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Heart of Darkness


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(1902)



This novel exposes the myth behind colonisation whilst exploring the three levels of darkness that the protagonist, Marlow, encounters--the darkness of the Congo wilderness, the darkness of the European's cruel treatment of the natives, and the unfathomable darkness within every human being for committing heinous acts of evil. Conrad himself was exposed to the brutality of European attitudes in the Congo when he worked as a captain of a steamboat on the Congo river. Conrad, as shown through this novella, was disgusted by the cruelty, futility, and lust for ivory. This is a profound, thought provoking novel that challenges the reader to question their own morals and values to 'The Horror' the novel exposes them to. ~ Submitted by Mikz Ramsing

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Recent Forum Posts on Heart of Darkness

Criticisms of the reality of European Colonialism?

Analyse Conrad's representation of the colonial experience in the Belgian Congo. What problems could a modern reader face in accepting his criticisms of the reality of European colonialism? Thats my in class essay i have in a couple of days - and I'm stuck. We're allowed a page of notes and a page of quotes + an introduction. My into goes like this (so far): Heart of Darkness is a novel based on Joseph Conrad’s own experiences whilst travelling up the Congo River. Conrad found the community was uninformed about the realism of Colonialism so he wrote the novel in 1899. Whilst praising some of Europe’s intentions but through the central character, Marlow, he confessed the execution of it is futile and savage. These views could be because he was colonised by the Russians who exiled him and his parents. Problems for a modern, post colonial reader are Conrad’s anti-feminist views which are displayed by making the women in his story naïve and nameless. Marlow’s lack of empathy and his failure to suggest change about the Native Africans is another problem posed by Conrad. Can someone please suggest another criticism (and if possible, evidence and quotes and whatnot, but if not I should be able to find some), or fixes to my intro? Thanks heaps

Posted By mb1994 at Sun 23 Aug 2009, 2:55 AM in Heart of Darkness || 3 Replies

G'day and Help

I need help with my Heart of Darkness work. We are working on a powerpoint on "is Conrad a Racist or Rejecting Imperialism". we need good examples for the he isn't. Thanks Josh

Posted By caboose007 at Thu 20 Aug 2009, 8:35 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies

changing views

As in, for instance, Benito Cereno, and many other examples of nineteenth century literature, Conrad´s vision of nature and "natural man" is one of dread. Nature is dark and all-powerful, and to try to conquer it is impossible . Primitive man is unfathomable; he´s childish and cruel by nature, just the opposite of civilized londoners. The futility of the naval bombardment of the lonely coast illustrates this. Nowadays; or at least till a couple of years ago; Rosseau's "good savage" has made a comeback, a far cry from Conrad´s vision of the congolese tribesmen ( or of the russians, for that matter ).

Posted By suzdal at Fri 24 Jul 2009, 12:49 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies

Heart of Darkness Questions PLEASE HELP PROFESSIONALS!

PLEASE HELP ME ;.; do as much as youd like PLEASE! i really need this english is not my first language and im going to be a sophomore and the teachers gave me this for the summer This is from book 1 1. What is the setting of this story? Why is it important that the tide has just turned? Why does the author spend so much time dealing with the light? Who has the light? Who has the darkness? 2. How is Marlow different from everyone else on that ship? Is the audience civilized? Is Marlow? How will they react to this story? How does the narrator predict they will react? 3. How did the Roman react to England? What did England look like then? How was it a "dark place"? 4. According to Marlow, what redeems "the conquest of the earth." Why do you suppose he breaks off? 5. What does Marlow keep comparing the river to? Why is that an interesting comparison? 6. Besides knitting, what do the two women do in the office? What do they each seem to symbolize? How might his Victorian English audience react to this? 5. Why did Fresleven go nuts? Why did he die? Why did the village become abandoned? 6. Marlowe’s Aunt calls her nephew an "emissary of light." What does she imagine her nephew is about to do? Why doesn’t he correct her? 7. What is the man-of-war doing? Why? What does this portend? 8. Describe the Company’s station. Why do you suppose the natives allowed themselves to get bullied about so much? 9. Describe the accountant. Why is he a "miracle" Marlow clearly admires him. Why? Is he a victim of the weak-eyed devil? 10. Describe the station manager What was his supreme gift? Why doesn’t Marlow like him? What might be the other meaning of having no "entrails." 11. What is the brick maker doing? What is he waiting for? 12. Describe Kurtz’s painting. What do you suppose it means? 13. The station manager and the brick-maker are both upset at Kurtz’s preeminence. Why? What does this say about them? How has Marlow lied to this man? 14. What is the problem with the rivets? What does that show about this enterprise? Why would the station manager not want the rivets to make it out? 15. What is wrong about the Eldorado Exploring Expedition? Book 2 1. How does the station manager survive? How does he plan to "beat" Kurtz? 2. Who was the crew of the steamboat? How were they more civilied than the "pilgirms" What, then, is the definition of "civilized." 3. What do the drums symbolize? What does the forest seem to be doing? 4. What does the phrase "The earth seemed unearthly" mean? How about "that was the worst of us, the suspicion that they weren’t inhuman"? 5. What book do they discover? What is admirable about the book? 6. When they wake up, eight miles from the station, what has happenned? What color is the fog? Why do you suppose that is? 7. Why does Marlow say the natives will not attack? 8. Why does Conrad kill the sounding man first? What has the river come to symbolize? In that case, why did the native helmsman die as well, and not the fireman? How does the helmsman die? How does Marlow drive the natives away? 9. What did he want to have from Kurtz? Where else has the author mentioned just this point? 10. What is Kurtz’s head like? How does Conrad make that significant? 11. What was Kurtz’s paper about? What is odd about it? What does he compare the scribble with at the end? Where else have you seen this? 12. What role does the harlequin have? Book 3 1. Describe the "harlequin"? How old is he? Why is he still alive? Who might be similar to that today? 2. What was on the stakes outside of Kurtz’s compound? Which way were they pointed? Who had they been? 3. How does Kurtz come to the boat? How does Marlow describe him? What symbols does Marlow use to describe Kurtz? 4. What weapons does Kurtz bring with him? Why does he bring them? 5. Who is the "wild and gorgeous apparition of a woman." What does Conrad pair her with? 10. What happens to Kurtz right before he dies? What do his last words mean? (probably) Why does Marlowe blow out the candle? Why won’t Marlowe leave the dining room? 11. What does it mean "he had something to say." How does that contrat Marlow? How does that contrast the pilot? Why was Kurtz’ last words "a victory." 12. What does Marlow learn about Kurtz back in the city? 13. What does Marlow want to give up? How has he gone about doing that? 14. Describe the Intended? Earlier Marlow says that women live in beautiful worlds that we shouldn’t disturb. How is that true here? How is that feeling his downfall? 15. Did she know him truly? What didn’t she know? Why doesn’t Marlow tell her? Why do you suppose she cries out "I knew it" at the end? Thought Questions Should he have said something else? What, then, is the Heart of Darkness?

