The novel Things Fall Apart differs a lot from the book Heart of Darkness. Having yet to start the latter novel, it is possible to say that Achebe’s story presents a more in depth, equal view of the customs and beliefs of Africa. Conrad’s novel appears to be narrow-minded and one-sided. Both novels present very different views, but while one is fair, the other is cruel.
In Achebe's critique, Heart of Darkness gives the reader a horrible view of the customs of Africa. They are cannibals, and are savage in everything they do. Africans are viewed as ignorant, despite any education they receive. According to Achebe, Africans in Heart of Darkness made “‘a violent babble of uncouth sounds,’” and “‘exchanged short grunting phases’”. In Things Fall Apart, Africans are presented like a group of settled people, with their own beliefs, traditions, and laws.
Both of these novels are different and each present a very different view of Africa. The former presents a fair view, comparing practices between the world and Africa. The latter offers a cruel view, degrading the differences between cultures of Africa and Europeans.
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