Writers:
Here is the place to post your paragraphs and any notes you care to include. Do it as soon as you can, so that your colleagues (myself included) have an opportunity to read your work and compare ideas. We can spend part of Monday in conference with others who've tackled similar themes if you do your part now.
JD
PS: This is no time to delay action until the last minute. If your work doesn't appear until after 7 p.m. Sunday it will do no one any good. Remember—you've had a head start on this. The idea is to put you in the best of shape possible for your essay. I don't want the assignment to cause misery for you during winter break.
31 comments:
Looks like your request for a quick response has fallen on deaf ears, JD! I guess I’ll be the first…
Notes/Ideas
Quotes: “You know I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie.”
“The inner truth is hidden—luckily, luckily.”
• Marlow finds that truth is often terrible
• At first cannot bear lies ends up telling one in very end (Conrad’s purpose?)
• Exposure to other lies/people with bad habits can turn you into something you aren’t
• Fresleven, first a gentle guy turned violent by experiences in Congo
Thematic Statement
Through the changes perceived in the character of Marlow, Joseph Conrad reveals that bad company can change one’s most core beliefs and most natural of actions.
Paragraph
Before long on his voyage, Marlow claims a virtue uncommonly found in his time: an emphasis on truth. “You know I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie,” he explains (Pt. 1 ¶ 62). He has yet to be changed by his experiences in the Congo. The entire agenda of operations within the Congo is a lie. Humanitarians, as they so ironically call themselves, claim that they are helping the savages of Africa, “weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways” (Pt. 1 ¶ 28). In reality they torture and enslave the native population, using their altruistic outer appearance to profit themselves with rubber and ivory. Signed on to their programs, Marlow now associates with the “flabby devils” who have created and advanced this hideous masquerade (Pt. 1 ¶ 38). Consequently, despite his previous allegation, Marlow absorbs some of this untruthful behavior, musing halfway through his trip that “the inner truth is hidden—luckily, luckily,” demonstrating that actual truth does not seem so important any more (Pt. 1 ¶ 5) He further displays this change in the end, finishing the account of his experiences in a shallowly justified lie to a grieving widow. He attempts to defend his words, saying the truth “would have been too dark” (Pt. 3 ¶ 86). This former detester of falsehoods has finished his story with a lie.
Katie, I think you have a solid idea. Regarding your thesis, don’t you think it’s more than just "bad company" that changes Marlow? I think you touch on the other aspects in the Congo that bring about this change in your paragraph a little more, but I would also suggest you include them in your thesis. I think we could also dig a little deeper into how he “absorbs some of this untruthful behavior” as you put it. What exactly is it about Marlow that allows this change to take place? Is it internal, external or both? Also, does Marlow automatically become a flabby devil when he signs on to the program, or does he develop into one after experiencing the conditions once in the Congo? I hope this helps a little.
Here’s what I have thus far:
1)Chosen theme from notes:
a)“Work as Salvation”
2)Two quotations that illuminated this theme:
a)“Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency - the devotion to efficiency” (¶ 13).
b)“He had just the faintest blush, and said modestly, “I’ve been teaching one of the native women about this station. It was difficult. She had a distaste for the work.” Thus this man had, verily, accomplished something. And he was devoted to his books, which were in apple-pie order” (¶ 44).
3)Thoughts on the quotations:
a)Marlow does admit that imperialism is “not a pretty thing when you look into it too much” (¶ 13). However, it seems to think that it can have at least one redeeming quality – efficiency, as is apparent in the first quotation. Marlow says this is what saves Britain. Leopold’s quest in the Congo, however, is a “squeeze” to Marlow.
b)Marlow essentially believes that the end justifies the means.
c)The accountant serves as a contrast to the great deal of the proceedings in the Congo because he had “accomplished something,” as Marlow puts it, unlike the others such as the manager and his uncle.
d)Marlow is clearly mesmerized by the accountant, possibly because of his productiveness.
4) Thesis statement pertaining to the theme and quotations:
a)Marlow believes that imperialism, with all its pejorative aspects, is redeemed by efficiency, which does not abound in Leopold’s Congo.
5)Body paragraph:
a)Marlow believes that imperialism, with all its pejorative aspects, is redeemed by efficiency. He prefaces the story of his experience in the Congo with another about Britain being imperialized. He says that what saves them from feeling “the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate” is “the devotion to efficiency” (¶ 13). But this is not the case for Leopold’s Congo. Marked by broken drainage-pipes, undersized trucks flipped over and lying idle, aimless projects, and unclear direction, Leopold’s Congo was an utter disaster to Marlow. As soon as he laid eyes upon the land, it screamed inefficiency. One exception, however, to the complete incompetence was the accountant Marlow met. Marlow was immediately mesmerized by the man, calling him a “miracle” (¶ 44). He later says this about the man: “He had just the faintest blush, and said modestly, ‘I’ve been teaching one of the native women about this station. It was difficult. She had a distaste for the work.’ Thus this man had, verily, accomplished something. And he was devoted to his books, which were in apple-pie order” (¶ 44). From the tone alone it’s obvious that Marlow has a great liking for this man; and the reason is that the accountant appears to be, as Marlow put it, “accomplished.” The woman didn’t like the work, but the accountant has an apparent penchant for productiveness. This is exactly the redeeming quality that Marlow talks about earlier in the novella. If only all of Leopold’s Congo ran the way the accountant worked, perhaps Marlow would not see it as such a “squeeze."
So I am currently working on my thesis and its pretty rough at the moment so Im not going to post it quite yet :]
theme: the wilderness and its power
Quotes/thoughts:
-"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. An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest" (¶5, part II).
-"We were wanderers on a prehistoric earth, on an earth that wore the aspect of an unknown planet. We could have fancied ourselves the first of men taking possession of an accursed inheritance, to be subdued at the cost of profound anguish and of excessive toil" (¶7, part II).
-"Still, i had also judged the jungle of both banks quite impenetrable--and yet eyes were in it, eyes that had seen us" (¶16, part II).
• intimidation-pilgrims intimidated by forest
• protection-acts as castle walls for natives
• power-intimidation that the forest gives off creates a new level of power the wilderness has over the pilgrims
Paragraph:
It is an underlying theme that the wilderness of the Congo acts as protection to the natives. As the pilgrims take charge and invade the Congo, Marlow recognizes the intimidacy the forest gives off, “going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest” (¶5, part II). As the wilderness is unfamiliar and dark to the pilgrims it operates like castle walls to the natives. A place they can hide and take cover within. “Still, I had also judged the jungle of both banks quite impenetrable—and yet eyes were in it, eyes that had seen us” (¶16, part II). From Marlow's descriptions of the wilderness, his tone alone gives off a sense of intimidation. The pilgrims enter the Congo with this ego that they may overtake what they please but their lack of knowledge of the area acts as a weakness the wilderness uses against them. "We were wanderers on a prehistoric earth, on an earth that wore the aspect of an unknown planet. We could have fancied ourselves the first of men taking possession of an accursed inheritance, to be subdued at the cost of profound anguish and of excessive toil" (¶7, part II).
