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Y_Brennan t1_iy43ruw wrote

Reply to comment by SoothingDisarray in Environmentalist, postcolonial, queer books?? by Phat-et-ic

I think the use of typical white saviour narrative is a great way of criticising colonialism. On the environmental front you are correct I should have said that Dune is ecological. LoTR is definitely environmental and critical of industrialization. But it is not anti colonial.

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SoothingDisarray t1_iy46iqm wrote

True! Heart of Darkness, one of the great anti-colonial novels, definitely plays on the white savior myth as well. In fact, it's often misinterpreted as a pro-colonialist novel, or at least one that is non-critical of colonialism, because of this. Well, and also because of other reasons, but I think many interpretations that use a modern point of view lose sight of Conrad's intent.

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Y_Brennan t1_iy4aj8q wrote

I understand the anti-colonial sentiments in Heart of darkness but I still hate it. Horrible book.

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SoothingDisarray t1_iy4h4bt wrote

I will qualify that when I said "great anti-colonial novels" I didn't mean "great" as in "this is a book I love" but as in "great example of a important literary work." :) :) :)

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