Question

Read the excerpt from "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.”

At first sight these instances might be mistaken for unexpected acts of generosity from Conrad. In reality they constitute some of his best assaults. In the case of the cannibals the incomprehensible grunts that had thus far served them for speech suddenly proved inadequate for Conrad's purpose of letting the European glimpse the unspeakable craving in their hearts. Weighing the necessity for consistency in the portrayal of the dumb brutes against the sensational advantages of securing their conviction by clear, unambiguous evidence issuing out of their own mouths, Conrad chose the latter. As for the announcement of Mr. Kurtz's death by the "insolent black head in the doorway," what better or more appropriate finis could be written to the horror story of that wayward child of civilization who willfully had given his soul to the powers of darkness and "taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land" than the proclamation of his physical death by the forces he had joined?

How does Achebe develop his claim in this excerpt?

He constructs a counterclaim to refute the challenge.
He lists reasons that support his claim.
He cites evidence from the text to support his claim.
He states the claim of his argument at the end.

Answer 1

He cites evidence from the text to support his claim.

Explanation: Achebe supports his argument by pointing to specific passages/phrases in Conrad's text (e.g., the cannibals' grunts and the "insolent black head in the doorway") and interpreting them to show Conrad's intended racist effects.