Theme: Irony and Conrad/Marlow’s peculiar sense of humor
Quotes:
(P 37, II) “He made as though he would kiss me.”
Hilarious introduction of the Russian. From the very start, Marlow’s attitude towards him is very demeaning and skeptical of his credibility. From this simple line, readers can imagine the over enthusiastic young adult who is only trying to make sense of the confusion around him.
(P 1, III) “If the absolutely pure, uncalculating, unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human being, it ruled this be-patched youth.”
Once again, Marlow mocks the Russian’s personality with a little bit of irony. “The spirit of adventure,” a character that is usually admirable, is twisted into a useless good character to have. So although the Russian may have a good spirit, his spirit is deemed useless.
(P 9, III) “Let us hope that the man who can talk so well of love in general will find some particular reason to spare us this time.”
Irony: the “man who can talk so well of love” currently wants to kill them. And yet again, Marlow is mocking the praise from the Russian about how loving and caring Kurtz is, while he is obviously a brutal person committing unfathomable crimes against humanity.
Prompt:
What purpose does humor and irony serve in a dark and introspective piece of literature such as Heart of Darkness?
Body Paragraph:
Before the long-awaited and infamous Kurtz is finally revealed in the final installment of the novella Heart of Darkness, a contrastingly oblivious and light-hearted character appears: the Russian. The Russian, a young man who never lost the boyhood glow, is the overly delighted tour guide who praises Kurtz non-stop saying “[Kurtz] has enlarged my mind” (P 37, II). Taking advantage of this misplaced human, Marlow mocks the Russian at every moment. When Marlow hands the Russian a book, the Russian is overjoyed. Marlow describes the Russian at that moment “as though he would kiss me, but restrained himself” (P 37, II). The mere idea of a two men that are complete strangers to each other would kiss each other is a humorous idea. Although, the Russian really didn’t, the description lightened- up the whole mood of the passage. Then when Marlow was to finally meet the mysterious Kurtz who had been hiding behind the veil of the Congo, the Russian and Marlow witness an episode of gruesome violence conducted by Kurtz. At that moment Marlow says, “Let us hope that the man who can talk so well of love in general will find some particular reason to spare us this time” (P 9, III). Within the suspenseful scene, Marlow wittily skews the words of the Russian which become very ironic in their situation. The humor sharply contrasts with the intense scene they are observing. However, the humorous remarks made by Marlow make the whole ordeal more human and personal. As tragedies stir deep emotions for audience to connect with the characters on an intimate level, humor instigates a different, yet similar emotion which creates the same effect.
Theme: Darkness and its meanings/interpretations
Quotes/Ideas:
-"But there was one yet--the biggest, most blank, so to speak-- that I had a hankering after... It had become a place of darkness," (Pt I, 17,18).
-"Get him hanged! Why not? Anything--anything can be done in this country," (Pt. II, 2).
-The attraction of darkness appeals to many men of all different intentions. There are the travelers and conquerors who Marlow describes in part I that wish to bring light to the dark places of the world, evil men who can accomplish their wishes without consequence, and Marlow himself, who was a peculiar attraction to the unknown.
Thesis:
Each of the interpretations that stem from the common theme of darkness tie back together to support a common conviction: whatever his motives or intentions, man is perpetually tempted by darkness and the unique attraction that lies within it.
Body:
Mystery, just one aspect of darkness, is what draws Marlow to the Congo. From the time he was young, Marlow has been compelled to travel to the "blank spaces of the earth," (I, 17). He later states, "But there was one yet--the biggest, most blank, so to speak--that I had a hankering after...It had become a place of darkness," (I, 17,18). Marlow does not appear compelled to extend his knowledge or civilization to the Congo; he desires to travel there simply to satisfy his passion for the unknown.
Other men, like the Manager and his uncle, are drawn to the Congo to satisfy their own selfish desires and to exploit others. When discussing what should be done to a man who has been caught stealing ivory, the uncle says, "Get him hanged! Why not? Anything--anything can be done in this country," (II, 2). This aspect of darkness, the ability to conceal savage acts from society, makes it tempting to those who have succumbed to the evils of human nature. Each character in Heart of Darkness has a sinister, malevolent side to him, making the darkness of the Congo, which is highly conducive to such action without reprimand, so inviting.
Theme: The Power of the Wilderness
Quotes:
“The great wall of vegetation, an exuberant and entangled mass of trunks, branches, leaves, boughs, festoons, motionless in the moonlight, was like a rioting invasion of soundless life, a rolling wave of plants, piled up, crested, ready to topple over the creek, to sweep every little man of us out of his little existence.” (pt. 1 ¶71)
“Trees, trees, millions of trees, massive, immense, running up high; and 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. It made you feel very small, very lost, and yet it was not altogether depressing, that feeling.” (pt. 2 ¶7)
“I tried to break the spell – the heavy, mute spell of the wilderness – that seemed to draw him into its pitiless breast by awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts, by the memory of gratified and monstrous passions.” (pt. 3 ¶29)
Thoughts/Ideas:
- Conrad’s lengthy description of the immense/impenetrable forest accentuates the insignificance of the European intruders and gives a sense that they don’t belong.
- The dark and mysterious wilderness seems to be a force that changes men such as Kurtz with its overwhelming spell.
- The wilderness is often fought by the colonists; nature usually proves its dominance over the foolish white men (the French man-of-war, the dead machines, disease).
Prompt:
The vast and powerful wilderness of the Congo, as described in the above quotes, challenged and changed the European intruders. Describe this power and how it influenced the colonists/Marlow/Kurtz.
Sample Paragraph:
In part 2, Marlow repeatedly describes the surrounding wilderness as “impenetrable”. The colossal jungle is sluggish and still, seemingly prehistoric, and an impressive sight to its visitors. The Europeans intended to impose their will on the land, but the wild proved largely unconquerable. Marlow notes the insignificance of himself and his steamer as “the great wall of vegetation was ready to… sweep every little man of us out of his existence” (pt. 1 ¶71). The dominance of nature is also shown by the defeat of machine: “an undersized railway-truck lying there on its back with its wheels in the air. One was off. The thing looked as dead as the carcass of some animal” (pt. 1 ¶36). The strong and eternal nature of the wilderness ominously contrasts with the foolish, inefficient, weak men. They are out of place, do not belong, and “nature herself tried to ward off [the] intruders” (pt. 1 ¶32). The omnipresent backdrop of the impenetrable, unchanging wilderness foreshadows the way it changes men, and even the downfall of Kurtz.
