IMAGINEA INDIGENULUI LA JOSEPH CONRAD

Ecaterina CRECICOVSCHI Catedra Literatura Universală

Rezumat

This study focuses on the image of the savage in J.Conrad’s prose. The necessity to tackle this aspect is explained by the fact that despite the savage is a rare presence in the writer’s works, it is important for referring its creator to the theme of exoticism in literature and to Neoromanticism. In order to realize J.Conrad’s originality, he is compared with R.Kipling. The anlysis shows that one condemns imperialism, while the other exalts it. Thus, both share the interest in unknown tribes, their beliefs and superstitions. Among the races that populate J.Conrad’s writings, one could include the Malays, the Arabs, the Indians, the Chinese, the Africans. As a rule they are idealized. However, opinions differ regarding this peculiarity. Ch.Achebe, for instance, offended by the way Africans are represented in Heart of Darkness, called J.Conrad ‘a bloody racist’. I.Watt, A.Kettle, D.Schwarz disapproved him, providing convincing arguments against. They consider that even if sometimes the writer displays ambiguous attitudes, generally he denounced racism, creating an image of the savage that, as the Neoromantic doctrine implies, combines realistic and romantic features.