Portfolio. Heart of Darkness. Season of Migration to the North

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Heart of Darkness
“It was unearthly, and the men were—No, they were not inhuman. Well, you know, that was the worst of it—the suspicion of their not being inhuman.”
I chose this quote because it reflects the attitudes of the colonialists towards the natives. I have been asking myself why colonialists looked down upon the natives and went ahead to oppress them. This quote presents one of the major reasons why colonial masters were cruel to the native people.
The quote originates from Marlow's journey up the river as he proceeds to the Inner Station. As he moves up the river, he gets an opportunity to see a glimpse of the native people along the river banks. As he listens to the native people chanting and beating drums, Marlow cannot help but admit his wrong perception towards the natives. He discovers that his attitude towards the natives as inhuman is merely the reflection of the prevailing stereotypes propagated by the colonial masters.
The significance of the quote is its demonstration of the stereotypes that colonial masters propagated to mistreat the native people. The colonialists considered themselves civilized, while the natives were savages and hence inhuman. This quote is important because it discredits colonialism and the negative image it advances towards the local people.
Season of Migration to the North
“…that just like us [the Europeans] are born and die, and in the journey from the cradle to the grave they dream dreams some of which come true and some of which are frustrated…”
I chose this quote because it demonstrates the need to have a better perspective of the Europeans and the local politicians. The quote is significant because it enables readers to see the different attitudes people have regarding the Europeans.
In the quote, Salih attempts to demonstrate the importance of having a balanced perspective when considering the impact of European imperialism in Africa. Salih indicates that while it is easy to blame the Europeans for the damage they have done in Africa, people should not forget the damage that local politicians continue to wreck on the continent. In other words, Sahil shows that the local Sudanese politicians are not different from the former colonial masters.
This quote is crucial considering that former colonies continue to suffer despite the colonial masters leaving. We must appreciate that while the Europeans were corrupt and took advantage of the colonies for their selfish benefits, the local politicians who have taken over power as...