Passages: Chapter I, ¶ 21; Chapter II, ¶ 29
1. Both passages remind me of Hobbes’ state of nature and the theory of a social contract. The first paragraph shows how all rules and standards are thrown out when no one (except force) gives repercussions for actions. We are then driven by wants, as exemplifed by many of the characters in the novel. The second part ties into this well. The cannibals do not eat the White men because they are more civilized. There are laws and rules to their society and way of life in the jungle that the imperialists do not have when conquering a foreign land. It is the aggressor that loses their moral compass.
2. When morals fade in the state of nature, power is the only law.
3. Throughout Heart of Darkness Conrad explores the nature of humanity and its corruption by the jungle. The seemingly civilized imperialists prove more vicious than the savage natives. European laws do not apply in the Congo. There are no repercussions or repremands, and as such, nothing to control behavior. Men become ruled by desire, which is curved only by how much power is had. Fresleven, the captain before Marlow, is killed in a scuffle over nothing but two black hens. “Fresleven was the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs. No doubt he was; but […] he probably felt the need at last of asserting his self-respect in some way” (Ch. 1 ¶ 21). Even the kindest of souls succumb to the jungle’s power. For the imperialists there is no superego to control the id. The natives, however, remain restrained, even in the presence of hunger and invaders. Marlow wonders, “why in the name of all the gnawing devils of hunger they didn't go for us […]Restraint” (Ch. 2 ¶ 29)! The natives are clearly able to overpower the British, and yet something restrains them. They are not transplanted from their homes and their laws. The natives are where they always have been; a society of theirs within the jungle. They have a law ruling them because it is far from foreign. Rather, the natives are ruled by the laws of their turf, whereas the foreign imperialists have no such restrictions.
Theme: Work as Salvation
§1 13 Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency -- the devotion to efficiency.
§1 41 they sickened, became inefficient, and were then allowed to crawl away and rest.
§1 55 I went to work the next day…keep my hold on the redeeming facts of life.
§1 71 'We shall have rivets!' …I tried a jig.
§2 5 It was the stillness of an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention. … the reality -- the reality, I tell you -- fades. The inner truth is hidden -- luckily, luckily.
§2 8 You wonder I didn't go ashore for a howl and a dance? … get the tin-pot along by hook or by crook.
§2 8 I had to look after the savage who was fireman. He was an improved specimen; … he was hard at work.
§2 8 thus neither that fireman nor I had any time to peer into our creepy thoughts.
Thesis statement:
Work is society’s instrument to prevent unrestrained human behavior.
Paragraph:
Marlow’s incessant obsession with his steamboat acts as an instrument to override the daunting whispers of “ivory” that would seek out his dark side of human nature. Civilization is his ticket to escape the wilderness that surrounds him on the Congo River, but the only tie to the other world is through technological advances that the “prehistoric earth” (§2 7) lacks. Upon his arrival at the station, “I went to work the next day, turning, so to speak, my back on that station. In that way only it seemed to me I could keep my hold on the redeeming facts of life.” (§1 55) Exposed to the station’s commitment in profiting from the ivory trade through maintaining the efficiency of its natives, Marlow becomes increasingly aware of the atrocities that occur in the heart of Africa. Those “facts of life” are tested when his steamboat, his only link to the formulaic world he once knew, is damaged. As time drags on with no word of incoming shipments of rivets, Marlow’s restrained nature begins to recede into a state of withdrawal. The native customs have never attracted his attention, “You wonder I didn't go ashore for a howl and a dance? Well, no -- I didn't. Fine sentiments, you say? Fine sentiments, be hanged! I had no time,” (§2 8) but deprived of productive work Marlow has a momentary lapse of his internal barrier and “trys a jig.” His conformation, albeit only for a moment, to the “primitive” society marks the strength of work in maintaining control of civilization’s pawns.
Tessa, I think you have a great start and really have a handle on the theme. I think it is also important to note the juxtaposition of the description of the Congo and then the Office or other part of the city.
Compared to where everyone else is my ideas seem rough. But I am trying to get a handle on my theme!
Theme: Two black hens/two fates
Quotes: "...I heard the original quarrel arose from a misunderstanding about some hens. Yes, two black hens." Paragraph 21
"Two youths with foolish and cheery countenances were being piloted over, and she threw at them the same quick gland of unconcerned wisdom. She seemed to know all about them and about me, too. An eerie feeling came over me. She seemed uncanny and fateful." Paragraph 25
Thesis (rough): The pairing of the two black hens and the two women, or Fates, are used to stand as a symbol of a person's destiny.
Thoughts: -Two black hens were present at the death of Fresleven. They determined his death in a way.
-The two women are present at the office where Marlow sign away to enter the Congo.
-Both stories are linked; Marlow gets the job because Fresleven dies.
-The office can be related to the town in the Congo.
-Both scenes are only located a few paragraphs a part.
Paragraph: *(I know we are suppose to use quotes in the paragraph and I am still having a hard time with that, just an FYI)
The two black hens and the two women knitting are signs to Marlow. He notes both of them even though they are just details. Both deal with something black which can be easily linked together and create an excellent visual effect for the reader. Black can represent death, evil and harm. The hens determined the fate of Fresleven, the two women are also present when sailors come to sign away their fate/life to the Congo. With the two women "guarding the door of Darkness" (paragraph 25) they are the gate keepers to the Congo. The Congo is where many men go to live (money) but end up dying. The women help lead those to their fate. The two black hens determined the fate of Fresleven through a fight that led to his death. Both the hens and the women work as a pair to create an image of life and fate.
I know this paragraph is a tad rough. I am having difficulties figuring out exactly what I’m trying to convey.
Topic: The wilderness and is power (and how it affected Kurtz according to Marlow)
Quotes:
Part 1 61 “Beyond the fence the forest stood up spectrally in the moonlight, and through the dim stir, through the faint sounds of that lamentable courtyard, the silence of the land went home to one’s very heart – its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life.”
Part 3 29 “I tried to break the spell – the heavy, mute spell of the wilderness – that seemed to draw him to its pitiless breast by the awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts, by the memory of gratified and monstrous passions.
