Friday, April 15, 2011
F Bell-"Heart of Darkness" Due April 22
"Heart of Darkness" is a novella written by literary genius Joseph Conrad, whose first language was Polish. Conrad faced many trials and tribulations throughout his life including political prosecution and the loss of family. In this novella we see parallels between the lives of Conrad and his main character Marlow. Joseph Conrad incorporated many specific themes and symbols which further enhanced the overall meaning of human nature. Please select a theme or symbol from Conrade's "Heart of Darkness" and use textual evidence to show its importance in the overall message in the novella. Also, please refrain from being repetitive.
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In "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, a young man named Marlow recounts his journey to the Congo and the injustices that he witnessed there. While Conrad tells this adventurous tale, his true intent is to expose these injustices and atrocities that were taking place in the mysterious African heartlands and how they directly relate to human nature. In the novella, one of the biggest facets of human nature that is exposed it that of human greed. Specifically within the story, Conrad uses ivory as a symbol of this greed. As he describes the scene in the Congo, Marlow observes "Strings of dusty niggers with splayed feet arrived and departed; a stream of manufactured goods, rubbishy cottons, beads, and brass-wire set into the depths of darkness, and in return came a precious trickle of ivory" (44). Marlow (and Conrad alike) cannot believe that these people only care about the ivory and personal gain, and will do just about anything to get their hands on it, including the trade of human lives. This symbol of personal gain and greed is evident earlier on in the novella, as Marlow says "[He] had no difficulty in finding the Company's offices. It was the biggest thing in the town, and everybody [he] met was full of it. They were going to run an over-sea empire, and make no end of coin by trade" (22). This greed has already gone to their heads and they hadn't even secured all of the ivory at that point. Regardless, the ivory was taken for granted by the ruthless Europeans who moved into the region and took control. While Marlow does succumb to some of the pressures of greed later on in the novella, these instances assist Joseph Conrad in criticizing the inhumane and unjust ways of greedy humans.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Heart of Darkness", Joseph Conrad reveals many brutally harsh realities that come from his experiences mostly in the Congo of Africa. There is a distinct difference between the two worlds he experinces. By bringing together the European world with the natives of the Congo, Conrad reveals also the theme of madness as a result of imperialism. A Major symbol throughout the novella is that of the rivers. The Thames River and trhe Congo River define the people and their differences and separation. Thames River in England represents "the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide...with gleams of varnished spirits"(17). The Thames along with England and Europe and their culture represents light. In contrast the Darkness and brutality of the Congo represents darkness and represents the hypocrisy of Imperialism. Conrad states, "I assure you that never, never before, did this land, this river, this jungle, the very arch of this blazing sky, appear to me so hopeless and so dark,...so pitiless to human weakness"(72). Also the Congo is the European's key to the new world. Without the river, they wouldve had to actuallt travel through the land. However, since they could travel by water on the river, it allows the Europeans to reamain still separate. The flow of the current of the river is also symbolic. For example, it is significantly easier for him to travel home than it is to travel there. This represents his opinion on wehat is happening there in the Congo and how he is against it. The two cintrasting rivers and the cultures that go along with them are significant symbols of Joseph Conrad's novella, "Heart of Darkness".
ReplyDeleteIn "Heart of Darkness", the theme of the hypocrisy of imperialism is prevalent. The men of the Company say what they do is by "trade" and they are just "civilizing" the natives. Marlow along with Kurtz and the Company, admit that they are only becoming prosperous by "suppression". The mistreatment of the nonwhites or savages is quite a hypocrisy because the colonists wanted to civilize the natives but end up acting as savages themselves because they become completely out of control in their quest to make a profit from ivory. These troubles allow Marlow to be philosophical and realize the open racism and problems of the Company and the rest of the country.
ReplyDeleteIn Joesph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" a repeating symbol or motif is that of a boundary as well as a concentration on exteriors. The boundaries come in various ways such as "a great wall of vegetation"(35) or the Congo's banks. The focus on exteriors is shown through the description of the head of the Eldorado Expedition. "He resembled a butcher in a poor neighborhood"(37). By judging the man from the outside instead of looking for what was there inside, Marlow limits his interaction with people. Although his first impression of the man was correct, the alienation that results from Marlow's sight on exterior contributes to the overall question of what happens to a man when he goes further down the Congo. The wall of vegetation parallels the exterior of the leader of the Eldorado Expedition. It not only foreshadows the inner character but also tries to prevent Marlow from recognizing that character. So, the boundaries that are created raise the question of what are they trying to prevent? Whether it is the revealing of a man's character or the Congo's secrets the boundaries in Joesph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" play an important part.
ReplyDelete"Heart of Darkness," the harrowing novella by Joseph Conrad, is a symbolic take on the European colonization of Africa. The entire storyline is full of symbolism, but the single biggest symbol is the Congo River. The Congo is literally the heart of darkness. It winds through some of the most rural and desolate areas in Africa. Every so often travelers will find a "military camp lost in a wilderness...cold, fog, tempests, disease, exile, and death - death sulking in the air, in the water, and the bush" (68). The ominous and foreboding Congo represents the Europeans - while the river is the literal heart of darkness, the Europeans have a sense of darkness about them. Their greed prompts them to kill anyone standing in their paths for material gain. They are dark and hopeless, just like the Congo.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” is a novella chronicling the experiences of a man named Marlow as he travels into the interior of Africa with the Company. One of the biggest of the themes throughout the novella is the hypocrisy of imperialism. Although many people believe that Conrad is simply reflecting the time period, many believe that he is presenting the material in a more satirical and disapproving manner. Throughout the novella, the goal of the Company is to go into Africa and colonize the area and civilize the native people. However they have ulterior motives involving money, by selling the vast amounts of ivory. It is incredibly hypocritical how they sell this story of wanting to help the native peoples by civilizing them, however they become incredibly uncivilized in the process. They were brutal and vicious in their quest for ivory. This is one of the most prevalent themes throughout the novella.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness" is a story full of symbolism. Fog, which is associated with uncertainty and confusion, is a symbol that appears in this story. While on the steamer, Marlow as well as his crewmen become completely enclosed by steam while on the river. This fog blurs the mind and disorients the crewmen to a point where they are unable to tell if a friend or foe is confronting them. The fog represents Marlow's mental state in the dilemma he faces, as he is unsure in his direction as he advances into the blur.
ReplyDelete@Dan- Excellent use of textual evidence to support how the ivory is a symbol of greed within the novella. Good Job!
ReplyDelete@Sarah- Nice job explaining how the rivers play an important role, and also good ties to how Europe and the Congo each have their own tones and natures
@Haley- Imperialism is definitely shown by conrad to be hypocritical because of the behaviors of the Company. Good job!
@Jessie- This is a very interesting and well written explanation on boundaries. It certainly is a symbol that provides some uncertainty. Well done!
@Erin- The Congo is very easily the most important and prevelant symbol in the novella. Its good that you are also stating what you think the heart of darkness really is!
@Margaret- I do agree that Marlow is very critical and sarcastic toward the hypocritical nature of the imperialistic government in Belgium. Good job!
@Ciara- The symbol of fog definitely serves to represent uncertainty among Marlow during his journey. Perhaps this could further explain how the Congo River could be the heart of darkness?