Imperialism and Existential Freedom in Works Such as Joseph Conrad’s He

When people think of the apprehension of imperialism, they usually view it as something that pertains to govern ment. Even the first definition of imperialism in the dictionary is imperial state, authority, spirit, or system of government (Webster 729). However, imperialism encompasses so oftentimes more than this. In comparing the resonations between Joseph Conrads Heart of nighttime with Johann Goethes Faust, one can see how imperialism affects the political, the social, the psychological, and the spiritual, especially within the past 200 years. Stemming from this is mans existential freedom, his mechanical and lifeless initiation in society, explored in Fyodor Dostoevskys The Grand Inquisitor and Herman Melvilles Bartleby the Scrivener. Heart of Darkness shows imperialism in more of a sensible and psychological perspective. The main character Marlow, in his beliefs, shows a positive military position to imperialism. Marlow does openly admit that he does not belong as an inv ader to this land that is not his however, he also says that he will smack to help these people, the antithesis of most, if not all, of his comrades. Concerning these imperialistic invasions, he says, The conquest of the earth, which mostly inwardness the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you examine into it too much(prenominal). What redeems it is the ideanot a sentimental pretence simply an ideasomething you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to (Conrad 64). Marlow is driven by morality and is able to see what is decently and wrong he is not blinded to the truth. The truth that these civilized men are destroying countless numbers of people so that they can theology th... ...fected by this, though it is the entire world. The majority of people believe further as they are told to believe. Much like in Bartleby the Scrivener, thither is no civil disobedience they do not question the morality of anything. They paseo through their existential life completely blind and oblivious to what is possibility around them.Two very defining characteristics of the societies present around the world, two past and present, are those of imperialism and existentialism. Whether it be as broad as a government or as small as a person, there is an overwhelming presence of power hunger and greed and complete drop for those who may be in the way. So too is the evidently mindless existence which people live life with. What the world strongly needs now is people who actually contain a brain a soul that makes a human a human. Sadly, this is very much lacking.