Paragraph: The isolated wilderness of the Congo has the ability to bring out the worst in its imposing visitors. The Europeans enter the Congo believing that they can conquer it but end up the ones who are conquered. Marlow signs up to be a steamship captain in a place about which he has limited knowledge. Marlow soon realizes what the wilderness is capable of: “its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life (Part 1 61).” Kurtz is the prime example of someone who is controlled by the wilderness. Marlow refers to Kurtz when he is following him near the sorcerer’s fire as “this wandering and tormented thing (Part III 28).” He tries to assure Kurtz that his reputation in Europe is secure and to keep him from making a scene. Marlow comments on how Kurtz seemed to be unconsciously driven by impulse. He says “I tried to break the spell – the heavy, mute spell of the wilderness – that seemed to draw him to its pitiless breast by the awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts (Part III 29).”
Theme: Light/Darkness
Quotes:
- “running blaze[s]” and “flash[es] of lightning” throughout the wilderness
-“I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment I took him for a sort of vision. I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clear necktie, and varnished boots.” (Pt I, 43)
-“There was no joy in the brilliance of sunshine.” (Pt II, 5)
The quotes I have chosen show some sort of brightness in the darkness of Africa, however in the context of these quotes the light seems to be a symbol for imperialism which is rampaging across Africa. They show it in the large scale in the blazes and lightning flashes, and in the small scale with the accountant dressed in all white. And in the case of the third quote it blatantly states that there is no happiness accompanying the light, or the spread of imperialism.
Prompt:
In which ways are the classic examples of light and darkness reversed in the novel Heart of Darkness, and what are light and darkness now portrayed as? And how does this shed light on the theme of the book.
Body Paragraph:
In Heart of Darkness it is apparent that there are new meanings for the classic symbols of light and darkness. Light is now a symbol for imperialism, or how the whites in the Congo would say it is a symbol for civilization. Several times in the novella there are scenes of “flashes of lightning” or a “running blaze” both of which bring light, or civilization, while at the same time carry very destructive potential, like imperialism. The spread of imperialism has come at a great cost to the native people, being captured and put to forced labor and being downright abused by the outsiders in many instances including the accountant. When the accountant is first introduced as “…a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment I took him for a sort of vision. I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clear necktie, and varnished boots,”(Pt. I, 43). He is doused in symbols of imperialism; wearing almost exclusively white the accountant’s personality can be guessed before any further explanation of his character. The accountant is a “flabby devil” one who is very hypocritical and morally confused while this brings pain unto the ones he is supposedly “aiding” and sees no problem in this. This description of the accountant’s character as a flabby devil is almost the exact same of the problems with imperialism in general, exposing the hypocrisy and ambiguity of the idea, which is a main theme of the book, that there is “no joy in the brilliance of sunshine” (Pt. 2, 5). Although to some, the whites, the sunshine, or imperialism, is brilliant, it brings no joy to the ones who are receiving it. While imperialism has been symbolized as light in the darkness of the Congo, and imperialism is evil therefore reversing the classic roles of light as good and dark as evil.
Theme: Marlow's relationship and draw to Kurtz
Thesis: Still working on my overall thesis. I’m thinking of looking at why Kurtz appeals to Marlow, why Marlow remains loyal to Kurtz, and how relationships like these are seen today (ex: politicians?). We’ll see where I actually end up with this.
Body #1 Topic: Kurtz appeals to Marlow because of his courage.
Body #1:
Drawing from his reservoir of courage, Kurtz exclaims those two infamous words, “The horror! The horror!” Affirming his true experience in the Congo those last words will forever be interpreted by Marlow and other like intellectuals (64). The courageous step to identify his wrongs, is taken at the last possible moment, nonetheless it is taken. Kurtz takes that huge step, that many struggle with today. Marlow relates,
“True, he had made the last stride, he had stepped over the edge, while I had been permitted to draw back my hesitating foot. And perhaps in this is the whole difference; perhaps all the wisdom, and all the truth, and all sincerity, are just compressed into that inappreciable moment of time which we step over the threshold of the invisible” (65)
Perhaps this is why Marlow is drawn to Kurtz. It’s not his voice, his power, his reputation, but his courage. Kurtz takes the step when Marlow hesitates. Thus, Marlow gives him his loyalty and lasting respect.
I’m still working on this and will continue to edit this paragraph before class tomorrow. I plan to further analyze the second half of my “chunked paragraph”, and give more of my own thoughts. Perhaps, I will make another post later tonight.
Question: Should we use paragraph numbers or page numbers when we cite? FYI I used page numbers.
Theme: Does the wilderness have the ability to make a person evil, or does it simply create the opportunity for a person to release their "true self"?
Part III ¶5: "But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude – and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascination. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core…”
Part III ¶4: “The woods were unmoved, like a mask – heavy, like the closed door of a prison – they looked with their air of hidden knowledge, of patient expectation, of unapproachable silence”.
What I found intriguing about the first quote is the idea that something inanimate, like a forest, could cause a person to become evil. It states that the wilderness whispered to Kurtz, and that it found him out. However, does that really mean that it was the wilderness that transformed him? It whispered things to Kurtz about himself. I take that to mean that away from civilization and socially accepted ideals, Kurtz felt the freedom to become the man he had been hiding from society all this time.
I thought the second quote was interesting because in this personification, the woods aren’t acting as a seducer, or a lure to darkness. Instead, they are simply there, an immovable force. They hid knowledge, silence, and patience. There is nothing to suggest that they are there to make a person evil, only that they are there in an evil person decides to enter them.
The wilderness does not hold any power of a person’s morals and ideals. Nature cannot cause a person to become evil, it simply creates an opportunity for one to face their true self. In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad’s antagonist, Kurtz, is described as seduced by the Congo forest. “But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude – and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascination. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core…” (Part III ¶5). While the forest whispers to him, it only whispers about things that were already a part of Kurtz. This metaphorically represents how, in the solitude of the wilderness and away from the pressures to conform to society, the real Kurtz, the man who performed many cruelties, emerges. While it is true that he needed to be in the Congo before his inner self showed its teeth, it was not the wild forest that caused this birth. It was rather the solitude and freedom that allowed the change. Conrad also does not describe the woods as evil, but rather still, quiet, and mysterious. There may be something dark about them, but certainly not evil. “The woods were unmoved, like a mask – heavy, like the closed door of a prison – they looked with their air of hidden knowledge, of patient expectation, of unapproachable silence” (Part III ¶4). Nature here is something to be respected, something to revere. Here they stand, simply there, an immovable force. They hide knowledge, silence, and patience. There is nothing to suggest that they are there to make a person evil, only that they are there if an evil person decides to enter them. Alone in the quiet, away from everything that is known, and in the alien world of the Congo, it is easy to see how a many would be forced to look within himself and see the true person lurking within.
