The Congo Background Information for Heart of Darkness.

The CongoThe Congo

Background Background Information Information for for Heart of Heart of DarknessDarkness

Quick OverviewQuick Overview

What you should know:What you should know:1.1. Geography- Geography- Including location, natural Including location, natural

resources and natural features of the resources and natural features of the areaarea

2.2. Pre-Colonial History- Pre-Colonial History- Life before Life before Europe’s takeoverEurope’s takeover

3.3. The Congo Free State- The Congo Free State- What King What King Leopold and his agents did to make his Leopold and his agents did to make his personal colony profitablepersonal colony profitable

Continental ContextContinental Context

Congo River

1. Geography1. Geography The main The main

geographic geographic feature is the feature is the Congo RiverCongo River

Fifth longest Fifth longest river in the river in the worldworld

GeographyGeography

The river was of vital interest to European The river was of vital interest to European powers because it and its tributaries powers because it and its tributaries represented a 7,000 mile series of represented a 7,000 mile series of connected waterways, a highway to the connected waterways, a highway to the African interiorAfrican interior

Congo River Village

GeographyGeography

2. Pre-Colonial Congo2. Pre-Colonial Congo

The Kingdom of the The Kingdom of the Congo (Kongo)Congo (Kongo)• According to According to

Portuguese Portuguese explorers the explorers the kingdom was a kingdom was a sophisticated and sophisticated and well run state, an well run state, an imperial federationimperial federation

• Known for Known for advanced working advanced working in copper and ironin copper and iron

• Rich in ivory and Rich in ivory and rubber rubber

Ne Vunda, Kongolese ambassador to the Vatican, 1608

Pre-Colonial CongoPre-Colonial Congo

SlaverySlavery• Slavery was part of the culture of the Slavery was part of the culture of the

CongoCongo• Originally slaves were captured during Originally slaves were captured during

warfare, were criminals, or were debtors warfare, were criminals, or were debtors who could earn back their freedomwho could earn back their freedom

• Eventually, Muslim slave traders began to Eventually, Muslim slave traders began to sell their slaves to European traders for sell their slaves to European traders for export to the Americasexport to the Americas

3. The Congo 3. The Congo Free StateFree State

Leopold II (1835-1909), King of Belgium from 1865 to 1909, infamous founder of the Congo Free State

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State The ability to use the river to gain access to the The ability to use the river to gain access to the

ivory and rubber rich interior made the Congo a ivory and rubber rich interior made the Congo a coveted area for colonization.coveted area for colonization.

As European nations negotiated and agreed to As European nations negotiated and agreed to respect each others’ claims to African territory, respect each others’ claims to African territory, Leopold made his claim for the Congo.Leopold made his claim for the Congo.

The Berlin Conference, 1884-1885

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State Leopold sent the Leopold sent the

famous explorer famous explorer of Africa, Henry of Africa, Henry Morton Stanley, to Morton Stanley, to negotiate treaties negotiate treaties with the natives.with the natives.

Native chiefs were Native chiefs were offered trinkets or offered trinkets or cloth if they would cloth if they would place an X on a place an X on a document in document in foreign tongue.foreign tongue.

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State These treaties, along with Leopold’s These treaties, along with Leopold’s

assurances that his goal was to end the assurances that his goal was to end the practice of slavery, and a promise that the practice of slavery, and a promise that the Congo would remain a free trade area, led Congo would remain a free trade area, led the European countries to recognize the European countries to recognize Leopold’s claim to the territory in 1885.Leopold’s claim to the territory in 1885.

The colony The colony “belonged” not to “belonged” not to Belgium, but to Belgium, but to Leopold personally, Leopold personally, making him the only making him the only individual to ever individual to ever colonize a country.colonize a country.

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State : :“The Profit Imperative”“The Profit Imperative”

For the first few years of Leopold’s For the first few years of Leopold’s rule his colony did not turn a profit.rule his colony did not turn a profit.

Soon the idea of free trade was Soon the idea of free trade was abandoned and the natives could only abandoned and the natives could only trade with Leopold’s representatives, trade with Leopold’s representatives, with 50% of the profits going to with 50% of the profits going to Leopold himself.Leopold himself.

