hunterofhunters7 t1_iuip4aj wrote on October 31, 2022 at 5:02 PM

I also read this for the first time recently and felt unimpressed. I think at the time it was published, the message of anti-imperialism and stark representation of it's impact was new for many readers and the novella's significance lies in being an early work in condemning colonization.

To modern readers, it feels like a shallow meditation on a topic that is very widely discussed and written about, so it's much less of a shock to us than it's original audience.

akira2bee t1_iujgkji wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:04 PM

For me personally, I felt like it really highlighted something that isn't talked about enough, as where I live (Virginia, USA) we didn't learn anything about Africa or colonialism in Africa in school, and I still have relatives that believe that Africa is filled with tribes, poor people, and diseases.

I guess it just depends on the person who reads it though, like most book interpretations. Its not a perfect book by any means, but I do think it has an interesting perspective of what it means to be human and the nature of colonialism.

But thats just my personal opinion!

bc6619 OP t1_iuivo5z wrote on October 31, 2022 at 5:45 PM

Well put, thanks for the response.