Heart of Darkness [Archive] - Literature Network Forums

flgirl073

09-26-2007, 10:07 PM

Hey guys! i thought it would be good to start a HoD thread so we can continue our class discussions online. This way we can explain our thoughts on things like themes, symbols, foreshadowing, etc. Even though this book is only 72 pages long, it is packed with many subjects for discussion.

One topic we have discussed in class is the great amount of mystery in Marlow's story. I discovered in tonight's reading "Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma. There it is before you--smiling, frowning, inviting, grand, mean, insipid, or savage, and always mute with an air of whispering, Come and find out" (10). Not only does this passage reveal the mystery in this foreign land, but it also reveals traits Marlow possesses. Even though he has had many warnings and bad feelings about this trip, he cannot wait to discover this new land. He has no clue if it will bring warmth or coldness, but he is dieing to find out.

Another topic is the comparison of light and dark throughout the journey. A passage that extends this thought is "a little white smoke would disappear...There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight; and it was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives-he called them enemies!--hidden out of sight somewhere" (11). Although the white people are the ones firing at the land, the natives are considered enemies. By the way Marlow reports this information, one can tell that he diagrees with this conclusion. Also the white smoke, is coming from the white people, showing the color symbolism we have discussed in class.

These are a few topics to start us off, but please add your own.

hp 4ever!

09-28-2007, 10:36 PM

hp 4ever!

10-07-2007, 03:06 PM

The doctor's warning concerning the light is an important and an apparent predicament for the "changes take place inside" (Conrad 9) due to the sunlight. There are many "mental" changes that we see in the characters. For instance, the Russian man "had started for the interior with a light heart" (49). The fact that the Russian traveled to the interior with a light heart could represent that he was not burdened by guilt, knowledge, or sin. Yet, as he moved closer to the inner station, he was exposed to the "darkness" and treachery that Marlow encountered in the novel. Due his journey, the Russian man became a changed man, which is indicated by his flawed idea that the natives are not trying to hurt the whites.

However, the characters undergo physical changes that indicate their sickness. For instance, Marlow feels feverish after spending some time in Africa. The idealized Kurtz (who's bald and thus retains the Sun more) also gets very ill multiple times. This connection is further seen through the manager: "He [the manager] had no learning, and no intelligence. His position had come to him-why? Perhaps because he was never ill...
He had served three terms of three years out there...Because triumphant health in the general rout of constitutions is a power itself" (18). The manager stays inside all the time and he allowed his "overfed young Negro from the coast...to treat the white men"(19). Therefore, he was able to maintain his physical fitness while others amongst him were not. The more one gets exposed to the sun, the more physically ill they'll become. Therefore, one can soundly conclude that those who will stay in the inner station for a long time (in the Sun) will be doomed to death (the biggest physical change). The doctor's warning shall prevail for he "never see[s] those who come back" (9)...if they do indeed survive the darkness of Africa to return to Europe.

Neo93

10-08-2007, 09:41 PM

So, first of all, the Russian's book. When I read the passage that talks about Marlow finding the book, it stood out to me as one of the most important symbols in the entire book, which is saying something.

First of all, the book is about the finer points of seamanship. This book could have been called anything, and the title is not random. Marlow is an experienced sailor, so he knows most of what the book says. Why then does Marlow Become so fixated on a book that has little to teach him. The book represents Marlow's tendency to cling to what he already knows than face the new and strange knowledge of the Congolese jungle. This could speak to the natural tendancy of all people to fall back on what they have always known, just like in the Poisonwood Bible when Leah, Adah, and Rachel all react to Ruth May's death in thier unique way.

So there's a little symbolism that I saw.

Anyone else see any other interesting symbols?

Please shed some light (or dark, if you wnat to look at it that way)

blazeofglory

10-08-2007, 10:29 PM

hp 4ever!

10-09-2007, 06:52 PM

Light serves as a symbol of knowledge that blinds many. Yet, it is almost as if the light blinds the people so that they cannot look outwards, but be forced to look inwards at the darkness within them. Thus, darkness could be a symbol of knowledge of oneself (or enlightment): “ ‘I am lying here in the dark waiting for death.’ The light was within a foot of his eyes…. Did he [Kurtz] live his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge?…[H]e cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: ‘The horror! The horror!’” (Conrad 64). Kurtz had lived in the light for many years (after moving from Europe…a place with less light) and therefore he had been forced to examine the darkness within him. Kurtz (who moved away from the light that was a foot away from his eyes into the darkness) couldn’t tolerate the light anymore after he reached that supreme moment of complete knowledge and the outcome was his death.

Tying this back with the blindfolded woman with the torch, it is plausible that Kurtz painted her blindfolded so that she wouldn’t be able to see the darkness within her since their would be no blinding light that would force her do so. Yet, she would bring the light to a dark region that would blind the inhabitants (they would be blinded because were not used to light). This woman could be a symbol of Africa (mother nature) since neither Africa nor the Africans seem to be impacted by the light because they are the source of light that exposes the darkness within everyone: “[B]owing my head before the faith that was in her, before that great and saving illusion that shone with an unearthly glow in the darkness, in the triumphant darkness which I [Marlow] could not have defended her [the Intended]—from which I could not have defended myself” (70). The illusion (the lie/deceit) was glowing in the darkness (the truth/ knowledge). Marlow states that he couldn’t protect her from this darkness because he couldn’t even protect himself from it. In fact, Marlow becomes a Buddha-like figure after his journey in Africa (he has learned of the true meaning of darkness). Therefore, it is appropriate that Africa is the heart of darkness—the heart of knowledge.

hp 4ever!

10-09-2007, 06:57 PM

This novel strongly reminds me of the novel "Lord of the Flies" because both of these works revolve around savagery. Ironically though the darkness and savagery in these novels lies within the people. What even sparked this connection in my mind was a quotation that mentioned flies: "The flies buzzed in great peace" (Conrad 16)…which is a quote that I brought up in class to ask the significance of it.

