Heart Of Darkness
Conrad's novel, , relies on the historical period
of imperialism in order to describe its protagonist, Charlie Marlow,
and his struggle. Marlow's catharsis in the novel, as he goes to the
Congo, rests on how he visualizes the effects of imperialism. This
paper will analyze Marlow's "change," as caused by his exposure to the
imperialistic nature of the historical period in which he lived.
Marlow is asked by "the company", the organization for whom he
works, to travel to the Congo river and report back to them about Mr.
Kurtz, a top notch officer of theirs. When he sets sail, he doesn't
know what to expect. When his journey is completed, this little "trip"
will have ...
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begins his voyage as an ordinary English sailor who is
traveling to the African Congo on a "business trip". He is an
Englishmen through and through. He's never been exposed to any
alternative form of culture, similar to the one he will encounter in
Africa, and he has no idea about the drastically different culture
that exists out there.
Throughout the book, Conrad, via Marlow's observations, reveals to
the reader the naive mentality shared by every European. Marlow as
well, shares this naiveté in the beginning of his voyage. However,
after his first few moments in the Congo, he realizes the ignorance he
and all his comrades possess. We first recognize the general naiveté
of the Europeans when Marlow's aunt is seeing him for the last time
before he embarks on his journey. Marlow's aunt is under the
assumption that the voyage is a mission to "wean those ignorant
millions from their horrid ways"(18-19). In reality, however, the
...
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which Marlow is exposed to,
but their naiveté is so great, they can't even comprehend a place
where this 'so called' reality would even be a bad dream! Hence, their
response is clearly rebuking the words of a "savage" for having said
something so ridiculous and "uncivilized".
Quite surprisingly, this mentality does not pertain exclusively to
the Englishmen in Europe. At one point during Marlow's voyage down the
Congo, his boat hits an enormous patch of fog. At that very instant, a
"very loud cry" is let out(66). After Marlow looks around and makes
sure everything is all right, he observes the contrasts of the whites
and the blacks expressions.
...
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Heart Of Darkness. (2008, February 26). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Heart-Of-Darkness/79653
"Heart Of Darkness." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 26 Feb. 2008. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Heart-Of-Darkness/79653>
"Heart Of Darkness." Essayworld.com. February 26, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Heart-Of-Darkness/79653.
"Heart Of Darkness." Essayworld.com. February 26, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Heart-Of-Darkness/79653.
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