I’m not satisfied with this. I’m thinking of going in the direction of “what about the wilderness allows a man to free their inner self” and less with “can the wilderness make a person evil”. I feel like the latter is answered within the novella already.
Theme: The Wilderness and its power
“ But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude—and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core…” (part 3, paragraph 5)
“The wilderness had patted him on the head…it had taken him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own…He was its spoiled and pampered favorite.” (part 2, paragraph 29)
- Kurtz seems to have degraded from his old self. He is a prodigy yet a hollow man, devoid of integrity and social morals.
- Kurtz falls to the temptation of the wilderness and because of this, he has no restraint.- Wilderness is too overpowering, always there like a tall, untamable wall, yet it is the white man that tries to conquer the wilderness, making them seem foolish.
- Marlow is tempted too as he is put to the test traveling deeper into the heart of darkness.
- Is the light of civilization really light? Or is it darkness?
- Wilderness, symbol of reality and truth, acts as a mirror
Prompt: The wilderness cannot be conquered. Instead, the wilderness reflects the darkness of ones heart and its dense jungle tests individuals to their limits of integrity and social values in the absence of society.
The wilderness is a recurring force that Marlow notes on continuously. On his way to the inner station to meet Kurtz, Marlow hears much about him and his success in the Congo from the Manager and the brickmaster. Marlow begins to realize the hold that the wilderness has on Kurtz and the colonials, as he mentions that Kurtz was the wilderness’s “spoiled and pampered favorite”(II.29), showing that Kurtz has fallen and degraded from what he once may have been. He describes Kurtz as “hollow at the core”, suggesting he became devoid of restraint and social structure and values. The wilderness brings out the darkness and brutality of Kurtz’s inner self. Rather than the colonials spreading their “light” of civilization, it seems that they cannot conquer the wilderness when compared to the brooding, omnipresent force, and the light instead may be darkness. Marlow also realizes the power of the wilderness when he does not go ashore to “howl and dance”. However, Marlow does not fall to the temptation of the wilderness because he is aware of his own dark feelings and desires and is able to show restraint. Marlow also mentions the wilderness in such a way that when the Pilgrims are compared to the omnipotent force of the wild, their actions seem trivial and pointless.
Theme: Whited Sepulchres
Quotes:
p.I ¶ 62: "I let him run on, this papier-mache Mephistopheles, and it seemed to me that if I tried I could poke my forefinger through him, and would find nothing inside but a little loose dirt, maybe."
p.I ¶ 22: "In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of a whited sepulchre."
Thesis Statement: Men that function entirely by self-interest are found having to deceive others around them while trying to conceal their real feelings or motives.
Sample Paragraph: A whited sepulcher is a person who is inwardly evil, but outwardly professes to be virtuous. "The papier-mache Mephistopheles" has nothing within and other characters are said to be "hollow within" (¶62). By the Belgian monarch reporting to be supposedly civilizing the savages that inhabit the Congo and only influencing them into the right direction, the colonists appear righteous before the public when in fact they are anything but righteous. Through violent and inhumane methods, the colonists abuse the natives and keep their eyes on their personal benefits. In this way, they appear as hypocritres because they persuade others and themselves of being involved in trades, when they are actually just taking away the ivory by force and through other forms of harassment.
First off, it may be helpful to know that I’ve been rather sick for the past several days, and my original musings were no good. This means that I’m currently typing away semi-consciously and completely drugged on cough medicine. Not that it’s a far cry from my normal state.
Theme:
The Wilderness and Its Power.
Quotes:
“…and the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again” (paragraph 57)
“Trees, trees, millions of trees, massive, immense, running up high…It made you feel very small, very lost…” (paragraph 7, Part 2)
“A frightful clatter came out of that hulk, and the virgin forest on the other bank of the creek sent it back in a thundering roll upon the sleeping station… The great wall of vegetation, an exuberant and entangled mass of trunks, branches, leaves, boughs, festoons, motionless in the moonlight, was like a rioting invasion of soundless life, a rolling wave of plants, piled up, crested, ready to topple over the creek, to sweep every little man of us out of his little existence.” (paragraph 71)
Thoughts:
- The wilderness is portrayed as a guardian and a godlike being, which provides a sanctuary and defense for its people.
- The strong personification of the wilderness and diction used in describing it leaves the impression that the wilderness itself opposes the white men and sees them as hostile intruders.
- The way in which the wilderness is described makes it appear more “human” than the actual men brutally attempting to conquer it.
Paragraph:
The vast wilderness described in the tale holds many roles. It is a place, a force, and a character in itself. When a man becomes a scapegoat and is punished for a fire, “the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again” (paragraph 57), in a display of a benevolence the white men lack. And despite, the wilderness rivals the men as well in its portrayed greatness and strength. It is described as “a rioting invasion of soundless life, a rolling wave of plants, piled up, crested, ready to topple over the creek, to sweep every little man of us out of his existence” (paragraph 71), as if the men truly were just mere insects, violating the wilderness.
I wrote my paragraph in my notebook by hand. I'm typing it up real quickly here.
Theme: The Wilderness and Its Power
Quotes:
p.III ¶ 5 "But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude – and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly in him because he was hollow at the core…” ~ Marlow on Kurtz
P. II ¶ 8 “…what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity – like yours – the thought of your remote kinship with this wild and passionate uproar. Ugly. Yes, it was ugly enough; but if you were just man enough you would admit to yourself that there was in you the faintest trace of a response… He must meet the truth with his own true stuff… a deliberate belief.”
Originally this was my thematic statement: Nature strips everything from man but deliberate belief and fills men with primal passions.
However, my sample paragraph contains the idea that the “darkness” is already within men, and all nature does is strip the veneer of civilization off, something Marlow struggles with and in some sense succeeds against. I’m working at turning the above concept into a thesis statement…
Paragraph:
The passion of nature appeals to Marlow as it appealed to Kurtz. The wilderness encourages unrestrained action because in the jungle there is no judge. Marlow maintains his identity against the temptation with “a deliberate belief”, in contrast to Kurtz. Many of the men presented in the Congo lose themselves in the wild. Marlow’s story raises the questions, “why do men change so radically in the Congo? And what is different about the men who don’t?” Kurtz falls prey to “the whisper [which] proved irresistibly fascinating”. Kurtz loses any dignity or self-restraint associated with the civilized man. Marlow hears this whisper – he feels a longing – but he claims he can face the ugliness and truth of the jungle with “a deliberate belief”. Kurtz though passionate in his actions and desires doesn’t have the conviction needed to keep his identity. Efficiency to be the devotion Marlow needs, in working constantly he is too busy to respond to the call of the wild. While the wilderness represents the beckon the live “as wild and passionate” men, it can not change deep convictions, only shatter superficialities.