Furthermore, "Lord of the Flies" is a translation of Beelzebub (or Baalzebûb) who was the Philistine god of Accaron (Ekron) in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Beelzeboul was an evil spirit. However, Beelzeboul (Beelzebub) could refer to Satan as well (Matthew 122:2-29; Luke 11:15-22) and the Prince of Darkness. (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02388c.htm). This relates to Lord of the Flies because the “Lord of the Flies” in this text is beast-like, satanic figure that provides each individual that comes into contact with it the knowledge that the beast exists within them (Simon), or it relinquishes the beast within (the rest of the gang: Jack). Another biblical reference is seen with Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. Judas betrayed Jesus by allying with Satan, and he hung himself after the flies surrounded him: “The buzz in Judas’ head grew louder. Flies. There were flies everywhere! They were swarming in droves around him. He couldn’t get away… In despair he fastened the noose around his neck and jumped. The buzzing of flies that preceded Judas’ suicide symbolized that Judas had been overcome by Satan” (http://thelife.com/symbolism/flies.html). In the Lord of the Flies, Simon who happened to be the only righteous and enlightened one in the novel, is the first one in the group to find out that the beast that they are hunting is actually within them: “‘There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast…. You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close!’ [said Lord of the Flies]…. Simon found he was looking into a vast mouth. There was blackness within, a blackness that spread” (Golding 143-144). Here, Simon realizes that the beast in within them after his “conversation” with the Lord of the Flies that just happened to take place in his head. The blackness that was released from the head of the Lord of the Flies represents a satanic evil that overcomes each boy except for the righteous Simon who was killed.

This relates to Heart of Darkness firstly because Kurtz is a demon/ Satan who seems to be the Prince of Darkness (darkness symbolizes evil in this specific cogitation) and an emblem of savagery. “He [Kurtz] had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land—I mean literally, [said Marlow]” (Conrad 44) just as Beelzebub did amongst the devils and the Lord of Flies did amongst the boys. Kurtz possesses an inhuman power to sway anyone to bid his doing through his usage of eloquent (and god-like) words for “the man presented himself as a voice” (43) as did the Lord of the Flies. His ability to control is further displayed with his control over the natives: “He [Kurtz] was not afraid of the natives; they would not stir till Mr. Kurtz gave the [word]. His ascendancy was extraordinary. The camps of these people surrounded the place, and the chiefs came every day to see him. They would crawl” (53). Even the chiefs (those with the highest position and power) would crawl like “savage” animals in front Kurtz. Kurtz, like the Lord of the Flies (in Lord of the Flies), sparked the savage and beastly figures within the men around him. This is demonstrated by the enlightened Marlow’s (who is like Simon or Simon is like him…depending on which novel came first) realization that he was surrounded by “horned shapes stirring at [his] back” (68) that solely attained “vile desires,..meanness,…[and] torment” (68). These horned figures were jealous of Kurtz’s success and his success drove them to be such greedy people. Kurtz was the Prince of Darkness that stirred the darkness of greed within each heart of the Europeans present in Africa. However, there were some like Marlow (who equates to Simon in Lord of the Flies) that realized early on that the darkness was truly present in the people.

hp 4ever!

10-09-2007, 08:17 PM

I was wondering who the anonymous narrator was (for I believed it was Joseph Conrad himself)…so, I did some research and I ended up finding information about Conrad’s inspirational journey on the Congo that lasted approximately 6 months. In 1890, he became captain of a steamboat after the previous captain died (like Marlow). “The area Conrad refers to as the Company Station was an actual location called Matadi, a location two-hundred miles up river from the mouth of the Congo. The Central Station was a location called Kinshasa” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness). I’ve cross-referenced this information with like two more sources so there is no need to worry about the validity of something coming from wikipedia. That’s quite interesting to me! I mean, all of the writers who’ve focused on Africa that we’ve read this year have actually been in Africa and have witnessed the culture for themselves. Even Jenna Bush has as well. It just seems to me that Africa has the ability to touch people even though it is extremely different than “civilized” areas.

flgirl073

10-09-2007, 11:18 PM

One passage that expresses many themes of the book was "I remained to dream the nightmare out to the end,and to show my lloyalty to Kurtz once more. Destiny. My destiny! Droll thing life is--that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself--that comes too late--a crop of unestinguishable regrets" (Conrad 65). This quotation brings up the idea of dreams again. Marlow continues to describe his journey as a nightmare filled with evil and darkness. Marlow also explains that he will be loyal to Kurtz to the end. I found this confusing because of the way he reacted to Kurtz's death. Throughout this story Marlow flipped from agreeing with the white people and Kurtz to disagreeing with them. I never was really clear of his final decision. The enigma of this novel also pops up in this quotation by the mention of life as a mystery. Finally, this quotation returns to the quest aspect of the book. Marlow has been searching for self-enlightenment especially through Kurtz. He has gone through many tough times and experienced many horrifying events. Marlow has learned many new things from his journey, but he begins to regret his path. He is not sure if what he discovered about himself was worth what he had to go through. Marlow has completed a metamorphosis through this journey.

Also I had a question about this passage: "with a compreensive and satisfied glance: the 'affair' had come off as well as could be wished. I saw the time approaching when I would be left alone of the party of 'unsound method.' The pilgrims looked upon me with disfavor. I was, so to speak, numbered with the dead. Is is strange how I accepted this unforeseen partnership, this choice of nightmares forced pon me in the tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms" (Conrad 63).
Did Marlow have a plan with the manager to kill Kurtz? and if not what is the partnership? also what does he mean by "numbered with the dead"?
Please let me know if any of you guys have thoughts on this!

IBREAL

10-10-2007, 09:07 PM

Well, I found it very interesting that that at the top of page 9, Plato was mentioned because Plato wrote the two texts Timeaus and Critias which described the city of Atlantis. It's interesting that Marlow's stations' structures reflect that of Atlantis. Atlantis was formed with layers with an outer layer and accomadating inner layers just like the format of Marlow's stations. Also, in the center of Atlantis, was a temple of dedicated to Cleito and Poseidon. In class today, we discussed how as we moved inwards, we would learn about more powerful white figures and the most powerful (which i think will be Mr. Kurtz) might be in the center trading station just like the case with Atlantis. Also, the interior of the temple's roof was created from ivory, and frankly there is a "white" craze for the available ivory in Africa.

***TANGENT: This idea that the Americans desire the white ivory relates to the black hens in the sense that the elephants (dark) attain the white tusks, and the white hen eggs result in these dark, black hens. Thus, the duality and reversal of light and dark is seen because each object (dark hen/white ivory) projects the dark greediness within men that is caused by the light (knowledge) of the items there. However, darkness is affliated with knowledge in other areas of this short novel.***

Also, there was an abudance of sunlight in Atlantis like there is in Africa. In fact, it was from this temple that the ten princes' (of Atlantis) family first saw light. This could correlate to the fact that the center is the the brightest b/c it is the most knowlegible and the center of the trading stations will perhaps (I don't know for sure since I haven't read that far) be the brightest because it will be the most knowledigble area that will impact Marlow the most (the Doctor's warning of getting too much sunlight b/c it changes ppl. could apply here as well).

