How did the critical reception of Heart of Darkness change after Joseph Conrad’s death?

During Joseph Conrad’s lifetime, Heart of Darkness failed to achieve popular success and received little attention compared to his other works. Following his death, the critical reception of the novella underwent significant shifts:1

• Mid-20th Century: In the 1940s and 1950s, the work gained academic prominence through a psychological lens. Critics interpreted it as a universalist exploration of the human soul, focusing on themes of corruption and inherent darkness.1
• 1970s to Present: The discourse shifted dramatically when Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe criticized the novella for dehumanizing African people and using them merely as a backdrop for the white psyche. This sparked a wave of postcolonial and feminist critiques, which argued that the text effaces both African and female characters.12

Today, the novella occupies a controversial position in the Modernist literature canon. While recognized for its early critiques of imperialism, it is increasingly viewed as a product of the very racism and patriarchal perspectives it depicts, leading scholars to debate its continued place in the literary canon.12