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Analysis of novel of heart of darkness
The Importance of Lying
The heart of darkness research paper
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Recommended: Analysis of novel of heart of darkness
Marlow and Human Limitations
In Heart of Darkness Marlow takes us on a journey into the heart of darkest Africa, at a time when explorers and treasure seekers were venturing up the Congo River in search of the riches of ivory. What separates Marlow’s tale from a mere adventure story, however, are the uncomfortable truths about civilization and humanity that Marlow uncovers during his voyage. One of the inescapable truths he runs up against concerns the basic limitations of the human species. While humans may become so utterly confident in our civilization’s prowess, and sometimes even believe we can act like gods, the truth is that we are still human and are bound by the basic human limitations that are inherent to our world and species. Although in a rush of confidence we humans may believe ourselves to be immortal, omnipotent, and omniscient, Marlow realizes the reality is that humans are limited by death, have weaknesses, and sometimes must contend with knowing less than the absolute truth. It is Marlow’s contending with human limitation and weakness that provides a major focus for Heart of Darkness.
In the following passage, Marlow states his attitude towards the human limitations implied by the act of lying. In order to reach an understanding of the significance of lies to Marlow it is important to note how he finds in lies “a taint of death”:
“You know I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies,—which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world—what I want to forget”[1]
This quote shows how the inevitability of never knowing the absolute t...
... middle of paper ...
...art of his own self-knowledge. But he deliberately lies, submerging himself in the detested taint of death and mortality, for the greater protection of civilization and humanity from the subversiveness of naked truth. Marlow comes to the realization that he must live and sometimes bathe in the appalling waters of human limitations in order not to disrupt the whole human world.
[1] Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, London, Penguin, 1995, 49-50.
[2] Conrad, 101.
[3] Conrad, 92.
[4] Conrad, 16.
[5] Conrad, 20.
[6] Conrad, 60.
[7] Conrad, 58.
[8] Conrad, 62.
[9] Conrad, 106.
[10] Conrad, 62-63.
[11] Conrad, 60.
[12] Conrad, 63.
[13] Conrad, 28.
[14] Conrad, 20.
[15] Conrad, 20.
[16] Conrad, 28.
[17] Conrad, 28.
[18] Conrad, 115.
[19] Conrad, 115.
[20] Conrad, 80.
[21] Conrad, 114.
[22] Conrad, 104.
Marlow never elaborates on how the lie(s) made him feel. I believe Marlow's true character was honest and noble and suffered from this blow to his earlier righteous abhorrence. Possibly these lie(s) could be classified as irony (out of respect for Marlow's true character) - the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning or an incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs. Or is that the first step into the Heart of Darkness? Justifying sins based on intentions or results.
Heart of Darkness is a book soaked with meaning, but the most prevalent theme is that of darkness. This motif is evident through the physical blackness of nature during the excursion, Kurtz’s mind and mannerisms in his final moments, and the everyday turpitude with which Marlow has grown
Throughout his journey, Marlow discovers that morals as subjective. Marlow is able to make this realization after witnessing
Incarcerated under the Pennsylvania system of corrections, were housed in solitary confinement, separated from each other, and most human contact. This was intended to make the inmates focus on the wrongs that they had committed, which caused them to be incarcerated (Mays & Winfree, 2009). This philosophy was based on the reforms which were occurring during the Enlightenment period. The thinkers of this time felt that by confining an inmate in a solitary manner, with no meaningful human contact, was a more humane way of punishing offenders than was corporal punishment (Cloud, Drucker, Browne, & Parsons, 2015). It was after visits to the Eastern State Penitentiary, that some of the enlightened thinkers of the time, such as Charles Dickens, began to see that this solitary confinement was in fact, more inhumane, than other forms of incarceration (Cloud, Drucker, et al, 2015). Once it became apparent that the silent prisons of the Pennsylvania system were more inhumane, more reforms in the field of corrections came about, such as the Auburn system used in New
As Marlow tells his story we see and understand the situations Marlow faced. In his first encounter with the tribes men, Marlow steps into a "gloomy circle of some inferno", where dark figures surrounded him. He compares this incident with that of a massacre, the starving and wasting bodies lying in "confusion". Marlow then encounters a young black boy with a piece of white cotton string tied around his neck. This simple piece of string symbolizes the young boy's innocence. Shortly after Marlow offers the boy a biscuit, another one of the shapes approaches the river , crawling, and drinks of the water. Marlow could not stand the sight of the suffering any longer. It was as though he felt what they were feeling and just when he was willing to help, he stands up and walks away. The path where Marlow meets those that had traveled to an unknown land, and walked uncertain of where they where but sure of what they wanted, started here.