REPLY
I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU. MARLOW IS CHANGING AS HE GETS CLOSER TO THE INNER STATION. WE SEE HIS MAJOR CHANGE AFTER HE MEETS KURTZ WHO REPRESENTS ENLIGHTENMENT OR THE LIGHT. THE FURTHER INTO THE SUNLIGHT THE MORE CHANGE MARLOW WAS OPENING HIMSELF UP. WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT HE CHANGED NOW THAT WE HAVE FINISHED THE BOOK. WHEN MARLOW RETURNS WE SEE HE HAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ATTITUDE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

PG 65-66
"I found myself back in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying through the streets to filch a little money form each other, to devour their infamous cookery, to gulp their wnwholesome beer, to dream their insignificant and silly dreams... They were intruders whose knowlege of life was to mean irratating pretense, because I felt so sure they could not possibly know the things I knew...I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces, so full of stupid importance. "

THIS QUOTE SHOWS SOME OF CHANGES THAT HAVE MARLOW HAS UNDERGONE. MARLOW FOR EXAMPLE WAS ALL ABOUT FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS AND EXPLORING SILLY OR NOT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOW MARLOW THINKS EVERYONE ELSES DREAMS ARE STUPID WHEN HE TOO HAD A STUPID DREAM. I ALSO THINK IT WAS POINTLESS IN EXPECTING THE PEOPLE TO KNOW THE THINGS HE KNOWS WHEN THEY WERE NOT THERE TO EXPERIENCE IT. SO IM NOT REALLY SURE WHY HE IS SURPRISED OR MAYBE THAT HE WOULD EVEN CARE WHAT THEY KNEW. I FOUND IT ALSO INTERESTING THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO ENLIGHTEN THE PEOPLE WHEN HE WAS ENLIGHTENED. HE SHOULD SHARE HIS KNOWLEDGE WIHT OTHERS AND MAYBE THEY CAN BRING SOME GOOD CHANGE INTO THE WORLD. THE TONE OF HIS LAST FEW WORDS IN THIS QUOTE I FOUND TO BE VERY BITTER. BEFORE MARLOW LEFT HE WAS CHIPPERY AND CARED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND NOW HE THINKS EVERYONE IS STUPID.

BUT THE THING I THOUGHT THAT SHOWED HIS REAL CHANGE WAS WHEN HE LIED TO KURTZ'S INTENDED ABOUT HIS LAST WORDS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HE WOULD DO THIS WHEN HE SPENT A WHOLE PARAGRAPGH EARLIER TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH HE HATES LIES. I ALSO THINK HE WAS MAYBE DOING IT TO KEEP HER SANITY SO I GUESS IT WASN'T THAT BAD.

taniya11

10-11-2007, 04:38 PM

you guys..i have no clue how to work this thing.

i jus spent an entire period typing up a reply..and it didn't get through.

i hate this.

taniya11

10-11-2007, 04:39 PM

and now it goes through, great.

taniya11

10-12-2007, 03:56 PM

so guys, we've finally finished the book. Hopefully this time my stuff won't get erased. Anyway, i think the book overall was alright, not excellent. However, i do appreciate the depth and symbolism within the book. Conrad wrote this book in a way that is hard to understand, but i just know that there is very deep meaning within the book.

Overall, i think Conrad was using this story as a way to portray his own feelings and experiences. I also read an article on him and how he also traveled to the Congo, and he probably witnessed many of these events in his own travels. Although slightly exaggerated, the characteristics of Kurtz can often be connected to the archetypal idea of the greedy, evil man. With the darkest of dark hearts, Kurtz lives a life that all men, yet no man would want to live. He lives the high life of riches and slaves, getting anything that he wants in any way that he wants it. However, he also lives a life of deception and extortion, a life in which he tricks those around him into thinking he is the men of all men. Ivory is the source of his greed, and he goes to great lengths to attain it.

The fact that Kurtz is a musician realllly surprised me. How can such an evil man be capable of making beautiful sounds out of nothing? Musicians are especially known for their ability to perceive things differently, and from this they can create a sound that stimulates the mind peacefully. This description of him seems very different then the description given while he was in Africa. Any comments on this?

Also, at the end, i was very confused. why? because it's an enigma! :lol:
but really, the book just kind of ended. i mean, what happened?! Where did Marlow go after visiting His (Kurtz's) Intended? And moving back out into the frame story, why would Marlow be going on yet another trip to the heart of darkness if it affected him so greatly? Has he gone crazy? I don't like enigma endings!

Any other comments on the overall book?

decimsimia

09-30-2008, 10:35 PM

mzmarymack

10-20-2008, 09:52 PM

Also I had a question about this passage: "with a compreensive and satisfied glance: the 'affair' had come off as well as could be wished. I saw the time approaching when I would be left alone of the party of 'unsound method.' The pilgrims looked upon me with disfavor. I was, so to speak, numbered with the dead. Is is strange how I accepted this unforeseen partnership, this choice of nightmares forced pon me in the tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms" (Conrad 63).
Did Marlow have a plan with the manager to kill Kurtz? and if not what is the partnership? also what does he mean by "numbered with the dead"?
Please let me know if any of you guys have thoughts on this!

Hmm. By "partnerships" he's referring to the cannibals and the white people--which includes Marlow (okay, that could have been worded a bit better.. oh well). Marlow talks about the dynamics of his crew often.

"Fine fellows -- cannibals -- in their place. They were men one could work with, and I am grateful to them. And, after all, they did not eat each other before my face.... It was very curious to see the contrast of expressions of the white men and of the black fellows of our crew, who were as much strangers to that part of the river as we, though their homes were only eight hundred miles away. The whites, of course greatly discomposed, had besides a curious look of being painfully shocked by such an outrageous row. The others had an alert, naturally interested expression; but their faces were essentially quiet, even those of the one or two who grinned"
Marlow has an interesting relationship with the natives. He doesn't see them as inferior--he refers to them as "fellows," a term that has an air of comradeship. Marlow also points out how differently the white and blacks react. He portrays the cannibals' reactions as more graceful (?) and the whites' as more "duhh"/stunned/barbaric.

The rest of your question:
"I saw the time approaching when I would be left alone of the party of 'unsound method.' The pilgrims looked upon me with disfavour. I was, so to speak, numbered with the dead. It is strange how I accepted this unforeseen partnership, this choice of nightmares forced upon me in the tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms."

Okay. This is the point where Marlow is saying that the Europeans will call him crazy and "number him with the dead"--number him with Kurtz--b/c he may die soon. I may be misinterpreting this, but i think all this is saying is that Marlow sides with Kurtz when he doesn't think that Kurtz is crazy. And when Marlow sides with Kurtz, the Europeans no longer see him as one of them. They see him as a crazy person who will probably perish soon enough that he can be "numbered with the dead" Does that makes sense?

