The Congo Background Information for Heart of Darkness

Quick Overview What you should know: 1.Geography- Including location, natural resources and natural features of the area 2.Pre-Colonial History- Life before Europe’s takeover 3.The Congo Free State- What King Leopold and his agents did to make his personal colony profitable

Continental Context Congo River

1. Geography The main geographic feature is the Congo River The main geographic feature is the Congo River Fifth longest river in the world Fifth longest river in the world

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

Congo River Village Geography

2. Pre-Colonial Congo The Kingdom of the Congo (Kongo) According to Portuguese explorers the kingdom was a sophisticated and well run state, an imperial federationAccording to Portuguese explorers the kingdom was a sophisticated and well run state, an imperial federation Known for advanced working in copper and ironKnown for advanced working in copper and iron Rich in ivory and rubberRich in ivory and rubber Ne Vunda, Kongolese ambassador to the Vatican, 1608

Pre-Colonial Congo Slavery Slavery was part of the culture of the CongoSlavery was part of the culture of the Congo Originally slaves were captured during warfare, were criminals, or were debtors who could earn back their freedomOriginally slaves were captured during warfare, were criminals, or were debtors who could earn back their freedom Eventually, Muslim slave traders began to sell their slaves to European traders for export to the AmericasEventually, Muslim slave traders began to sell their slaves to European traders for export to the Americas

3. The Congo Free State Leopold II ( ), King of Belgium from 1865 to 1909, infamous founder of the Congo Free State

The Congo Free State The ability to use the river to gain access to the ivory and rubber rich interior made the Congo a coveted area for colonization. The ability to use the river to gain access to the ivory and rubber rich interior made the Congo a coveted area for colonization. As European nations negotiated and agreed to respect each others’ claims to African territory, Leopold made his claim for the Congo. As European nations negotiated and agreed to respect each others’ claims to African territory, Leopold made his claim for the Congo. The Berlin Conference,

The Congo Free State Leopold sent the famous explorer of Africa, Henry Morton Stanley, to negotiate treaties with the natives. Leopold sent the famous explorer of Africa, Henry Morton Stanley, to negotiate treaties with the natives. Native chiefs were offered trinkets or cloth if they would place an X on a document in foreign tongue. Native chiefs were offered trinkets or cloth if they would place an X on a document in foreign tongue.

The Congo Free State These treaties, along with Leopold’s assurances that his goal was to end the practice of slavery, and a promise that the Congo would remain a free trade area, led the European countries to recognize Leopold’s claim to the territory in These treaties, along with Leopold’s assurances that his goal was to end the practice of slavery, and a promise that the Congo would remain a free trade area, led the European countries to recognize Leopold’s claim to the territory in The colony “belonged” not to Belgium, but to Leopold personally, making him the only individual to ever colonize a country. The colony “belonged” not to Belgium, but to Leopold personally, making him the only individual to ever colonize a country.

The Congo Free State : “The Profit Imperative” The Congo Free State : “The Profit Imperative” For the first few years of Leopold’s rule his colony did not turn a profit. For the first few years of Leopold’s rule his colony did not turn a profit. Soon the idea of free trade was abandoned and the natives could only trade with Leopold’s representatives, with 50% of the profits going to Leopold himself. Soon the idea of free trade was abandoned and the natives could only trade with Leopold’s representatives, with 50% of the profits going to Leopold himself. In order to up the profits it became necessary to make use of cheap labor (gathering rubber is very labor intensive). In order to up the profits it became necessary to make use of cheap labor (gathering rubber is very labor intensive).

Leopold drove the slave traders out of the country, which he portrayed as a great humanitarian act. In reality, however, he did it to gain control of the region. Leopold drove the slave traders out of the country, which he portrayed as a great humanitarian act. In reality, however, he did it to gain control of the region. He then paid his ‘agents’ in the country a percentage of the profits, encouraging them to make the trade more and more profitable. He then paid his ‘agents’ in the country a percentage of the profits, encouraging them to make the trade more and more profitable. He also authorized the use of as much force as was deemed necessary. He also authorized the use of as much force as was deemed necessary. The Congo Free State : “The Profit Imperative” The Congo Free State : “The Profit Imperative”

The Congo Free State Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by holding their wives and children captive until each man’s quota was met. Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by holding their wives and children captive 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 chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges. Others were beaten with cruel whips called chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges.

The Congo Free State Soon a revolt broke out due to the cruel conditions and slave labor Soon a revolt broke out due to the cruel conditions and slave labor Leopold sent his troops into the villages to exterminate the young men Leopold sent his troops into the villages to exterminate the young men To make sure bullets weren’t wasted the soldiers were expected to return with the severed right hands of those they killed. To make sure bullets weren’t wasted the soldiers were expected to return with the severed right hands of those they killed.

The Congo Free State Often, however, the soldiers could not meet quotas, or had to justify bullets spent on hunting, and so would cut the hands off of living women and children. Often, however, the soldiers could not meet quotas, or had to justify bullets spent on hunting, and so would cut the hands off of living women and children. During the years from it is estimated that 8-10 million people died due to murder, mistreatment and starvation. During the years from it is estimated that 8-10 million people died due to murder, mistreatment and starvation.

The Human Rights Movement Public pressure eventually forced Leopold to sell the Congo Free State to the Belgian government. It became The Belgian Congo in 1908 Public pressure eventually forced Leopold to sell the Congo Free State to the Belgian government. It became The Belgian Congo in 1908 The Belgian Government ended the worst of the atrocities, but still controlled the fate of the African natives “For their own good.” The Belgian Government ended the worst of the atrocities, but still controlled the fate of the African natives “For their own good.” The African natives were never consulted about their future The African natives were never consulted about their future

Imperialism Imperialism: The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony (the predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others) over other nations. Includes the system, policies, or practices of such a government. Imperialism: The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony (the predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others) over other nations. Includes the system, policies, or practices of such a government. “Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale.” Heart of Darkness, page 70 “Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale.” Heart of Darkness, page 70

Heart of Darkness

Characters ► Anonymous narrator aboard the Nellie, a former seaman with a sense of humor ► Marlow-a seaman who piloted a steamboat for a large Belgian trading company ► General Manager-the chief of the company’s Central Station who seeks to replace Kurtz ► Russian-a boyish seaman who idolizes Kurtz ► Kurtz-the characteristic chief of the company’s inner station

Themes, Motifs, Symbols ► Light vs. Dark ► Civilization vs. Savagery ► Racism ► Search for Identity ► Effects of Imperialism ► Hypocrisy of Imperialism ► Madness as a Result of Imperialism ► The existence/effects of true evil

Framed Narrative Narrator beginsNarrator begins Marlow takes overMarlow takes over Narrator breaks in occasionallyNarrator breaks in occasionally