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Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now

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"Heart of Darkness" is a novel by Joseph Conrad which depicts the atrocities committed through the policy of imperialism and colonialism. The story follows a man by the name of Charles Marlow and his journey into the Congo as part of a Belgium ivory company. He becomes infatuated with an enigmatic Mr. Kurtz, who is easily one of the top ivory traders of the company. Marlow is sent on a journey to recover Kurtz from his outpost deep in the jungle, and it is through his journey that the horrors of imperialism and colonialism unfold. Francis Ford Coppola took this novel and put it on screen with his production of Apocalypse Now. Set during the Vietnam War, this film tags alongside U.S. Army Special Operations Officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard and his trek along the Nung River to find and eliminate Special Forces Colonel Walter E. Kurtz who has gone rouge to American forces. On a more global scale, the atrocities of imperialism and colonialism are portrayed through the violent advancement of communism in under-developed countries and the Vietnam War itself. As it can be seen that these pieces of work parallel each other in many ways, the themes in which they share are pieced together through their similar characters and artistic touches. In both instances, an overpowering drive to take control of wealth and/or power comes about by means of imperializing weaker and less developed areas of the world. In turn, colonies are developed, resources are tapped and stripped, and the originating country expands its political power over the area. Whether expansion is through diplomatic or militaristic forces, it embodies the principle of imperialism. So in short, imperialism and colonialism go hand in hand. In the time period "Heart of Darkness" is set, Europe is claiming land in Africa left and right and stripping the land of its very profitable resources. At this time in the end of the 19th century, Africa is still an extremely primitive area of the world, drastically vulnerable to European powers. Without forces to resist this settlement, Africa fell to European power. Jump forward seventy – eigh

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