Question

Read this thesis statement: "Heart of Darkness plunges the narrator into the depths of the Congo." What is wrong with it?

Answer 1

The thesis statement "Heart of Darkness plunges the narrator into the depths of the Congo" is problematic as it perpetuates racism and Eurocentrism. Chinua Achebe and other postcolonialist critics have criticized the novella for its dehumanizing portrayal of Africa and Africans.

Step-by-step explanation:

The thesis statement "Heart of Darkness plunges the narrator into the depths of the Congo" is problematic because it perpetuates attitudes of racism and Eurocentrism through its portrayal of Africans. The novella, written by Joseph Conrad, has been criticized by postcolonialist critics like Chinua Achebe for dehumanizing Africa and Africans. Achebe argues that the novel's aesthetic qualities cannot redeem its cultural and racial attitudes.

As is well known, Charlie Marlow, the main character, narrates this tale. He describes his expedition up a tropical river in search of a particular Kurtz, a fabled and elusive explorer who, in the opinion of his superiors, appears to have deeply entrenched himself from the jungle. The trip soon becomes complicated and riddled with mystery and degradation as the legend of Lord Kurtz grows and takes shape.

Answer 2

This question is incomplete. Here is the complete question:

Read this thesis statement: "Heart of Darkness plunges the narrator into the depths of the Congo." What is wrong with it?:

A) It is too narrow.

B) It is a plot summary.

C) It is too obvious.

D) It is not supported by the text.

Answer:

The correct answer is option A) It is too narrow.

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know, this story is narrated by the protagonist, Charlie Marlow, who tells us of the journey he made going up a tropical river to locate a certain Kurtz, an elusive and legendary explorer who, according to his superiors, seems to have entrenched himself deep inside from the jungle. Soon the journey turns into a multi-troubled journey, with mystery and degradation growing as the legend of Lord Kurtz enlarges and takes shape.

The novel is based on a true story in the life of Conrad, who sailed up the Congo River as a ship captain in 1890 while working for the SGB company. There, amid the exploitation and genocide that the settlers carried out in the Congo Free State - the private preserve of King Leopold II of Belgium - Conrad was truly traumatized, wanting to relate the horror of his experience in a book in which, on the other hand, and despite the parallels between author and protagonist, no real places or characters are mentioned.

Just using the phrase "plunges the narrator into the depths of the Congo" is too vague to describe the actual plot. Therefore, answer A is correct.