Question

The following question is based on your reading of "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad.

At the end of his report, Kurtz writes:
A. "Exterminate all the brutes!"
B. "God help us!"
C."No more death!"
D. "God save the King!"

Answer 1

At the end of Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness,' Kurtz writes 'Exterminate all the brutes!,' a quote that has been critiqued by Chinua Achebe for perpetuating dehumanization and racism against Africans, despite the novella's critique of Belgian colonialism.

Step-by-step explanation:

At the end of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Kurtz writes "Exterminate all the brutes!" This statement captures the darkness at the core of the novella, highlighting the dehumanization and the racial prejudice that Chinua Achebe criticizes in An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness.' Achebe argues that despite the literary merit of the work, its portrayal of Africa and Africans contributes to their continued dehumanization, which he finds unacceptable in any great work of art. The narrative, set against the backdrop of Belgian colonialism in the Congo, critiques the brutality of the imperialist enterprise yet also perpetuates racist stereotypes, illustrating the complexity and the dual legacy of Conrad's historical novella.