Theme: Restraint, temptation, and corruption
Quotes:
“I don't like work—no man does—but I like what is in work—the chance to find yourself. Your own reality—for yourself, not for others—what no other man can ever know.” Part I, ¶ 69
“Principles? Principles won't do. Acquisitions, clothes, pretty rags — rags that would fly off at the first good shake. No; you want a deliberate belief.” Part II, ¶ 8
“The wilderness…had taken [Kurtz], 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.” Part II, ¶ 29
Thoughts:
-Marlow uses his work to escape from reality and stay uncorrupted
-Principles work in…well, principle; however, they will not help one remain sane in the face of such temptation
-Kurtz didn’t used
Prompt:
When faced with great temptation and few or no consequences, people ignore their morals and act only in their self-interests, giving in to temptation and becoming corrupt.
Possible Body Paragraph
The Congo is not inherently evil, and neither are people. However, when faced with limitless resources, superior technology, and few (if any) consequences for actions, it makes sense that people would abuse these opportunities. The people in the Congo have no self-control, and take and take from the land until it has nothing more to give. They have no idea when to stop, and no desire to, because there are no consequences for their actions. This is very similar to the society of Brave New World: people obey the childish part of their psyches that say “I want it now!” with no thought of morals or limits. Marlow, like John, is one of the only exceptions to this mentality; however, unlike John, he does not try to interfere with the corruption of people like Kurtz; rather, he absorbs himself in his work to keep himself sane.
Bah! I cannot copy and paste on my computer. How very frustrating. >:(
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Quote 1:
"The sun set; the dusk fell on the stream, and lights began to appear along the shore. The Chapman lighthouse, a three-legged thing erect on a mud-flat, shone strongly. Lights of ships moved in a fairway--a great stir of lights going up and going down. And farther west on the upper reaches the place of the monstrous town was still marked ominously on the sky, a brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars." (Paragraph 7)
Quote 2:
"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 could have thought the earth had opened to let an avenging fire consume all that trash." (Paragraph 56)
1. The lighthouse with its light shows people the way to civilization, but the greatest city (the monstrous town) on earth is not all that civilized anymore, because of the brooding gloom surrounding the sunshine. The little lights of the ships shows that the Europeans are trying to spread "civilization" through the darkness.
The shed represents the material interests of the Europeans, and when it goes up in flames, it shows that battle between light and dark. However, the flames don't last long in the place of darkness, and all that is left in the end are glowing embers. The wilderness once again claims what was once its.
2. Through the use of light and dark, Conrad represent the constant battle of civilization and savagery during the era of imperialism and colonialism.
3. The people of Europe regarded themselves to be better than the people of the other continents. However, in their civilized way, Europeans were more savage than those they believed to be brutes, incapable of intelligent human thought. Material wealth became the ultimate goal, and Europeans wanted more and more, not hesitating to use even the most underhanded and corrupt ways to seize more, whenever they wanted it. The important town of Europe became tainted. London became "the monstrous town" that was "a brooding gloom in sunshine" (Paragraph 7). The era of enlightenment and advancement was ending; the age of savagery and darkness became settling their roots into London. "The Chapman lighthouse...shone strongly. Lights of ships moved in the fairway--a great stir of lights going up and going down" (Paragraph 7). The lighthouse, shining strongly, is trying to direct people towards civilization, but the town itself has become shrouded in darkness. The lights of the boats spread the light of civilization every which way. However, the light doesn't succeed. "A grass shed full of calico, cotton prints, beads, and I don't know what else, burst into a blaze so suddenly that you could have thought the earth had opened to let an avenging fire consume all that trash" (Paragraph 56). The shed and the things inside represent the material wealth the Europeans value and the flame is civilization. The battle of light and dark begins as the fire rages and the darkness oppresses the flame. Eventually, the fire dies, leaving only burning embers, but the darkness lives on to swallow up a "savage".
Theme: Wilderness And it's power
Quotes:
(part 1 11)-all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men.
(Part 2 4)In a few days the Eldorado expedition went into the patient wilderness, that closed upon it as the sea closes over a diver.
(part 2 5)Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings.
(part 2 8)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,"
(part 3 5) but the wilderness had...taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion...it echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core..."
Thoughts/Ideas:
- there is a conflict between the europeans and the natives, but also another one with the wilderness.
-the wilderness's power contaminates the hearts of Kurtz and others...Marlow is affected but recovers
-the ancient, supernatural forest shows men the sarkness within thier themselves
Paragraph: The invasion upon on the Congo does not go unnnoticed. The "unearthly" being comes as an aid and a terror. The colonists are always uneasy under its presence, while the natives invite it warmly,“the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again.” (paragraph 57)It seeks out Kurtz as the absoulte evil. It shows Kurtz the wickedness of his heart. It is paradoxically unchanging yet shows multiple moods. One of calm and serenity, but never leaving itself unguarded. While civilization is condemned and shown as route to evil, it is still necessary to combat man's hamartia: In the Congo there is no authority but your own and that cannot be overcome.
My chosen theme is similar to Amber’s, just more general.
Theme: Symbolism
Quotes/Examples/Thoughts:
Kurtz’s painting that Marlow sees: the painting of a blindfolded woman carrying a lighted torch. The woman represents Europeans who came to “civilize” the natives. The woman is blindfolded because the Europeans can’t "see" that what they’re doing—that it’s hurting the natives. I was thinking the distortion of her face is how the natives view European customs.
When Marlow comes across natives who’ve been hanged by white ropes. The white rope tied around the natives’ necks represent the “strangling” effect of the European customs when they attempt to “civilize” the natives.
Two black hens and the two women knitting: “Fates”. The “door of Darkness” that they guard. The color black is present around death and evil: hens and Fresleven's death + the "Fates" are present when the sailor's sign their contracts.
Body Paragraph (still a work in progress):
The people in Heart of Darkness are surrounded by symbols that all seem to point to death. Even the people themselves are symbols. Often these symbols come in the form of women. The two women who are knitting and guarding the “door of Darkness”, and are present when the sailors sign their contracts, fit the description of the “Fates” in Greek mythology. The painting of the blindfolded woman carrying a lighted torch in Kurtz’s room is a symbol for Europeans as a whole. They come to the Congo “blinded”, carrying their customs, which, in the natives’ eyes, are distorted.
