A JOURNEY OF AFRICA THOROUGH THE HEART OF DARKNESS BY JOSEPH CONRAD AS AN OUTSIDER AND THINGS FALL APART BY CHINUA ACHEBE AS AN INSIDER

Abstract

The depiction of Africa has been an issue since long as the western mindset represented it as a land of hunger, starvation and malnutrition whereas, Africa for the Africans is a land of mystery that can be well explored through deconstructing its myths and stereotypes. The two major classic novel ‘The Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad and ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe gained immense ground to be read and analyzed together as they depict the two contrasting images of Africa. Both of these novels are modelled upon its author’s individual observation and understanding of Africa as a land of mystery with a unique guideline of civilization with a very complex belief system much akin to natural phenomenon rather than being humanly polished with the tincture of artificiality, selfishness and gluttony. To both these novelist, this land remains unconquered ‘The Heart of Darkness’ is projected under the skin of a defeated idealism by the outsider novelist whereas ‘Things Fall Apart’ upholds the picture of purity and innocence by the insider novelist whose inheritance is deeply rooted in Africa. So these two novels run on two parallel lines as complimentary texts to be read together in order to understand the incongruities lies beneath the individual perception of both the authors. In this paper an attempt has been made to critically analyze the two opposing projection of Africa in both the novels with the prospect of Conrad as an outsider and Achebe an insider. ‘The Heart of Darkness’ leaves Conrad in his own territory as a retired captain on board with all calmness whereas ‘Things Fall Apart’ leaves Chinua Achebe with his symbolic death of Okwonko, that symbolize the death of a culture.