On barbarians, or on the only barbarians that exist in The Heart of Darkness De bárbarols, o de los únicos bárbaros que existen en El corazón en las tinieblas

Abstract

The essay analyzes the concept of “barbarism” and its arbitrary use, primarily by Europeans, as a tool of domination and dehumanization. Historically, the Greeks used the term to label foreigners and ideological adversaries, framing them as inferior and naturally fit for servitude. This categorization served as a mechanism of power to justify oppression and cultural erasure. The essay argues that civilization itself is a fragile construct that conceals barbaric tendencies. Concepts like culture, religion, and democracy, often celebrated as pillars of civilization, are critiqued as forms of barbarism when imposed through violence, domination, and dehumanization. Conrad is portrayed as an exorcist of the term “barbarism,” revealing its inherent contradictions and showing that Europeans, far from being the civilizers, are themselves the architects of barbarity.