Question

aving shown us Africa in the mass, Conrad then zeros in, half a page later, on a specific example, giving us one of his rare descriptions of an African who is not just limbs or rolling eyes:

And between whiles I had to look after the savage who was fireman. He was an improved specimen; he could fire up a vertical boiler. He was there below me, and, upon my word, to look at him was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat, walking on his hind legs. A few months of training had done for that really fine chap. He squinted at the steam gauge and at the water gauge with an evident effort of intrepidity—and he had filed his teeth, too, the poor devil, and the wool of his pate shaved into queer patterns, and three ornamental scars on each of his cheeks. He ought to have been clapping his hands and stamping his feet on the bank, instead of which he was hard at work, a thrall to strange witchcraft, full of improving knowledge.

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

Which phrases from the passage support Achebe’s claim that Conrad’s writing dehumanizes the African people? Check all that apply.

“the savage who was a fireman”
“He was an improved specimen”
“as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches”
“He squinted at the steam gauge”
“he was hard at work”
“a thrall to strange witchcraft”

Answer 1

Choices that support Achebe’s claim:
- “the savage who was a fireman”
- “He was an improved specimen”
- “as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches”
- “a thrall to strange witchcraft”

These phrases compare the man to an animal, treat him as a specimen, label him “savage,” and portray him as subservient to primitive forces—all dehumanizing. The other two are neutral descriptions of action.