An Image of Africa by Chinua Achebe is a compelling representation that tackles the problem of how Western media and literary works have fostered unfavorable preconceptions and distortions of African culture and people. Achebe draws from his life and in-depth understanding of African literature and history in creating his ethos. He presents himself as an expert and credible voice on the subject, and his mannerisms are calm and considerate instead of combative or angry. This strategy strengthens his persuasiveness and credibility. The article discusses the necessity of dispelling the inaccurate perceptions about Africa that have persisted in Western literature and culture. It provides a compelling and inspiring vision of a more equitable and inclusive society.
Achebe draws up the audience’s feelings by underlining these prejudices’ negative repercussions on African individuals and their sense of value. He argues that inaccurate depictions of Africans in Western literature created a distorted picture of the continent, leading to misunderstandings and misrepresentations. The author subsequently uses vivid and evocative language to effectively communicate the depth of his feelings and the urgency of his message.
Achebe’s evidence and claims are compelling and well-supported. The author uses several literary and historical sources to support his claims, and his arguments are based on thorough investigation and evaluation. In his book review, he effectively exposes how “Heart of Darkness,” by Joseph Conrad, reinforces derogatory preconceptions of Africans and offers an incorrect viewpoint on African history and culture.
The urgency of Achebe’s article is that it is necessary to combat and redress the prejudices and defamations of African culture and people that have been widely spread in Western literature and media. He believes this skewed perspective has adverse effects on the world, such as promoting inequality and injustice by fostering a lack of empathy and understanding (Achebe 332). Achebe wants to improve our knowledge of Africa and its people by tackling this issue.
Additionally, the impact of Achebe’s argument is strengthened by the use of strong visuals and metaphors. He contrasts, for instance, the demeaning image of Africans in Western literary works with the racial caricatures of Jews in Nazi propaganda (Achebe 329). His point is made more transparent and understandable to a broader audience by using this analogy to highlight the negative impact of such preconceptions.
The author’s article also serves as a call to action and a critique of Western writing and communication. He argues that it is critical for African authors and intellectuals to recover their own stories and confront the adverse perceptions imposed on them (Achebe 331). He outlines a vision of a more authentic and diversified body of writing that honors the depth and complexity of African culture.
It is essential to remember that Achebe’s assertions and use of supporting information resulted in some debate. According to some reviewers, the writer’s depiction of Africa has been criticized for being unduly exaggerated. In contrast, others have questioned how much Western literature can be responsible for maintaining unfavorable stereotypes of Africa. The general strength and persuasiveness of Achebe’s message, even if one disagrees with some of his specific arguments, cannot be disputed.
In conclusion, An Image of Africa is an essay that continues to resonate today, more than forty years after it was first published. Achebe’s careful construction of ethos appeals to pathos, evidence, claims, and a sense of necessity, contributing to his argument’s effectiveness. Achebe offers a powerful and inspiring vision of a more just and inclusive world by challenging the negative stereotypes and distortions of African culture and people that have been perpetuated in Western literature and media.
Works Cited
Achebe, Chinua. “n.d. An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
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