Exploitation of African Resources and Indigenous People: A Postcolonial Study of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness

Abstract

Colonialism, far from being a mere economic enterprise, functioned as a mechanism of moral
corruption and ideological domination. The study interrogates Heart of Darkness as a textual
space where the moral corruption and economic rapacity of colonialism are unmasked, with a
particular emphasis on the novel’s depiction of the ivory trade and the systemic exploitation of
Africa’s Indigenous communities. Based on postcolonial theory and historical context, this
study uses a close-reading approach to show how Conrad reveals the psychological breakdown
of its European actors in addition to the harsh material effects of imperial expansion. The
findings contend that the narrative addresses the ethical and ideological inconsistencies that
uphold colonial enterprises, going beyond a simple critique of economic looting. While
Conrad’s narrative structure and positioning complicate a rigid postcolonial interpretation, the
novel nonetheless operates as a crucial site of colonial critique. This study contributes to the
ongoing discourse on imperialism’s enduring repercussions, foregrounding Conrad’s work as
an essential text in postcolonial literary studies.