Theme: the wilderness and its power
Quotes:
"Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world" part II, par. 5
"...you lost your way on that river as you would in a desert... till you thought yourself bewitched and cut off for ever from another existence perhaps" part II, par. 5
"But the wilderness had found him [Kurtz] out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude..." part III, par. 5
Thoughts:
The wilderness is untamed and untameable. Within its confines of trees and brush, for lack of rules and "civility", it catapults its visitors back into a temporary state of nature. It provides men the opportunity and means to carry out their every whim, without consequence. That is why the power of the jungle is so enticing, it is separate from the civilized world and there, every man looks out for himself alone.
Prompt:
The wilderness enables men to unleash the darkness within themselves, free of consequence, when faced with great temptations because they are isolated from civilized society.
Paragraph:
In a civilized society, people live in fear of the law and act justly as a result of this; however, in remote isolation among the wilderness, this fear does not exist. Though the jungle itself is not inherently evil, it enables men to unleash the darkness within themselves by providing vast opportunity with none of the consequences. Kurtz is the epitome of how the wilderness can taint even the purest of souls because since there are no rules in the Congo, he reverts to his natural, selfish survival instinct, untamed by any moral beliefs or philosophies.
DESPERATION-
1) Pp 17, pt.2: “The action was very far from being aggressive- it was not even defensive, in the usual sense: it was undertaken under the stress of desperation, and in its essence was purely protective.”
- When the savages “attack” as the steamer approaches the chore. At first, Marlow see them as one would see an enemy, with their “attack”. But says: (pp16) “unexpected, wild, hostile, as they had been, they had given me an irrestible impression of sorrow.”
2) Pp 41 pt. 1: They were dying slowly- it was very clear. 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’s syntax is flowing, but also rushed, making the reader feel a sense of desperation for the dying victims- as if they were quick enough they could save these people and their congo.
- repeating of the “they were not” contributes to these sentiments.
Prompt: What feelings does Conrad exude from his writing, to create his overall message about the Congo?
Conrad’s depiction of the “savages”-at the will of the white man- gives the Native Africans an air of utter defeat; or despair. This desperation is so raw, so authentic, that the reader reels in sympathy, and then realizes the utter “rape” of the Congo. When Marlow’s great steamer approaches Kurtz’s outpost, the natives reaction from the “bush” leads the Pilgrims and manager to believe an attack is incoming. Despite, or because of their paranoia and speculation, Marlow is lead to a serious conclusion. He realizes, “Their action was far from being aggressive- it was not even defensive, in the usual sense: it was undertaken under the stress of desperation, and in its essence was purely protective.” The natives were not planning an ambush, but acting as any family would if threatened, with a combination of protection and wariness, through desperation. The desperation of the native people is felt throughout the novella. In this case Conrad describes the Africans sitting under the “Grove of Death”, dying in the shadows. He says: “ They were dying slowly- it was very clear. 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’s syntax is flowing, in this section, but at the same time rushed with the use of anaphora, leading the reader feels a sense of despair- as if in one blink all the souls sitting under the tree would simply disappear. Conrad’s view of the Africans is not an image one enjoys reading, but rings of truth. The Africans were not the attackers or defenders; instead the abused victim.
& I apologize my post was late, I was out of town all weekend!
Hope everyone had a good weekend:)
I'm sorry, I know my post is late, and I'll try to make up to you forever!!!
THEME: Faithless Pilgrims
"They wandered here and there like a lot of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten fence. The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it."
Part 1, paragraph 55
The pilgrims are so intent upon their own ambition that they are completely absorbed by ivory. However, when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, none of them are willing to work to make a gain. They are willing to lay in wait for the right moment, like a crocodile waiting for thirsty prey to come take a drink, and then seize their ivory and their position. The pilgrims are faithless because they are inconsistent and will not risk a bad move that can only end in trouble. While they claim to be under the command of the Company, they are all really looking out for good old Number One, aka, themselves.
I have no excuse for my tardiness-if the 7pm thing was a hard deadline. I'm just glad I remembered!
Not to be contrarian but the posts that were done between 7:00pm and 8:48pm when I'm now writing were actually useful to me and hopefully my post will be helpful to any of the people who have procrastinated even more then myself.
Theme: Racism
Quote Paragraph 11 "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. There's no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable. And it has a fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination-- you know, imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate."
Paragraph 13 "Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency--the devotion to efficiency."
When I read these I think of how Marlow draws connections between the conqueror and native. He openly admits that the only thing that saves the Colonizing white man from becoming a tribal African is the devotion to efficiency, an efficiency that will allow him to go on plundering and stealing from the native people with greater effectiveness. Conrad thus exposes the only thing separating “Civilized” Europeans from tribal Africans is a more sophisticated form of barbaric greed. Sure the language Conrad uses to describe the black men is discriminatory, but that is the lens society as a whole has given Conrad to view and present the Congolese.
Prompt: How does Conrad disparage racism in his work Heart of Darkness?
In the opening paragraphs of his book, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad starts of on a track to impugn racism by providing a story that helps cross the barrier from Civilized European to Tribal African. He essentially flips the scenario by writing of Roman conqueror’s who enter into England but to them it is a Congo-like environment. His description of England and the changes that begin to work within the Roman soldiers is very similar if not parallel to the description he later gives of the Congo.
"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. There's no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable. And it has a fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination-- you know, imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate."
This description suggests that the English society of which Conrad is so fond was capable at one point of driving a “more civilized” man into a state of, to the civilized man, moral and mental depravity.
Then Conrad, through the character of Marlow, explains why the current time periods civilized man had not witnessed so strong a pull towards the abominable, "Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency--the devotion to efficiency."
The less observant and more racist windbag would at this point be sitting back with jowls quivering in a fat smirk, while eating Turkish delight. Once this passage was explained to said windbag, the air would quickly be let out of his voluminous sails. In this paragraph Conrad is openly admitting that the only thing that saves the Colonizing white man from becoming a tribal African is the devotion to efficiency. The purpose of efficiency in this setting is merely to better run the work of death and destruction that will allow the “civilized man” to go on plundering and stealing from the native people with greater effectiveness. Conrad thus exposes the only thing separating “Civilized” Europeans from tribal Africans is a more sophisticated form of barbaric greed. A primitive instinct to the last.