In order to up the profits it became In order to up the profits it became necessary to make use of cheap labor necessary to make use of cheap labor (gathering rubber is very labor (gathering rubber is very labor intensive).intensive).

Leopold drove the slave traders out Leopold drove the slave traders out of the country, which he portrayed as of the country, which he portrayed as a great humanitarian act. In reality, a great humanitarian act. In reality, however, he did it to gain control of however, he did it to gain control of the region.the region.

He then paid his ‘agents’ in the He then paid his ‘agents’ in the country a percentage of the profits, country a percentage of the profits, encouraging them to make the trade encouraging them to make the trade more and more profitable.more and more profitable.

He also authorized the use of as much He also authorized the use of as much force as was deemed necessary.force as was deemed necessary.

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State : :“The Profit Imperative”“The Profit Imperative”

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by

holding their wives and children captive holding their wives and children captive until each man’s quota was met.until each man’s quota was met.

Many who resisted were killed on the spot.Many who resisted were killed on the spot. Others were beaten with cruel whips called Others were beaten with cruel whips called

chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges.sharp edges.

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State Soon a revolt broke out due to the Soon a revolt broke out due to the

cruel conditions and slave laborcruel conditions and slave labor Leopold sent his troops into the Leopold sent his troops into the

villages to exterminate the young villages to exterminate the young menmen

To make sure bullets weren’t To make sure bullets weren’t wasted the soldiers were expected wasted the soldiers were expected to return with the severed right to return with the severed right hands of those they killed.hands of those they killed.

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State Often, however, the soldiers could not meet Often, however, the soldiers could not meet

quotas, or had to justify bullets spent on quotas, or had to justify bullets spent on hunting, and so would cut the hands off of hunting, and so would cut the hands off of living women and children.living women and children.

During the years from 1895-1908 it is During the years from 1895-1908 it is estimated that 8-10 million people died due estimated that 8-10 million people died due to murder, mistreatment and starvation.to murder, mistreatment and starvation.

The Human Rights MovementThe Human Rights Movement Public pressure eventually forced Leopold to sell Public pressure eventually forced Leopold to sell

the Congo Free State to the Belgian government. the Congo Free State to the Belgian government. It became The Belgian Congo in 1908 It became The Belgian Congo in 1908

The Belgian The Belgian Government ended Government ended the worst of the the worst of the atrocities, but still atrocities, but still controlled the fate controlled the fate of the African of the African natives “For their natives “For their own good.”own good.”

The African natives The African natives were never were never consulted about consulted about their futuretheir future

ImperialismImperialism

Imperialism: The policy of extending a Imperialism: The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony (the predominant political hegemony (the predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others) over other nations. over another or others) over other nations. Includes the system, policies, or practices Includes the system, policies, or practices of such a government.of such a government.

““Robbery with violence, aggravated Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale.” murder on a great scale.” Heart of Heart of Darkness, page Darkness, page 7070

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

CharactersCharacters► Anonymous narrator aboard the Nellie, a Anonymous narrator aboard the Nellie, a

former seaman with a sense of humorformer seaman with a sense of humor► Marlow-a seaman who piloted a steamboat Marlow-a seaman who piloted a steamboat

for a large Belgian trading companyfor a large Belgian trading company► General Manager-the chief of the General Manager-the chief of the

company’s Central Station who seeks to company’s Central Station who seeks to replace Kurtzreplace Kurtz

► Russian-a boyish seaman who idolizes Russian-a boyish seaman who idolizes KurtzKurtz

► Kurtz-the characteristic chief of the Kurtz-the characteristic chief of the company’s inner stationcompany’s inner station

Themes, Motifs, SymbolsThemes, Motifs, Symbols

► Light vs. DarkLight vs. Dark► Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery► RacismRacism► Search for IdentitySearch for Identity► Effects of ImperialismEffects of Imperialism► Hypocrisy of ImperialismHypocrisy of Imperialism► Madness as a Result of ImperialismMadness as a Result of Imperialism► The existence/effects of true evilThe existence/effects of true evil

Framed NarrativeFramed Narrative

•Narrator beginsNarrator begins•Marlow takes overMarlow takes over•Narrator breaks in Narrator breaks in occasionallyoccasionally