Posted By wufufufu at Sat 18 Jul 2009, 5:51 PM in Heart of Darkness || 1 Reply

I need help with a research paper.

I am currently writing a paper on the Heart of Darkness and my topic is to explain how Death and Suicide are symbolized throughout the book. I am having a bit of trouble remebering what exactly happened during the first part of the book. I will put up what i have so far which is the thesis statement and introductory paragraph. any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. "Death, a feeling that is devoid of any life, the instance of not living, to be dead. Suicide is to take one’s own life through means of pain or narcotics. Either way your body dies while your mind is trapped in a void of terror. As your body slowly loses all feeling and becomes numb from the body cells dying off slowly your mind is left to wander during those agonizing moments in which you realize that there is nothing that you can do to change this decision. There is not one thing that you can say, not one person that can give you any drug or other elixir, no magic or faith that can bring you back. It is during these last moments of life that we realize just how fragile, valuable, and meaningful life is. Throughout Heart of Darkness we can find minute details that show life being snuffed out from underneath our gazes. They may even be so minute that we don’t even notice them at first. We may only notice the deaths of the humans and not of the slow death of the plant and animal life around you as the author spins his weary time ridden tale. The first instance of death we encounter is the..."

Posted By Raven_Nevermore at Wed 15 Jul 2009, 12:52 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies

Over imagining the Heart of Darkness?

In Chapter 1, on page 10, as Marlow is really getting into his story, the author interjects, He broke off. Flames gilded in the river, small green flames, white flames, pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other - then separating slowly or hastily. The traffic of the great city went on in the deepening night upon the sleepless river. My question as I try to undestand this book is, is the above description fitting for traffic in 1897-1902 London or was the book somehow set in the future? My understanding of the history of vehicles pegs years way after 1908 as the time most likely for traffic volumes worth describing. Or have I over imagined this paragraph? Thanks in advance

Posted By Kuda4rl at Thu 9 Jul 2009, 3:50 PM in Heart of Darkness || 6 Replies

Just finished Heart of Darkness. Spoilers!

Powerful novel. I am at a loss for words, truly. I desperately need to see Apocalypse Now. Before I delve into any other points, I want to point out a surprising lack in comparisons of Kurtz to Jesus. To me, this stuck out most in my reading. Yet Kurtz was more of a false messiah. He had great plans, great ideas, etc. but never could accomplish them. Instead he witnessed the "horror" of human nature. And given Conrad's brutal outlook on human existence, I believe this is a clear refutation of religion and the existence of benevolent God. Maybe a criticism of Jesus himself. Both Kurtz and Jesus had loyal followers. Yet both left the world still in shambles.

Posted By MTA at Thu 9 Jul 2009, 3:02 PM in Heart of Darkness || 5 Replies

some term papers on the heart of darkness and the threepenny opera by berlot brecht

I need the free link for downloading the movies of brecht , strindberg and e.m.Forster's works...thanks alot.

Posted By bebak at Tue 7 Apr 2009, 9:54 AM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies

Heart of Darkness-'The horror,the horror'

'The horror, the horror'. What is it? How does Marlow interpret it? thnx

Posted By itchy112233 at Mon 6 Apr 2009, 6:04 PM in Heart of Darkness || 5 Replies

Compare of futility of HoD and Apocalypse Now?

Hi, I have question that wants me to compare/contrast the theme of futility is represented in the film Apocalypse Now and the novel Heart of Darkness. Any help would be appreciated!

Posted By 8100 Power at Sun 7 Dec 2008, 2:31 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies

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