Question

Heart of Darkness projects the image of Africa as "the other world," the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization, a place where man's vaunted intelligence and refinement are finally mocked by triumphant bestiality. The book opens on the River Thames, tranquil, resting, peacefully "at the decline of day after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks." But the actual story will take place on the River Congo, the very antithesis of the Thames. The River Congo is quite decidedly not a River Emeritus. It has rendered no service and enjoys no old-age pension. We are told that "Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginning of the world."

–“An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's
Heart of Darkness,”
Chinua Achebe

What type of evidence does Achebe use to support his claim in this passage?

direct quotations
anecdotal evidence
historical evidence
geographical evidence

Answer 1

Direct quotations — Achebe supports his claim by citing and quoting language from Heart of Darkness (e.g., "the other world," "Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginning of the world").