Why did Heart of Darkness become controversial in literary studies?

Joseph Conrad’s 1902 novella Heart of Darkness is a central subject of debate in literary studies due to its problematic representations of race and gender.12

While the work is recognized for its critique of Western colonialism and its influence on Modernist literature, it has faced significant criticism for its dehumanization of African people. Notably, Nigerian author Chinua Achebe characterized the book as racist, arguing that it reduces Africans to an indistinct backdrop used solely to explore the white protagonist's interiority.123

Similarly, feminist critics contend that the novella flattens female characters, treating them as symbolic "shells" rather than multidimensional individuals. These critiques argue that the text privileges a masculine perspective and fails to dismantle the racism inherent in the imperialist systems it depicts. Consequently, the novella occupies a controversial position in the Western canon, with scholars debating whether it remains an insightful critique of human depravity or an artifact that perpetuates the very prejudices it portrays.32