Oh, and i don't think marlow had any plans to kill kurtz. :)

aschezuasche

10-22-2008, 01:18 AM

Marlow obviously did not want to kill Kurtz. He admired Kurtz and was devastated when he believed Kurtz had died before he got a chance to meet him.

i love that there are so many ways you can interpret this novella. Through the Inferno parallel, the psychological stand point, and the archetypal quest, you can pull out so many things. It's practically never ending and I always see something new every time i read this novella.
The Inferno's depiction of hell closely relates to Marlow's description of the Congo. The river, the grove of death, and the set up of the stations all link to the Inferno. I'll go into more detail in another post.
I for one enjoy the Inferno and psychological take. The whole thing about man's descent into a metaphorical hell is fascinating to me. I have more knowledge about these things than all the biblical allusion within it. I am not a Christian, so its hard for me to catch those references. T-T I have a few, but need more help in this area. Anyone care to share?

mzmarymack

10-22-2008, 08:18 PM

Quick question:
what did the old&young women represent? And the painting of Kurtz's Intended? And the black wool?

aschezuasche

10-22-2008, 10:05 PM

the knitting women?
They represent the Fates or Nornes. The black wool is the fate string that the Fates/Nornes use. Each string is a person's life and when cut they die. It's a foreshadowing of death and a link to the myth quest and/or a sign of his descent into the Underworld.

The painting is representative of the European women of the time. They are blind (the blindfold) to the horrid truth of the 'mission' but believe in 'civilizing' or bringing the light(the torch) of God/European civilization into the ignorant savage world of the natives (the darkness). The torchlight upon her face is sinister revealing the evil of the 'mission.'

mzmarymack

12-14-2008, 09:13 PM

Thanks aschezuasche :)

To everyone: what do you think conrad is trying to say through HoD?
there are so many aspects. greed, the importance of truth, humanity/civilization,

what's the "so what" for this book?
to open our (european) eyes, HoD is a response to Kipling's "White Man's Burden"
so conrad is saying that we aren't doing the africans a favor? that we aren't doing this due to an obligation to help people in need but that we are doing it for ulterior motives.
And that our (white man's) burden, which is supposed to be our responsibility toward bettering mankind, is actually a burden on the africans that we are "helping," because our greed?

And what is conrad pointing out when he directly associated good health with power and physical sickness with dethronement, which probably isn't a word.

poet_discussion

10-01-2009, 08:40 AM

HoD is a really "dark" novel

nickname0811

10-05-2009, 03:45 PM

Marlow reminded me of Huck finn. Because they both considered the boat as the important role. The boat was the important figure for Marlow. Because, it was the only thing that can bring him to his final destination. In the Huck finn, the boat was their safe place that protected them from the other. It helped Jim to be freed, which was Huck's last desire to do. Therefore, the boat was the way that protected them away from the dangers, but also only hope brought them to the final destination.

nickname0811

10-05-2009, 03:54 PM

Obviously, the color of white and black doesn't seem to represent the darkness and lightness in this book. The real value of black seemed to be lost just because it was concealed by the power of white. There were extreme version of typical white people who are trying to control everything in the Africa, which made the black people to become strangers in their lands.

nickname0811

10-07-2009, 04:36 AM

I want to go over pretty much everything that I couldn't talk about in class.
Therefore, it's going to cover a lot of stuff

1) The position of Women in the heart of darkness
- Marlow's ignorant attitude toward the women wasn't nice, however, that doesn't mean that he considered women as servants or anythings that are submissive to the men. He just thought that men and women had the totally different worlds that they need to deal with. For Marlow, women wasn't ready to experience any out of the world so that they need to be protected by men. However, that doesn't mean that women weren't in power of the men. For example, his aunt was the one who made Marlow to accomplish his journey successfully.

2) The doctor
- The doctor seemed to be the only smart one there, however, his work was pointless. He believed that European people who came to the Congo would have the internal change in their minds, which meant that Marlow would have one, as well.

"I have a little theory which you messieurs who go out there must help me to prove."

And then, he began to measure Marlow. He believed that there would be external change if the change had been made in inside. He use external measurement to catch up what he admitted are internal changes

"The old doctor felt my pulse, evidently thinking of something else the while. "Good, good for there,' he mumbled, and then with a certain eargerness asked me whether I would let him measure my head.

3)Kurtz
- He represented colonization throughout the book. By just looking at his appearance, it showed his accomplishment as the colonists. Also, the painting of 'blinded fold woman' showed the Marlow's acknowledgment of African situation. He was aware of the blinded European attempts and desires for the colonization.

4) The colonists
-Marlow commented about the behavior of colonists throughout the book. Marlow didn't directly saying that the concept of colonization was wrong. However, the European were unaware of what the colonization was doing and how ineffective was.
Here is some quote that shows Marlow's attitude toward the colonization.

"The flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly."

mummu:)

10-08-2009, 12:51 AM

I personally thought HoD as tough read but having interesting points that the author makes. Statements about civilizations and who the real savages appear. The question is what is the heart of darkness and who holds this heart of darkness according to Conrad?

I don't know if this question is supposed to be answered..but I will give my thought :).
I am actually mentioning this in an essay I have to write. I think the heart of darkness is the place of blindness.
The white men who go into Africa to conquer everything and force their way of life into this new place. They march in thinking they can change everything and are least expecting that Africa will change them. Their intentions and beliefs are that they are going to venture into Africa, find ivory, get really rich, and have a lot of power in Africa and bring immense wealth home. And in between all of this, they will 'civilize' the Africans and make them work to change their own country into a European model.
Africa is the heart of darkness for the majority of the European business men because they are blinded by their ignorance, greed, and unwillingness to adapt. It is a place where they are not able to see their own dark nature - of darkness. I think 'heart' is used because all the men are desiring to go to Africa for wealth and as the saying 'your heart is where your treasure shall be', the men go to Africa because of their longing for ivory. And this, therefore, kind of answers the next question: I believe that the men holds this heart of darkness since they are the ones keeping themselves from enlightenment by the blinding light that shows the dark side of human nature.

bookworm_girl

10-08-2009, 12:58 AM

Marlow reminded me of Orleanna in The Poisonwood Bible at several points, like when he says "I had no time. I had to keep guessig at the channel... i had to watch for sunken stones... I had to keep a lookout for the signs of dead wood we could cut up in the night for next day's steaming. When you have to attend to things of that sort, the reality... fades..." (30) reminded me of how Orleanna said she had to look after the little things for day-to-day survival, so she had no time or energy to see the bigger picture clearly or to do anything about it. Also, when Marlow returns to the "sepulchral city," he describes the effect of returning to 'civilization' in much the same way Orleanna did: "I found myself bak in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each other, to devour their infamous cookery... to dream their insignificant and silly dreams... They were intruders whose knowledge of life was to me an irritating pretense, because I felt so sure they could not possibly know the things I knew... I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces, so full of stupid importance." (65-66) This is very similar to how Orleanna wanted to fling some fact into her neighbors' faces, to indemnify herself from any suggestion of blame. Incidentally, Marlow, like Orleanna, also wants to get rid of his memories of Africa, "to lay them in the dustbin of progress," but they haunt him afterwards anyway, and at the most unexpected times-- in front of Kurtz's Intended's door, and probably on the river at the beginning, which prompted him to tell the story.