The novel, Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is literally about Marlow’s journey into the Belgian Congo, but symbolically about the discovery of his heart and soul during his journey, only to find that it is consumed by darkness. He realizes that the man he admired and respected most, is really demonic and that he may be just like him. He is able to come to this realization however, before it takes the best of him.
Society can influence one to change their appearance, lifestyle, and moral values. But with one person’s detailed research and in-depth analysis of a few major flaws occurring today, victims of society can have a voice in which they can scream sense back into our corrupt lifestyle in our crumbled society. By the time this essay has been read, about (number) (one child for every 2.6 seconds) innocent humans will have the opportunity of life snatched away from them in a brutal and excruciatingly painful way. Society has an amazing ability to create the impression that this process, a morally incorrect and physically harmful action, is not only acceptable but encouraged. This impression has placed enormous pressure on women who are faced with this option, and thus society must take the responsibility to unveil abortion for what it actually is, an act of murder.
Marlow’s story begins with him telling the story of Fresleven, a European who lost restraint and could not control himself. Fresleven, being born into civilization, never learned proper restraint. Fresleven, known as, “the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs” (Conrad 6) shows how easy restraint can be lost. Freselven went mad because civilization never forced him to be restrained. Fresleven lost restraint because he went from the sophisticated society of Europe to the uncivilized, jungle of Africa. The people who grow up in the chaos and uncivilized jungle adapt to restraining themselves to survive.
Marlow, in the middle of his story, interrupts himself to say "You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie." He does not think that he is better than the rest of the world. Lies simply appall him. Marlow feels there is a "taint of death, and a flavor of mortality in lies." Lying makes him feel "miserable and sick, like biting something rotten would do." Since he feels this way, he would only tell a lie in extraordinary circumstances.
Abortion is a controversial issue in the today’s society. There are many opinions on the view of abortion, whether it’s positive or negative depending on the individuals’ perspective. First of all what is Abortion? Abortion is a medical process where the foetus is removed or terminated from the womb of the mother before it is born. The reason why I chose the topic abortion is because I was fascinated to hear that an estimated 80,000 - 90,000 surgical abortions are performed in Australia each year (Garratt, 2009). I find this issue important to address because Abortion is probably the world's most common surgical procedure (Arthur, 1999) and that it is increasing over the years, to the extent that people would find it commonly natural to abort the unborn child. By examining sources in relation to the issue, its creditability is its upmost importance so that we are able to understand the issue of abortion with clear understanding and judge for ourselves whether it’s right or wrong.
“ The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.” (Conrad 65) So stated Marlow as though this was his justification for ravaging the Congo in his search for ivory. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it as is evidenced by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African population. Heart of Darkness is indicative of the evil and greed in humanity as personified by Kurtz and Marlow.
... Marlow doesn’t believe she is worthy of the truth, so he lies to her. "I could not tell her. It would have been too dark" (124).
While Heart of Darkness offers a powerful view into the hypocrisy of imperialism, it also delves into the morality of men. Darkness becomes a symbol of hatred, fear and symbol of the power of evil. Marlow begins his story believing that these elements exists within the jungle, then with the natives and finally makes the realization that darkness lives within the heart of each man, even himself. People must learn to restrain themselves from giving into the "darkness." Marlow discusses at one point how even suffering from starvation can lead a man to have "black" thoughts and restraining oneself from these thoughts would be almost impossible in such hardship.
The death of a president in office is often a pivotal time for a nation. The people of that nation can choose from a host of ways to deal with the situation. The most powerful rhetoric after such a loss often comes not in words, but in pictures. These photographs can make more powerful arguments, more subtly than words ever could.