I am proud to say that I am a Puerto
Rican-American; I am very fond of my culture and where I am from. I am also
very proud of being an American citizen (land of the brave and home of the
free), this country has giving me some amazing opportunities. However, my
experience here has also taught me that no matter where you go one will always
encounter ignorant people. I think this is the best way to explain what Achebe
objection to Heart of Darkness is. It is a statement against American
imperialism and how it has shaped the world and giving an image to people
around the world placing them in rigid stereotypes that only tell one story.
Like Apocalypse Now, which only tells one side of the story the one of the
American, soldier. It does not give the perspective of Charlie, the Vietnamese
soldiers. All the film gives us is what is needed for us to create an image
that represents a savage. With sticks, stones, and arrows. Is even impressive that
at the end of the film when you finally meet captain Kurtz he even looks like
the bad guys. His army is full of Vietnamese soldiers carrying all sorts of weapons.
His camp is filled with decapitated heads and lynched bodies. Captain Kurtz
even takes on the image of a savage with blood and dirt all over his face. This
in turns makes you think that in order to be a bad guy you have to be savage
further strengthening America’s perspective on imperialism. Empowering the
system of telling only one story and giving that story all the power.
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