JOSEPH CONRAD: A CRITICAL INTRODUCTION

Joseph Conrad has been an eminent author of the modern times and his colonial writings do present a critique of the hypocritical nature of European imperialism. Many of his works are highly impressionistic in nature because of their graphic, physical representations of not only the physical landscapes of the colonized world but also the cultural ethos of the different people of those lands. But at the same time, it must not be forgotten that Conrad does probe into the inmost recesses of the characters of his works and make a thorough investigation into the abounding complexities of the human mind. In other words, Conrad‘s works are also psychological treatises where one can trace his insightful probe into the various complex processes that underlie the intricate workings of the human mind. Based on these precepts, this article intends to present a totalitarian picture of Conrad‘s oeuvre with special emphasis to his writing style, the themes and concerns of his works, the broader messages and undertones that his works exude. On the whole, this article intends to not only situate Conrad not only in his immediate context of colonialism and globalization, but also intends to establish him as a keen analyst of human mind. .