Heart of Darkness Paper So far this year, you’ve read two major texts about Europeans entering a “new world.” Prospero and Miranda arrive and tame not only the inhabitants, Sycorax and Caliban, but the environment as well.  They exert power over both natives and the landscape, molding them according to European values and standards. Marlow leaves England for the Congo and observes the subjugation of native peoples by European political and commercial powers. Some read Heart of Darkness as a critique of imperialism; some read it as an exploration of the human psyche; some read it as historical fiction that details Congolese conditions without judgment. We’ve looked at Chinua Achebe’s criticism of the book as racist and Edward Said’s defense of its historical accuracy. We have also considered Coppola’s contemporary American “translation” of the book to Vietnam—an interpretation that seems to marry a critique of imperialism, racial politics, and individual claims to power with observations on the absurdity of war and the savage nature of the human race. Please compose a 500 word response to the collection of texts we’ve read on Heart of Darkness and colonialism.   You are responsible for coming up with the thesis.  Some questions to consider include: -       What are the major themes of Conrad’s work and how are they conveyed? -       Why has the work been interpreted in such a variety of ways? -       How and why does Conrad tell the story from the perspective he does? -       What do the book’s increasingly dense meditations on Marlow’s and Kurtz’s psyches have to do with their individual journeys up the river? -       Who has power over whom?  How is this power exerted? -       Do you agree or disagree with Achebe and Said?  Why? DUE DECEMBER 14TH WITH ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY. Annotated Bibliography Assignment -       Study the handouts on how to create an annotated bibliography. -       Prepare an annotated bibliography for a (hypothetical) extended version of the paper above. Your sources must all be related to your thesis. (you should explain in the annotation) -       Be sure to include primary text, Achebe or Said, and three other articles found online or in a library.  (for a total of 5 entries) -       Check your annotation for grammar, spelling, and format. -       Annotations should not exceed 150 words. (not including bibliographic entry) -       For guidance, consult: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm  -       Hand in the bibliography with your paper on December 14th.