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Joseph Conrad's Ironic Use of Racism

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Identifier	Thesis 1775
Author	Singh, Taramattie
Title	Joseph Conrad's Ironic Use of Racism
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date	2004
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Notes	The purpose of this thesis is to examine Joseph Conrad's ironic use of racism in Almayer's Folly (1895), Heart of Darkness (1902), and The Nigger of the Narcissus (1898), in which he subverts many of the racist stereotypes about people of color that were commonly held by nineteenth-century Europeans. Conrad primarily uses stable irony, in which "'the speaker or author makes available to the reader an assertion or position which, whether explicit or implied, serves as firm ground for ironically qualifying or subverting the surface meaning" (Abrams 136). I choose to characterize the racism in the aforementioned works by Conrad as stable irony because Conrad ironically subverts the surface meanings or stereotypes of racism. On the surface, in Almayer's Folly, Heart of Darkness, and The Nigger of the Narcissus it may appear as if Conrad is writing from a typical nineteenth century racist European point of view. However, on closer examination, Conrad uses racism in a much more complex and sophisticated manner, one which subverts racist European assumptions about people of color through irony. This thesis will have an 'Introduction' followed by three chapters, and a 'Conclusion.' The 'Introduction' of this thesis will discuss Jean Jacques Rousseau's ideas on the morality of the savage and the civilized, which are outlined in Rousseau's "Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences" and "Discourse on Inequality." Conrad's portrayal of the morality of the savage and the civilized in Almayer's Folly and Heart of Darkness, chapters one and two respectively of this thesis, echoes Rousseau's ideas. Chapter one will focus on Conrad's first novel, Almayer's Folly. The Europeans, such as Almayer, who is the main protagonist of Almayer's Folly, view and refer to the native Malays, such as Dain Maroola, as 'savages.' Almayer, the only European in Sambir, an inland trading post in Borneo, views Dain and the other Malays as 'savages' who are inferior to him. However, ironically, Dain Maroola is portrayed as morally superior to Almayer. Conrad is saying that Europeans such as Almayer are blinded by their racism. They only see the Malays as savages, when in actuality, the Malays, such as Dain, are morally superior to the Europeans, such as Almayer. Conrad's portrayal of Dain reflects and reinforces the Rousseauian idea of the noble savage. In addition, it is ironic that the racism that Almayer fervently adheres to in his life, actually destroys him. Chapter two will discuss Heart of Darkness. In Conrad's Heart of Darkness, racism and racist stereotypes of Africans, such as savagery and darkness, become associated with European whites through irony. Conrad reveals that the Europeans view the Africans as savages, because of their outward customs. The Africans only appear savage in their observed behaviors to the Europeans, such as Marlow. However, ironically, the behavior of the Europeans, when subjected to moral analysis turn out to be worse in every way. According to Conrad, the inner moral truth is much more important in judging a person, than his outward customs. Conrad ironically illustrates that the Europeans are savages, who are actually worse than the Africans, because they exercise moral savagery, whereas the Africans and their customs only appear savage to the Europeans. Moreover, the Europeans perceive the Africans as evil, because they are black or dark. However, ironically, evil and darkness, like savagery, become primarily associated with the Europeans. Conrad's portray of the morality of the savage and the civilized highlight Rousseau's ideas. Chapter three will focus on Conrad's The Nigger of the Narcissus and how racism is used to structure the character of James Wait as 'other.' However, Wait's construction as the 'other' is ironic, because Wait reveals to the other men their most intimate feelings and fears about death. As the 'other' he is supposed to be the total opposite and completely different from the white crew, because of his black race. However, Wait is their mirror image, looking back at them. In addition, Ren Girard's three stereotypes that are characteristic of scapegoats reinforce the idea that Wait is not different or the 'other' because of his race. Wait blurs the division between those who are living and those who are dying like him. There is no distinction between the dying Wait and the members of the crew (who are physically healthy) because they are all confronting their fears and feelings about death. He eliminates the distinction between the living and the dying which reflects and reinforces the fact that he is not innately different from the crew because of his black race. The 'Conclusion' of this thesis will highlight that Conrad's challenge to racism through his use of irony is established in his first novel, Almayer's Folly, and re-emerges in his later novels, such as Heart of Darkness and The Nigger of the Narcissus. Conrad's ironic use of racism, which subverts it, appears to be a pattern in his works, which can be traced in Almayer's Folly, Heart of Darkness, and The Nigger of the Narcissus.
Subject	Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924 -- Criticism and interpretation Racism in literature
Department	Department of English
Advisor	Mentzer, Melissa
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Language	eng
OCLC number	713734972
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