“Heart of Darkness” was written by Joseph Conrad. It can be seen as a good work that offers a critical interpretation of European imperial curriculum. The major theme of this work is the comparison between the good and the evil of human nature. This essay will focus on what the character Marlow discovered about the European presence in Africa, about the potential of human nature, as well as about his own inner being on this journey. What Marlow discovered about the European presence in Africa was the trading marketplaces. He thinks that the presence of Europe was not natural nor correct and regarded it as a “FARCE”, as he stated “-- trading places-- with names like Gran' Bassam Little Popo, names that seemed to belong to some sordid farce acted in front of a …show more content…
-- hidden out of sight somewhere”. (Chapter 1, 17). He thinks that there are some unknown enemies that may do some harm to them. In addition, as for the human nature, I think that Marlow can be viewed as an early version of Kurtz. Marlow discovered that everyone may have some terrible actions or behaviors and he thought that the potential human nature was depraved or degenerated. In the very beginning, Marlow was in London and held the idea that the world was dark, as he stated in Chapter 1 that “has been one of the dark places of the earth (Chapter 1, 18). He grew up in London and living in London for years really influenced the ways that he perceived Congo. London was the capital of Britain and one of the best cities in the world. However, Marlow thought that this city was very dark. In addition, as we know, Kurtz was considered to be the most honorable man, however, before his death, the only words that he said were “The Horror! The Horror!” (Chapter 3, 33). His journey eventually guides him to humanity’s dark side. He was aware of that idea
Marlow tells of a vision that he has on his way into seeing the intended. He says that he saw Kurtz on the stretcher opening his mouth voraciously as if to devour all of the earth with all its mankind2 and that he had seen. Kurtz as 3a shadow insatiable of splendid appearances, of frightful. realities, a shadow darker than the shadow of night,(72). This is a a real and vivid description of his feelings for Kurtz.
· Marlow eavesdrops on a conversation between the manager and uncle. He learns that the manager resents Kurtz.
Marlow, the main character in Heart of Darkness, often recognizes the Europeans' dehumanization of the Africans. As Marlow approaches the company offices at the Outer Station he sees "a scene of inhabited devastation" (Conrad 24). He catches sight of a chain gang of half starved, animal-like Africans. Trying to rationalize the situation, Marlow tells himself that these Africans are criminals, and somehow deserve their ...
The moment in which Marlow experiences his epiphany is right after the helmsman gets killed by natives, which are associated with Kurtz. The thing that Marlow realizes is the savagery of man and the corruption of the ivory trade. The actual change takes place when Marlow sees the helmsman die. Marlow sees the death take place and is shocked. "The side of his head hit the wheel twice, and the end of what appeared a long cane clattered round and knocked over a little campstool. ... my feet felt so very warm and wet that I had to look down. ... It was the shaft of a spear that...had caught him in the side just below the ribs. I had to make and effort to free my eyes from his gaze and attend to the steering. ... I declare it looked as though he would presently put to us some question in an understandable language; but he died without uttering a sound, without moving a limb, without twitching a muscle. ... 'He is dead,' murmured the fellow, immensely impressed. 'No doubt about it,' said I." When this happened, Marlow realized the savagery of man, horror of death, and the corruption of the ivory trade. He realizes that in the ivory trade, that the ivory is more valuable than human life and that traders will do almost anything to get it. Marlow also realizes man's savagery in the event that man puts greater value on riches than on human life. This is the epiphany of Marlow in "The Heart of Darkness."
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.
In Conrad's Heart of Darkness Marlow, the main character, symbolizes the positiveness of Imperialism. Marlow, as a character realizes the evil that negative Imperialism has caused and decides it is truly unnecessary. When Marlow states, "I had got a heavenly mission to civilize you," he expresses his good intentions to help the Africans progress and advance. Furthermore, when he says, "I was an impostor," Marlow recognizes the fact that he is an invader into a foreign land, yet he sticks to his moral values.
Marlow’s attitude towards colonization is made very clear in the first pages of the book. He is very critical about the whole process and is very cold towards affair. Marlow states: “It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind—as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness. 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. What redeems it is the idea only.” (Conrad 70). Marlow’s gains this perspective on colonization throughout his journey, thus already foreshadowing change within Marlow’s character.
