An Image of Africa

Achebe writes, “Heart of Darkness is indeed so secure today that a leading Conrad scholar has numbered it ‘among the half-dozen greatest short novels in the English language’” (252). Why is Achebe concerned with the novella’s secure place in the literary canon? How does this contribute to Achebe’s argument about Western literature’s image of Africa?

Discuss Achebe’s assertion that Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a “racist” text. What does Achebe imply about the ethical responsibilities of writers, particularly those addressing cultures and identities other than their own? Additionally, what does he imply about the ethical responsibilities of readers, who can perpetuate a literary work’s popularity?

How does Achebe’s Nigerian heritage and postcolonial perspective shape his critique of Heart of Darkness? In what ways does Achebe’s essay reflect the broader cultural struggle for African (or, more broadly, postcolonial) identity and recognition?

Explore the theme of dehumanization in “An Image of Africa” and Heart of Darkness. How does Conrad’s depiction of Africans lead to their dehumanization? According to Achebe, what are the broader implications of this depiction?

Analyze how Achebe constructs his argument in “An Image of Africa.” How does he use evidence, context, and counterarguments to construct a persuasive critique of Heart of Darkness? What sort of evidence does he select, and why?

Considering the merits of Heart of Darkness, Achebe writes, “And the question is whether a novel which celebrates this dehumanization, which depersonalizes a portion of the human race, can be called a great work of art. My answer is: No, it cannot” (257). How does his essay challenge the notion of literary “greatness?” Do you agree with this assessment? Why, or why not?

Achebe writes, “Naturally Conrad is a dream for psychoanalytic critics” (259). What is the importance of psychology and psychoanalysis in “An Image of Africa?” How does Achebe use a psychoanalytic lens to examine both Conrad and Western literature?

Achebe spends a large portion of “An Image of Africa” discussing the importance of characters’ use of language in Heart of Darkness. Why is this important to Achebe’s main claims? How does Conrad’s depiction of African characters’ use of language reflect the power dynamics of Heart of Darkness?