I also wanted to share something I've noticed throughout the book. Every time Marlow is speaking with someone about Kurtz, the setting gets darker as night falls, and that obviously is part of the whole light/darkness theme. I thought it symbolised how the more Marlow learns about Kurtz, the more he is horrified by him and by what he represents--white people's greed covered with a veil of altruisitic and philanthropic ideals-- and the more he is enlightened and, in a way, drawn to Kurtz.

OlutomilolaAsa7

10-08-2009, 07:44 AM

The struggle between nature and the mechanistic world of european culture in HOD is a theme of the novella that is so powerfully communicated. Conrad really blends themes and creates fantastic imagery when Marlow first describes the African coastline as a "colossal jungle, so dark-green as to be almost black, fringed with white surf"(10). We have already established Conrad's theme of "light vs. dark" in the novel, and in this description it is applied to Africa as the formidable expanse of the unknown and supposedly ignorant. The white surf symbolizes the conquering of the sea by the light from Europe, making Africa pretty much surrounded with light. Marlow has made hints to the European struggle to domesticate the African mainland before, talking about how explorers and colonizers had gone out "bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire"(2). It is clear that, at least in the beginning of the novella, Marlow is sure that his trip to Africa in search of enlightenment is just a continuation of the quests of his fellow Europeans for the spread of enlightenment throughout the world. As the novella progresses, Marlow begins to see that the real business of the white man in Africa is to "rape the bride" of her riches for the betterment of the European economy, much like what Lea realizes in Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. Marlow also begins to see, however, that Africa is very reluctant to cooperate with the desires of the white man, the land itself creating natural inhibitors for invaders. Another look at the dangerous surf and black, writhing coast of the African mainland makes Marlow think that "Nature herself had tried to ward off intruders"(11). The sun is another threat to the European mission of conquest. Fierce and ever-present, it represents the truth and enlightenment that Marlow searches for in its ability to penetrate any surface and invade any and all spaces in Africa with its light. The heat of the African sun alone is often enough to drive Europeans mad and to their demise, as Marlow learns on a boat trip that the death of a Swede was more or less because "the sun was to much for him, or the country perhaps"(12). The African landscape is a burial ground for machinery, as Marlow sees abandoned boilers and rails looking "as dead as the carcass of some animal" and a wild destruction of "imported drainage pipes for the settlement"(13) in a ravine. All of this imagery shows Africa's rejection of the industrial tools and ideals that have been transplanted by European culture. The geography of Africa makes it so the land cannot be used as that of Europe and America, and the foolishness of the white men to come to Africa and try to establish the same dominion over the land as they have in their homeland, instead of respecting the way the relationship of the natives to the land, ultimately amounts to a grave yard for all that which cannot be used for survival - the key concept in Africa. All of Africa's natural obstacles can be seen as a response to the cancer that is the dominion of European culture. The struggle for the continent's survival is so intense that even some of the starving, shackled and enslaved natives die in Africa's healing process. Just when Marlow begins to see the entire country as a wasteland of dried up inhabitants and resources, he travels futher into the heart of darkness to witness its vibrance and rebirth. Marlow notices, for example, that the land in the Inner Station is "unearthly. We are accustomed to looking upon the shackled form of a conquered monster... there you could look at a thing monstrous and free"(32). In this part of the heart, the earth and its people are full of life and power unexplainable to the Europeans there. Even in an area closer to Mr. Kurtz, Marlow is astounded at the visibility of the war-like elegance of the African culture and the "dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it which you-you so remote from the night of first ages-could comprehend"(32). In this part of the land even exists a "wild and gorgeous apparition of a woman"(55) who seems to Africa, with all her superb African charms and savage attire, an "image of its own tenebrous and passionate soul"(56). This woman is filled with a dignity, anger, desperation, and power that Africa itself possesses, and she leads all the natives in the final push of the white man "out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress"(62). Sometime later Marlow looks back on his time in Africa and realizes that, despite all the ravages of European influence on the land, the final moment was "of triumph for the wilderness, an invading and vengeful rush"(68). Though Africa, due to a perpetuative system that robs the land of its own riches, will never truly have an economy that benefits itself first, there is a spirit in Africa that endures. The land simply devours the death and is reborn from the rubble, giving it an eternal beauty and strength that Conrad incorporated into his novella. :ladysman:

Doha

01-20-2010, 01:45 PM

i really enjoyed with the brevious discussions.

Keep it up.

taztara158

09-30-2010, 08:03 PM

I didn't really have a chance to say anything in class today, and there are a few things I want to point out about pgs. 16-17.

First, at the very bottom of page 16, Marlow says "...through long grass, through burnt grass, through thickets, down and up chilly ravines, up and down stony hills ablaze with heat" (16). This really stood out to me as another relation of hell to the Congo. The burnt grass and heat show that the Congo has suffered and been through hell, and Marlow is only halfway into it.

I also noticed how Marlow uses the "n" word to describe the Africans who came in with weapons and cleared out the towns. Once again he has divided the African people, now into 3 groups- the weak animals, the somewhat strong men, and the evil "niggers".

I also wanted to mention the drunk man on pg. 17. To me, he represented the pure insanity of many of the whites in Africa. The accountant and the guy accompanying Marlow on his journey inland both don't see the value of the Africans. They do not treat them as people and only want to overpower them. In a way they are insane for not being able to accept a different kind of person. Just like the drunk man guarding an imaginary road, they cannot see what is really there.

merelyjoshing

09-30-2010, 11:33 PM

Thoughts on Marlow's time at the Outer Station (p12-16)

As we discussed earlier, Marlow's depiction of the slaves in chains shows his racists ideas. However, he is able to see it from a different perspective in that he still see some beauty in them "the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope" (13)

"They were called criminals, and the outraged law, like the bursting shells, had come to them, and insoluble mystery from the sea" (13) I think this quote demonstrates again how the white man's oppression on the Africans is without reason and confusing. It also mentions the oily water trying to overtake the shore of Africa again "insoluble mystery from the sea"

The one African that was wearing a uniform and had a gun showed how the European culture had changed some of the Africans.

