In 1890, Joseph Conrad found work in the Congo as a steamboat captain. After six months he returned due to illness. Recording his experiences in the Congo, Conrad wrote his world-famous short story, Heart of Darkness. Since its publication in 1899, Heart of Darkness has attracted many literary critics. Although many critics supported the publication of Heart of Darkness, other critics, such as Chinua Achebe, examined the tale on the basis of racism. The research does not lead to a conclusive decision about racism in the tale, as there is evidence to support the themes of both racism and anti-imperialism. As mentioned above, Chinua Achebe is the best-known literary critic of Heart of Darkness. In his essay, “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness,” Achebe makes clear that he is disgusted by Heart of Darkness and that he believes that “Joseph Conrad [is] a total racist” (1977, p. 5). Achebe draws attention to many examples in which Conrad subjected Africa and its people to racist illustrations and descriptions. An example of imagery that has stuck with many critics of Heart of Darkness describes the suffering of Africans. “Near the same tree sat two other bundles of sharp angles with their legs raised” (Conrad, 1900, p. 21). Many have pointed out that this caricature and pose of the African native infantilizes him and takes away his humanity. Both Achebe and another critic, Memory Chirere, a writer for The Herald, find many faults in Conrad's stylistic imagery. While Achebe believes that Conrad's style "[Induces] hypnotic stupor in his readers through a bombardment of emotional words and other forms of deception", Chirere calls attention to a different cause of impact... middle of paper... .ors: a wacky story. London, UK: William Heinemann.Davis, Lennard J. (2006). The value of teaching from a racist classic. The Chronicle ReviewPhillips, C. (2007). Joseph Conrad was indeed a racist. Philosophia Africana,10(1), 59-66.Raja, M.A. (2007). Joseph Conrad: The issue of racism and the representation of Muslims in his Malay works. Postcolonial Text, 3(4), 1-12.Said, E. (1993). Two visions in the heart of darkness. Culture and imperialism, 22-31. Sarvan, CP. (1980) Racism and the Heart of Darkness. The International Fiction Review, 7(1), 6-10. Svensson, Morgan. (2010). Critical responses to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Flemingsburg, Sweden: Södertörn University College.Tindall, William Y. (1966). Apologies to Marlow. Heart of Darkness and Conrad's critics (pp. 123-34). By Bruce Harkness. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publications.