Why is Marlow’s mission, or the ship’s voyage for that matter, a journey towards hell? Literally speaking, the journey is not towards hell but towards the jungles of Africa, where Kurtz was to be retrieved by Marlow. However, when one takes into account the setting, one can almost see that Marlow’s mission is not simple nor is it safe. With this fact, the journey towards the jungle becomes hell in two ways. Firstly, it is hell in the sense that the African jungle serves as a dark and foreboding setting. In the initial part of the story, Marlow likens Britain’s perception of Africa to that of what was probably ancient Rome’s impression of untamed Britain. Marlow describes a young Roman as to had “Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him – all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men.” Thus from this excerpt, readers can see that Marlow and his companions are seemingly banished into a place tha...
When Marlow finally reaches Kurtz he is in declining health. This same jungle which he loved, embraced and consumed with every ounce of his flesh had also taken its toll on him. Marlow finally meets the man whose name has haunted him on his river journey. Could this frail human be the ever so powerful Kurtz? The man who has journeyed into uncharted territories and has come back with scores of ivory and the respect of the native tribe. Yes, this was the very man and though he is weak and on his way to death his power still exudes from him.
That's why Marlow's aunt encouraged him to seek out the journey with hopes that he will play a role in helping the savages, because she understands what is right and wrong. "They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now -- nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom" (Conrad 83). She is a firm believer in imperialism which
Marlow can be an amazingly selfish character. You have to wonder if that was his conscious attempt to stay sane or if it was truly how he interacted. While in the outer station Marlow observed a group of Africans chained together, he had no compassion for these men he simply watched them. After they passed, Marlow, thinking nothing of it, crept into the shade and was met by a group of starving Africans dying in the darkness of the trees. At this particular moment the reader is given a glimpse in to Marlow's compassionate side. One can tell that Marlow is disturbed or distracted by the scene. He even tries to help one of the Africans by giving them a portion of bread. As soon as Marlow stepped out of the shade the image was lost. He thought no more about it and simply continued up the hill. A reader would hope that a companionate character would stop and contemplate what could be done for these people, or at least what kind of society would allow this kind of treatment. Marlow doesn't think about the starving, or suffering people, which is his way of keeping his mind steady. By not thinking of these people Marlow doesn't have to question what he is doing in Africa or what he "should" do according to the popular standard. Marlow doest care about what he "should" do Marlow just wants to discover the empty places on the map on his own personal journey.
One interpretation of Marlow's relationship to colonialism is that he does not support it. Conrad writes, "They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now,-nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom" (p. 27-28). Marlow says this and is stressing that the so-called "savages", or Africans, are being treated and punished like they are criminals or enemies when in fact they never did anything. He observes the slow torture of these people and is disgusted with it. Marlow feels sympathy for the black people being slaved around by the Europeans but doesn't do anything to change it because that is the way things are. One can see the sympathy by the way that he gives a starving black man one of his biscuits. "To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe" (p. 54). This statement by Marlow conveys that he doesn't believe that the Europeans have a right to be stripping Africa of its riches. He views the Jungles of Africa as almost it's own living, breathing monster.
However, when Marlow finally reaches Kurtz, he encounters his very own reflection of his own immoral behavior. Such an experience serves as an enriching enlightening and defining experience for Marlow as he comes to see his own wickedness in the actions of another Kurtz, and is appalled by what he sees. When Kurtz pronounces on his deathbed, “The horror, the horror”—a confession to his own wicked actions as a barbarous ivory trader and slaughterer of Congolese natives—Marlow feels as if these words are additionally his own; the words represent acknowledgment of his own evil actions. In the Congo, Marlow is cut off from his native home of England—cut off from the structured, civilized life in which he was raised, which was full of social regulations and defined parameters of socially acceptable behaviors &
They were both exposed to the dark side of human nature and both eventually realized that the real heart of darkness is buried in the inside of every individual. Works Cited How Does Marlow (in Heart of Darkness) Try to Find Himself? Yahoo! -
At the beginning of the novel, Marlow is traveling the jungle and the many scenes of life can be seen. Africa has seems to be taken over by many travelers which makes one wonder what is there ulterior motive? Africa is a third world country, which makes it easy for someone to come in and talk on their soapbox. It is very easy to tell that these men are not the biggest fans of colored people, so it is plausible that they have come to instill a sense of imperialism. As Marlow passes through the waters of the Congo it is easily visible the trouble of the natives. “Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees, leaning against the trunks, clinging to the earth half coming out, half effaced with the dim light, in all the attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair.” (20) Show that the holding of these colonies has started. The soldiers have come in and taken the inhabitants and are destroying them and taking from them the one thing they deserve over everything, life. The imperialists seem to not care about the Africans and are just there for their land.