Place In Leopold's Congo example essay topic

Book Review of King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild What some have considered to be the first international scandal of the modern era took place in the Congo from 1890 until 1910. King Leopold II of Belgium was at the head of this so-called scandal. Although Europe and the rest of the world seemed to have forgotten the victims of these crimes, there is a considerable amount of material to use when attempting to recreate the horror that took place in Leopold's Congo. This is exactly what Adam Hochschild is attempting to do by writing this book. By using the written words of mostly Europeans and Americans, which creates a distorted view of history, he wants to show that the Holocaust type event that took place in the Congo is something that should never be forgotten in our history.

Hochschild also wants to show the heroism that took place afterwards in what became the first human rights movement of our time. Hochschild does an excellent and detailed job of showing how clever and cunning (like a fox) Leopold was in obtaining and maintaining his hold in the Congo. Early on Leopold became obsessed with the idea of colonies and the profit that they could bring to his country. In the beginning he did not attempt to cover-up this ambition, but soon realized he needed to in order to have the approval of those countries around him. The metaphorHochschild uses to explain Leopold's venture into the Congo is brilliant. He compares Leopold to a director of a play and explains how he directs his actors and stagehands, such as Henry Shelton Sanford and Henry Morton Stanley.

By acting as the director and guiding his actors and stagehands, Leopold finds the angle he needs and that is pretending to engage in a philanthropy movement in the 'dark continent. ' In Chapter 9, 'Meeting Mr. Kurtz,' Hochschild provides a good description of the novel, Heart of Darkness, and in the process enlightens the reader about the true background and meaning to Joseph Conrad's novel. Early in the book, Hochschild mentions the novel and how it has been studied for Freudian overtones, mystic echoes, and its inward vision. According to him, the book is more fact than fiction because there are many similarities between the book and Conrad's very own travels into the Congo. In fact, Hochschild calls the narrator of Heart of Darkness, Marlow, Conrad's alter ego. Probably the biggest example of how the book is based on Conrad's own travels is the fact that the stories' villain, Mr. Kurtz, is clearly inspired by a number of real people.

These include George Antoine Klein, Major Edmund Barttelot, and Captain Leon Rom, who probably is the real-life basis for Kurtz's most important signal, a collection of African heads around his house. Heart of Darkness is given a completely new spin because of Hochschild's interpretation. Hochschild has a tendency to be too descriptive. There are some parts in the book that could be taken out in order to make it more concise and related to the point he is trying to convey. Also at times he seems to use quotation that are unnecessary and would be better left out. At one point he has a quotation that takes up two pages by itself.

Another negative about the book is that he seems to be a little harsh on Leopold. To my knowledge, Leopold was doing things that a lot of other countries we redoing. All colony-seeking countries tried to establish dominance over their empire. There is no doubt the author is very knowing is his subject, but the book could be even stronger if some parts were left out entirely.] In King Leopold's Ghost, Adam Hochschild has made readers aware of the horrendous events that took place in the Congo doing the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.

King Leopold II, the king of the Belgians, was the mastermind and director of what the author calls a stage play. By using his cleverness, Leopold was able to secure the Congo, but this also led to the first human rights movement of the modern era. This movement would continue on after Leopold's death, meaning that King Leopold's Ghost was still putting up a fight for his beloved colony. This book is very entertaining and I recommend it for future classes.