"I foresaw that in the blinding sunshine of that land I would become acquainted with a flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly" (13) This quote foreshadows Marlow's encounters with more evil and the devil. It further demonstrates the changing of the roles of light and dark because the sunshine is what leads him to this devil.

The random hole in the ground and the westerner's "philanthropic desire of giving the criminals something to do" (13) again shows how confusing and unnecessary the occupation of the white man is. They think that they are doing good, but are just hurting the Africans.

"I had stepped into the gloomy circle of some inferno" (14) the shaded grove represents a hell that the dying spirits of the Africans go.
The man (that you cant tell the age of) has a piece of white cloth (yarn?) tied around his neck and Marlow cannot see why. I think it may have just been a makeshift bandage for the man's wounds from the collars. However, Marlow cannot see the reason for this, maybe representing the fact that he does not see the bad in the European invasion yet.

Marlow describes the accountant that he meets as a vision and almost God like. He respects him even though most people would see him to be selfish, keeping his own appearance when there is poverty all around him.

we learn that the business of the company has something to do with the ivory trade.

When the accountant gets mad at the sick person it shows again how the Europeans don't care about life and are more concerned about money.

Mr. Kurtz is the first name that we get.

"correct entries of perfectly correct transactions" (16) this quotes shows the mystery and corruption behind the European's business.

Is there any significance in the fact that each paragraph starts off with an open quotation, but is not ended with one? I'm not sure if it is just a style of writing.

cl@rinetguy42

10-01-2010, 06:25 PM

I find it interesting how role reversal takes place in the novel. The reader sees that light is good and that darkness is evil. We also see that fire is destroying and that water is cleansing. For example, at one point, one of the tent-like housesthat the men stayed in at Marlow's camp, burst into flames. Marlow describes it as, "One evening a grass shed full of calico, cotton prints, beads, and I don't know what else, burst into a blaze so suddenly that you would have thought that earth had opened to let an avenging fire consume all that trash (20." the readers sees the fire as a good, cleansing thing, due to the fact that the men are sinful.

sal7861

10-04-2010, 01:09 AM

We learn that Marlow gives respect to these black workers. He calls them "men" on page 12. The other white men call them workers or niggers.

The group of black workers he sees are being ordered by a black man in a uniform with a rifle. Marlow describes this man and how "evil" Marlow thinks he is for treating the black men with such cruelty. He refers to white people as devils, "I've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! these were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men -- men, i tell you!" (13)
He also points out how European culture is changing Africa.

Marlow learns about an interesting man, Mr Kurtz. He is also the first name given to us.

He had a white companion on his journey to the Central Station. The man gets sick later on and has to carried around.

He also realizes how greedy the Europeans are with their ivory business. "The word ivory rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove! I've never seen anything so unreal in my life. And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion" (20) In this passage the ivory is a symbol of money, greed, and power; everything that can corrupt a man. He talks about a corpse. This is the corpse of a black worker and an elephant that is being killed to obtain the ivory. Marlow is shocked by this discovery.

We learn that Marlow does not favor lying and will never appreciate a liar, "you know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie,...like biting something rotten would do." (23)

hello:)

10-04-2010, 05:53 PM

This section we had to read was obviously very eerie.
Marlow and his team were traveling towards Kurtz, but while on the trip, Marlow described many things as if he was foreshadowing that he shouldn't go there.
Ex. "We crept on, towards Kurtz. But the snags were thick, the water was treacherous and shallow, the boiler seemed indeed to have a sulky devil in it, and thus neither that fireman nor I had any time to peer into our creepy thoughts" (Conrad 33).
I also thought it was really brave of Marlow to come straight out and mention that after the cries, the black men were much more relaxed than the white men. That displays irony because white men are more experienced situations like these, while the black men only do the things they are demanded to do. Also, white men are more afraid of dying, even though they seem immune to death. It’s because they have seen so many deaths and they are scared that it might happen to them while death is a part of Africa, so it’s a part of the black people. If the black people have to live with white people of this kind, then they might as well just welcome death.

hello:)

10-04-2010, 06:10 PM

Oh, sorry. I wasn't done.

Then I wanted to talk about the fact that Marlow agreed to this journey because of a subconcious motive. That motive would be Kurtz. He doesn't realize it at first, but he still leaves subtle hints to remind the reader. For example, " I straightened that sudden twist out of that steamboat. There was no room to turn back even if I had wanted to, the snag was somewhere very near ahead in the confounded smoke, there was no time to lose, so I just crowded into the bank--right into the back, where I knew the water was deep" (41). Then on the next page, he totally admits to that! He says, " I couldn't have been more disgusted if I had travelled all this way for sole purposes of talking with Mr. Kurtz. Talking with...I flung one shoe overboard, and became aware that that was exactly what I had been looking forward to--a talk with Kurtz" (42-3).

Then I wanted to talk about some foreshadowing because Marlow, throughout the journey, talks about how it was dangerous to go into the heart of darkness. Maybe he wants to come right out and say, "Don't go there!" but he can't. He has to leave subtle hints. Marlow says, " But the snags were thick, and the water was treacherous and shallow, the boiler seemed indeed to have a sulky devil in it, and thus neither the firemen nor I had any time to peer into creepy thoughts" (33).

I hope that is good enough.

fruit loops!

10-04-2010, 06:35 PM

“No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze… it takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly. It’s really easier to face bereavement, dishonor, and the prediction of ones soul-than this kind of prolonged hunger” (38).

This quote can be applied to many scenarios in Heart of Darkness. One thing it could be applied to is the Europeans hunger for money and African riches. The Europeans have thrown all of their morals and values out of the window in the quest for riches and are blinded by their greed. This hunger is something they cannot resist and this shows how the weakness of the Europeans. This quote can also be applied to Marlow and his “hunger” to meet Mr. Kurtz. To Marlow Mr. Kurtz is almost a Christ like figure, he is portrayed in a divine light, and a person who can do no wrong. Marlow has not even met him, yet he is still willing to defend him and protect his reputation. This journey Marlow is now on is a quest to meet Mr. Kurtz and to just hear him speak and to simply be in his presence. Marlow has this “hunger” to meet Mr. Kurtz and that was his main motivation behind fixing the steam boat and wanting to continue on with the journey despite the problems along the way. Lastly, this quote can be used simply to display the weakness of the white men in the Congo. These men despite living in the Congo for a while now are still not used to feeling hunger, and the natives who get less meals than the white men are fine and able to control them selves. This displays the strength of the natives over the strength of the white men.

rachmaninoff

10-05-2010, 12:34 AM

"Trees, trees, millions of trees, massive, immense, running up high; at their foot, hugging the bank against the stream, crept the little begrimed steamboat, like a sluggish beetle crawling on the floor of a lofty portico" (Conrad 31).

