The novels Heart of Darkness and Waiting for the Barbarians both represent the corruption of an empire in two different ways. Each novel shows how an empire will assert itself to be superior to another race; however, the way in which corruption is conveyed is different between the two novels. While Heart of Darkness is narrated by the “lawful” Marlow, Waiting for the Barbarians conveys the corruption of the Empire through the eyes of the Magistrate.
In Heart of Darkness, the empire inflicts its corruption upon the inhabitants of Africa. Unlike Waiting for the Barbarians, Heart of Darkness shows an empire’s mentality when going to a foreign land to enforce its ideals. The ongoing theme represents the concept of “the white man’s burden.” Throughout the entire novel however, the reader observes not how the African race is inferior, but rather how disgusting and inhumane the white people were who had invaded the natives’ land. In addition to the given perception of the white people, the reader is also exposed to the corrupt empire through the information Marlow gains from Kurtz’s letters. In these notes Marlow reads Kurtz’s deterioration of morals and lawfulness. Coming into Africa, he was a respectable man similar to Marlow; however, over time the corruption and competition got to him and he grew to be an unlawful person who thought disturbing thoughts such as “Kill all the brutes!”
On the other hand, Waiting for the Barbarians conveys the Empire’s corruption through the Magistrate’s perspective; instead of seeing it through the gradual downfall of a character, Waiting for the Barbarians depicts the Magistrate’s rejection to the corrupt tendencies of the Empire. Upon the arrival of Colonel Joll, the Magistrate begins to doubt the intentions of the Empire. He sees how Colonel Joll and his men tortured the innocent barbarians then claimed they were free from blame. In the Magistrate’s own way, he rejects the Empire through taking one of Colonel Joll’s ex-prisoners under his wing, attempting to nurse her back to health, and eventually bring her back to her people. Throughout the novel the Magistrate grows more and more intolerant of the Empire’s cruelties and injustices until he hits a breaking point and publically shouts “No!” against Colonel Joll’s violence inflicted upon the Barbarians. The Magistrate had progressed to the point of no return and from then on, he defies the authority of the Empire any chance he can get (including the time he “reads” the letters as an allegory).
In conclusion, both novels analyze the affects an Empire’s corruption can have on individuals. Heart of Darkness recounts the inner deterioration of his morals as a result to the corruption and Waiting for the Barbarians observes a character’s inability to tolerate the harsh and immoral actions done by the Empire. (462)
