Conrad's unfinalised texts such as 'Heart of Darkness,' Nostromo, and Under Western Eyes encourage a dialogue with many critics and writers. It is not surprising that Ngugi, Naipaul, and Achebe are engaged in dialogues with 'Heart of Darkness' in different ways, for it is a text which does not govern a reader. Whilst Naipaul reinforces the insecurity of Conrad's text, Ngugi and Achebe attempt to secure their own nationalist identities. It seems that Ngugi and Achebe feel the necessity of meta-narrations, or the great legitimizing narratives of emancipation, to correct the distorted views of Africa or to build an utopian society. Relying on the authority of an omniscient narrator may be an effective way of demonstrating the presence of a historical experience of resistance against empire. However, it should not be ignored that the presence of one dominant voice which overthrows the centralized master narratives of European culture might produce another authoritarianism. Perhaps this may be a lesson we could draw from Conrad's polyphonic texts.
I. Introduction
II. Conrad & NaipauI
III. Conrad & Achebe
IV. Conclusion
Works Cited