwell is only one of the literary pieces that subtly illustrate how women were treated and approached in history. Helen, the main protagonist of the play, is trapped in a male dominated society bound by the trend of forced marriage were love is considered unnecessary. The play mainly features a woman who, after seeing the reality of her situation, is encouraged to perform wickedness. Machinal is a tragedy and drama which presents the events from the point of view of a young woman. The first episode of the play with the office as the main setting shows the authentic personality of the young woman. Her lack of interest and focus in an office work manifested in her tardiness shows that she feels subdued by her work. She cannot stand the stifling crowd in the subway who seem to enjoy their routinary job. The â€Å"sounds of machine going, which continue throughout the scene† intentionally illustrate the machine-like quality of the surrounding (Treadwell 1). Office or secretarial work given to women symbolizes their lack of opportunity in career world. The sound of clattering typewriters, adding machines, and ringing telephones metaphorically depicts the confined and oppressive world of women during 1920’s. They were perceived as the inferior gender not just physically but intellectually, limiting their chances to engage in a more competitive and challenging job. However, as a young woman eager for new kind adventure, love, and life, Helen does not fit in such a constricted work environment. The character of Helen depicts the emergence of modern American women who have woken up to the reality that women are more than how the society perceives them. At that time, women like Helen were starting to unconsciously establish a mentality that they have much to offer beyond the confines of home and motherhood. Demoralized in her new role as a mother, Helen’s discouragement from the birth of her daughter in episode four is only one of the consequences highlighted in a marriage devoid of emotion. Her total dependency on her husband financially forced her to stay in a loveless marriage and eventually made her conform to the given roles. Thus, this episode suggests that, just like most women in the early 20th century, Helen married for the purpose of financial security and position. Most women at that time were willing participants or victims who totally conformed to the society’s standard. However, when Helen met a man who introduced her to the new experience of momentary passion, she finally realized how society has confined her and how her husband, George, has unconsciously dominated her every decision. With her feelings of hopelessness, Helen decided to murder her husband to free herself from the constraints of the society. The story or play was created during 1920’s when there was already an emergence of women’s movement by the group of feminists in the U. S. that sought for equality with men. â€Å"The abstract presentation and discussion over women’s status that started from 1846† encouraged different kinds of literature to explore the issue of gender inequality (Imbornoni). The character of Helen presents a subtle reality in the past that inspires and reminds contemporary women that they must enjoy a wider freedom they have right now.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Social Security Act of 1935, Dust Bowl Free Essay Example, 1000 words

In the 1920s, the theatres for movies and radios were the most popular entertainment. However, movies outweighed the use of radios because they were expensive to purchase. Additionally, dancing was famous during the entire process. FDIC is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. It is an independent corporation and was created in 1933, to promote public confidence and stability in the nation s banking systems. The social security Act was developed to tackle old age, poverty unemployment and the burden of widows. It gave the federal government the power to assist the less fortunate, in the society. The dual bowl was caused by severe drought and poor agricultural practices leading to environmental damage to the product. The great depression was a serious problem for American society but the causes of the great market crash were different and have not been understood by economists. The crash of the stock market of 1929 on black Tuesday, October 29, 1629, was the principal cause of d epression experienced. The crash led to massive loss totaling to more than $40 Billion Dollars (Foner 78). The loss was so immense that led to poor recovery for the country increasing the risk of entry into the great depression. We will write a custom essay sample on Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Social Security Act of 1935, Dust Bowl or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Coupled with the stock market crash banks failed in the 1930s leading to loss of savings because bank deposits were not insured. The collapse of the banks reduced bank loans leading to less expensive than initial. The crash of the stock markets reduced the spending capability of individuals through fear of further economic woes. Unemployment and job losses led to a reduction in purchasing power. In addition, American economic policy changes as a result of the ailing economy. The government created the Smooth-Hawley Tariff to protect the American companies. The policy charged high tax for imports reducing the amount of trade between America and the rest of the world.