In this quote, the Europeans are portrayed like tiny, insignificant creatures compared to the massive and ancient Congolese forest. The forest is patiently waiting for the Europeans to leave so it can "eat itself" (Poisonwood Bible) and reverse the effects of the "fantastic invasion".

"Let the fool gape and shudder - the man knows ... But he must at least be as much of a man as these on the shore. He must meet that truth with his own true stuff - with his own inborn strength. Principles won't do" (Conrad 32).

This is one of Marlow's redeeming moments of enlightenment. Marlow begins to see that all men are equal, regardless of skin color. He realizes that in the Congo, where survival is the main goal, beliefs, clothes, etc. do not matter. Every living organism on Earth fights to survive, which is something that unites all living things: "No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze" (Conrad 37-38). The more Marlow experiences in Africa, the more he begins to reject the belief of European superiority.

"The wilderness had patted him on the head, and behold, it was like a ball - an ivory ball ... it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite" (Conrad 44).

This foreshadows that Mr. Kurtz's greed and obsession with ivory completely took over his mind and actions, and he probably uses the Africans to serve himself and his selfish ways like the average European. This is kind of like the opposite of Ruth May's dying and becoming one with nature in the Poisonwood Bible. In a sense, Kurtz's humane side has died, and he has become one with the European shadow of darkness over Africa.

asdf99

10-05-2010, 12:51 AM

Throughout this part of the novel, Marlow tells the story of his journey into the heart of Africa as if he and his crew are simply a couple ants traveling through a massive forrest. He emphasizes how people cannot control the Congo, but rather that the Congo controls them:
“Going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings." Pg.30

Marlow talks about how reality completely fades away as they travel into the Congo:
"When you have to attend to things of that sort, to the mere incidents of the surface, the reality—the reality, I tell you—fades. The inner truth is hidden—luckily, luckily. But I felt it all the same; I felt often its mysterious stillness watching me at my monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respective tight-ropes for—what is it? half-a-crown a tumble—” Pg.30
and
"The rest of the world was nowhere, as far as our eyes and ears were concerned. Just nowhere. Gone, disappeared; swept off without leaving a whisper or a shadow behind. " Pg. 38

Here he shows how the big picture of life completely fades away as one struggles to somehow survive in the harsh wilderness of the Africa. Here he talks about how he doesnt even have time to think about anything other than simply collective enough driftwood to keep his boat going.

"The earth seemed unearthly. We are accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster, but there—there you could look at a thing monstrous and free. It was unearthly, and the men were—No, they were not inhuman. " pg. 32

Marlow is shocked by everything he is surrounded by. He realizes that he has lived in denial and unknowing of what is really out in the world. He describes the natives as animals, saying that they Howl and make faces; but then mentions that every man should recognize them as human. He says that every man should be able to understand these people on some level, and recognize them as long lost brothers.

Marlows description of Mr.Kurtz is also quite fascinating. Most could see Kurtz as a selfish and greedy man simply in search of gain, but Marlow analyzes his character much more deeply:
"Mind, I am not trying to excuse or even explain—I am trying to account to myself for—for—Mr. Kurtz—for the shade of Mr. Kurtz." Pg. 46

"He won’t be forgotten. Whatever he was, he was not common. He had the power to charm or frighten rudimentary souls into an aggravated witch-dance in his honour; he could also fill the small souls of the pilgrims with bitter misgivings: he had one devoted friend at least, and he had conquered one soul in the world that was neither rudimentary nor tainted with self-seeking. " Pg. 47

Marlow describes Kurtz as a very very powerful person, one who achieved quiet a lot. He says that he could make his followers do terrible things, and even control his enemies.

zombie8mybrain

10-05-2010, 04:16 PM

What I've read so far in Heart Of Darkness has been surprisingly good. There is a lot of Nature Vs. Mechanization as could be predicted with the time period and place of the story. Africa is being used by the Europeans for its natural resources. Ivory being the main focus in HOD. Despite being used by the Europeans, the jungle does a pretty good job of keeping them at bay with the attacks by the natives and the general harshness of the terrain. I found a great representation of the African pride while i was reading. This is the beautiful and savage tribal woman Marlow encounters at the Central station.

"She walked with measured steps, draped in stripped and fringed cloths, treading the earth proudly, with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous ornaments. She carried her head high; her hair was done in the shape of a helmet; she had brass leggings to the knee, brass wire gauntlets to the elbow, a crimson spot on her tawny cheek, innumerable necklaces of glass beads on her neck; bizarre things, charms, gifts of witch men, that hung about her, glittered and trembled at every step. She must have had the value of several elephant tusks upon her.She was savage and superb,wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately in her deliberate progress. And in the hush that had fallen suddenly upon the whole sorrowful land, the immense wilderness, the colossal body of the fecund and mysterious life seemed to look at her, pensive, as though it had been looking at the image of its own tenebrous and passionate soul."P.55-56

The savage woman also wears many ornaments of glass beads, brass, and elephant tusks. She wears all the things that the Europeans want, yet the Europeans can't touch her because of her great pride and wild ways and are afraid to try. I believe this woman is the pride and soul of the jungle that can't be tamed. The Europeans are in over their heads when it comes to trying to tame the jungle and i think thats what Conrad is trying to convey with the tribal woman.

cl@rinetguy42

10-06-2010, 12:45 AM

Marlow tells us about how he felt when he was traveling around Africa. He reflects upon nature and its control of the land. "We called at some more places with farcical names, where the merry dance of death and trade goes on in a still and earthly atmosphere as of an overheated catacomb; all along the formless coast bordered by dangerous suf, as if Nature herself had tried to ward off intruders; in and out of rivers, streams of death in life, whose banks were rotting into mud, whose waters, thickened into slime, invaded the contorted mangroves, that seemed to writhe at us in the extremity of impotent despair (11)." This quote reflects the theme of man vs. nature. Marlow sees that, in the battle between man and nature, nature seems to be winning in Africa.

asdf99

10-06-2010, 12:46 AM

"‘Why did they attack us?’ I pursued. He hesitated, then said shamefacedly, ‘They don’t want him to go.’ ‘Don’t they?’ I said curiously. He nodded a nod full of mystery and wisdom. ‘I tell you,’ he cried, ‘this man has enlarged my mind.’ He opened his arms wide, staring at me with his little blue eyes that were perfectly round.” Pg.51

The Russian boy describes Kurtz as an amazing human being, one who has achieved feats that seemingly could not be done by man. Before this, the Natives have been described as completely different from whites; a culture that cannot be understood. When the Russian boy mentions that the natives attacked because they don't want Kurtz to leave, it shows that Kurtz has established a great bond with the natives of Africa; something that seemed like an impossible feat.

