went on under the cover of brotherhood and philanthropy" (Singh 268-269). Leopold II, the King of Belgium, represented the hypocrisy of European imperialists by ordering the establishment of exploitative trade centers along the Congo River while at the same time proclaiming the civilizing of African savages to be "a crusade worthy of this age of progress" (Najder 123). Despite the claims of the European traders, the truth of the matter was that Africans were forced to do slave labor simply for the profit of white colonialists. In Heart of Darkness, Marlow notes that the native villages surrounding the white outposts are all empty and realizes that it is the result of traders "catching the yokels right and left to carry heavy loads for them" (Conrad 23).
Conrad had hoped to find adventure and romance on his journey up the Congo River, but instead "he found ruthless competition for trade and power, and an organization bent on making quick, huge profits" (Najder 136). Before arriving in the Congo, Conrad had believed the European propaganda about the white traders bringing civilization to the African savages. However, during his experiences in the region, Conrad became convinced of "the greed and duplicity of the white bearers of 'civilization' eager for quick profits" (Najder 128). In Heart of Dar
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