The imperialism exposed in Conrad's Heart of Darkness Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is, as Edward Said puts it, a story about European "acts of imperial mastery" (1503), his methods and the effects it has on human nature - and it is presumable that Conrad incorporates into the story much of his experience in the Congo and his views on imperialism, as another recent critic also suggests: "he seems to approve of Marlow", the narrator (Achebe 1492). These revelations from the author are conveyed to the reader through Marlow's observations, descriptions, reactions, and statements. Although "Heart of Darkness" is at times highly critical of European imperialism, that criticism is mostly directed at the false idealistic claims made about the enterprise and the inefficient and savage methods employed by the Belgians; the book does not question imperialism when undertaken competently, particularly by the British. The opening discussion in "Heart of Darkness" between Marlow and his friends, concerns an idealistic imperialism of the conquerors, especially English, who were "carriers of a spark from the sacred fire"-the fire of civilization (1428). Marlow also once "trembled with enthusiasm" at the thought of imperialism, as his friends do when they recall the past, but this was before his experience in the Congo, where he discovered the cruelty of the Belgians. Imperialism, for Marlow, is not always... middle of paper... the national support he has for his country. Marlow's idea that the English are capable of competently approaching imperialism has no evidence to support it. In any case, the savage and inefficient methods of the Belgians demonstrate that the idealistic claims of European imperialism are far from being true. In this, it is likely that Conrad's experience in the Congo changed his view of imperialism, just as it did Marlow. Works Cited Barnet, Sylvan, et al. An introduction to literature. 11th ed. NY: Longman, 1997. Conrad, Joseph. "Heart of Darkness." Barnet 1426.Achebe, Chinua. “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.” Barnet 1489.Said, Edward W. "The Imperial Attitude." Barnett 1502.