"This man suffered too much. He hated all this, and somehow he couldn’t get away. When I had a chance I begged him to try and leave while there was time; I offered to go back with him. And he would say yes, and then he would remain; go off on another ivory hunt; disappear for weeks; forget himself amongst these people—forget himself—you know.’ "
pg. 56

This quote shows how unfortunately attached Kurtz became to Africa and his search for ivory. Even while suffering from illness, Kurtz still get up from bed and goes deep into the Forrest alone in search of Ivory. It also shows how much Kurtz has immersed himself in the African culture. This quote tells about how he would completely forget who he is and become one of them in his trips.

cl@rinetguy42

10-06-2010, 12:57 AM

Marlow is worred and excited about meeting Kurtz. "All this was great, expectant, mute, while the man jabbered about himself. I wondered whether the stillness on the face of the immensity looking at us two were meant as an appeal or as a menace. What were we who had strayed in here? Could we handle that dumb thing. or would it handle us? I felt how big, how confoundedly big, was that thing that couldn't talk, and was deap as well. What was in there? I could see a little ivory coming out from there, and I had heard Mr. Kurtz was in there. I had heard enough about it, too- God know! Yet somehow it didn't bring any image with it= no more than if I had been told an angel or a fiend was in there (23)." Marlow is intrigued by Africa and wonders what he will discover about himself and the rest of humanity.

taztara158

10-06-2010, 04:28 PM

One thing we really didn't talk about in class was the outside frame story of Heart of Darkness. When Marlow begins to tell his story, the narrator says "His remark did not seem at all surprising. It was just like Marlow. It was accepted in silence" (3). Here the other characters on the boat do not seem to have an intense interest in what Marlow has to say. From this quote, the reader can assume Marlow often brings up what appear to be random remarks about life. He simply wants to tell a story. But beginning around the time he starts to reach the inner station in his story, he becomes very emotional. He is no longer as calm, and someone even says to him, "Try to be civil, Marlow," (30) after he rants about truth. He comments more on these moral issues as they arise in his story. By the end, all he does is talk about how his life was changed. There is little action in the last few pages because Marlow has gotten so worked up and is somewhat reliving everything he has said and his emotions come back. Right in front of his friends he claims most city people "were intruders whose knowledge of life was to me an irritating pretense, because I felt so sure they could not know the things I knew" (66). His friends even cannot truly understand everything he went through unless they were to go to Africa as well. Marlow seems to fail to realize where he is while he tells this story.

Another aspect that changed from the beginning of the book to the end was the setting. In the beginning, the sun was still going down, hinting at the coming darkness. The air was gloomy and mysterious. After Marlow is finished, the narrator describes the setting as "barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under and overcast sky-seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness" (72). This passage represents the dark and mysterious heart of Africa. Whiel the outside of Africa was gloomy, the middle was worse. The story Marlow tells starts off as very mysterious and gloomy, but it only gets darker as he continues to talk. Marlow's story has now brought all of his friends into that dark place that they can no longer get out of. While they did not experience it, they heard it with the emotion of Marlow. They may not feel as strongly as he does, but they now have his opinions in their minds that they cannot take out.

cl@rinetguy42

10-06-2010, 06:48 PM

When Marlow is meeting with Kurtz's fiancee, he is overwhelmed with thought. "For her he had died only yesterday. And, by Jove! the impression was so powerful that for me, too, he seemed to have died only yesterday- nay, this very minute. I saw her and him in the same instant of time- his death and her sorrow- I saw her sorrow in the very moment of his death. Do you understand? I saw them together- I heard them together (69). Marlow seeing Kurtz's death and Kurtz's fiancee's sorrow being intertwined reminded me of when Adah, from the Poisonwood Bible, witnesses the death of Ruth May. Adah says that, "I was not present at Ruth May's birth but I have seen it now, because I saw each step of it played out in reverse at the end of her life. The closing parenthesis, at the end of the palindrome that was Ruth May. Her final gulp of air as hungry as a baby's first breath. That last howling scream, exactly like the first, and then at the end a fixed, steadfast moving backward out of this world (365)." Adah saw Ruth May's death as a insight into Ruth May's birth. Just as Marlow saw the death of Kurtz and the sorrow of Kurtz's fiancee as intertwined, Adah saw Ruth May's birth in her death.

sal7861

10-07-2010, 02:16 AM

I didn't get a chance to talk in class on Tuesday over the section: Time at the Inner Station (47-61) and I had a few points to make.

Marlow has landed at the Inner Station, but he questions himself about Kurtz. He wonders if Kurtz is actually worth the trouble or not.

At the Inner Station, the first person he sees is a Russian. A well dressed, clean shaven man which really surprises him. He calls him a "harlequin" (48) "look extremely gay and wonderfully neat withal" (48). Marlow is surprised when he sees this man because he's so clean even after living in Africa for a long time. He would have expected someone that looked a savage. There is also a portion of duality in this section, when Marlow describes the man "with a toss of the head up the hill, and becoming gloomy all of a sudden. His face was like the autumn sky, overcast one moment and bright the next" (48)

We learn more about Mr. Kurtz and how this Russian man idolizes him. The russian had continuously said "he has enlarged my mind" (50) "you can't judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man" (51)

They also talk about how Africa, more like the greed for ivory, kind of settled into Kurtz "go off on another ivory hunt; disappear for weeks, forget himself amongst these people-forget himself-you know." (52).

Later on Marlow runs into black men's heads on stakes near Kurtz's shelter. He is disgusted by this; but his reaction was surprising, like he wasn't very shocked to see heads but he was shocked to find an English book. The book was like a connection he had to civilization, his past, Europe.

Marlow compared Kurtz's body to ivory, "i could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arm waving. It was as though an animated image of death carved out of old ivory had been shaking its hand with the menaces at the motionless crowd if men made of dark and glittering bronze" (55).

This section ended with Marlow saying, "and he was not much heavier than a child." (61)