Theme: Whited Sepulchre and Inner Strength
Quotations: “But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conception til he took counsel with this great solitude—and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core…” (part 3, paragraph 5)
“…how can you imagine what particular region of the first ages a man’s untrammeled feet may take him into by the way of solitude—utter solitude without a policeman—by the way of silence—utter silence, where no warning voice of a kind neighbor can be heard whispering of public opinion? These little things make all the great difference. When they are gone you must fall back upon your own innate strength, upon your own capacity for faithfulness.” (part 2, paragraph 29)
My thoughts: In HOD, Marlow associates evil with “hollowness”. Kurtz is hollow, Brussels is the sepulchral city, and the brick maker is made of papier-mache with only dirt inside. In other parts of the narrative, Marlow stresses the need for a certain inner strength that keeps one sane in the absence of civilization. Putting the two pieces together, I think Marlow means to say that the agents succumb to the dark power of their own monster because they lack that necessary faith in the good.
Thesis: Using the whited sepulcher as a symbol for the evil, Conrad argues that, in the absence of civilization, darkness most easily overtakes men who lack innate faith in the good.
Paragraph: The whited sepulcher is a recurring theme in HOD. In one instance, Marlow specifically relates Kurtz’s hollowness to the effect of wilderness on him: “But the wilderness had found him out early… it echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core” (part 3, paragraph 5). “Found him out” suggests that the evil nature is within Kurtz all along, that the wilderness is but an inanimate mirror that reflected onto Kurtz his true self. Civilization keeps Kurtz away from trouble because the warning voice of others acts to restrain his actions. Isolated from civilization, however, Kurtz finds himself free from all the external shackles that have kept his dark desires quite. “When [social conventions] are gone you must fall back upon your own innate strength, upon your own capacity for faithfulness”, explains Marlow as he relates his experience going up the River. That faithfulness is what keeps Marlow sane as he travels the same path as Kurtz into the heart of darkness. Kurtz, unfortunately, does not possess that natural strength. His eloquence and idealism keeps him safe for a while, but eventually, because Kurtz is essentially hollow within and would “wallow with the wind”, the dark atmosphere surrounding the whole ivory trade operation over takes him.
Working late saturday and sunday I never checked the blog. I checked on thursday but this post wasn't here.
Ch 1. Paragraph 71.
The way that Conrad describes the echo of Marlow and the foremans "capering on the iron desk." It expresses the power of the Congo's wilderness and it's ability to have the last word.
Ch 3. Paragraph 9.
This paragraph really naturalizes the idea of "extreme," "power," and vasteness. First, Kurtz is "anything but short" and then Marlow describes his body on the stretcher and his expression "as though he wanted to swallow the air." Next, Marlow describes the wilderness as having drawn "them (the savages) in again as the breath is drawn in a long aspiration."
The ideas represented in the chapters when I relate them together (both wilderness themes and the Kurtz encounter) seem to define the wilderness as this endless, dark, and foreboding presence. I felt like I could tie Marlow's description of Kurtz to this idea of wilderness. Conrad describes the congo as a snake that attracts Marlow (the little bird). At the same time, I think the wilderness and Congo can be paralleled to Kurtz in the story. Both are long and demanding, often foreboding and vaste, and both draw Marlow in, yet he doesn't know why.
In the novel "Heart of Darkness" Conrad creates the character Kurtz to be indicative of civilization coming to the wilderness.
Kurtz is symbolic of civilization. He has the greed and need of the resources the wilderness has to offer, yet the wilderness is vaste and often described as unending. Men like Kurtz feel a certain arrogance that the belongings of nature, like ivory and the savages, are theirs to own. However, passages like the one with the wilderness described as having drawn "[the savages] in again as the breathe is drawn in a long aspiration," represent the power of nature that the wilderness has. Described greedy, "as though he wanted to swallow the air," men like Kurtz can not begin to compare to the immense vasteness and power of the wilderness.
Change by darkness
“Of course you may be too much of a fool to go wrong -- too dull even to know you are being assaulted by the powers of darkness.”
“But as I stood on this hillside, 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. How insidious he could be, too, I was only to find out several months later and a thousand miles farther.”
Although, he never explicitly states it, Conrad suggests a transformation by darkness. Early in the novel, Conrad foreshadows his ultimate example of such a change: “But as I stood on this hillside, 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. How insidious he could be, too, I was only to find out several months later and a thousand miles farther.” The weak eyed devil is the metaphor for the power of darkness. The possible profit brings out a most awful savagery, one that people can only get away with in the dark. When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, this truth becomes evident. While intimately describing Kurtz in an outraged and emotional tone, Marlow questions his audience, “You can't understand. How could you?” He explains that they cannot comprehend a land devoid of laws and rules. When there is not police to stop crime or no asylums to take care of the crazy, they run free. The lines between good and bad, right and wrong become blurred, then crossed. The lack of organized civilization reveals human’s true nature. This inherent being is one of power and exploitation. The forces of civilization keep humanity civil in mutual interest but when society and civility disappear, humans turn into brutes. The more powerful prey upon the weak and without some sort of check, it continues unhindered. Kurtz embodies this transformation. Marlow pessimistically comments on this transformation, observing, “Of course you may be too much of a fool to go wrong – too dull even to know you are being assaulted by the powers of darkness.” Internally, he also questions his own purity.
Quote 1: “In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me thin of a whited sepulchre” (1.22).
Quote 2: “ ‘His end, ‘ said I, with dull anger stirring in me, “was in every way worthy of his life” (3.74).
Quote: 3: “His was an impenetrable darkness. I looked at him as you peer down at a man who is lying at the bottom of a precipice where the sun never shine” (3.40)
Quote 4: “You know I am not particularly tender; I’ve had to strike and to fend off. I’ve had to resist and to attack sometimes—that’s only one way of resisting—without counting the exact cost, according to the demands of such sort of life as I had blundered into. 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. But as I stood on this hillside, 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. How insidious he could be, too, I was only to find out several months later and a thousand miles farther” (1.38).
Theme: I don’t know how I’m doing this, but I wanted to relate the theme of a Whited Sepulchre with the Flabbiness / Strength of the types of devils in HoD. A Whited Sepulchre is a hypocrite who’s pure on the outside but has opposite intentions on the inside. I wanted to relate how this whole Congo deal is a Whited Sepulchre, including the Europeans involved such a Kurtz. Kurtz is a hypocrite, wanting to change the Congo for the better good, but in reality, profit from its goods. Then, I wanted to talk about how the whited sepulchre is a direct relationship with the strength of the devil, a “devil of violence, and [a] devil of green, and [a] devil of hot desire” (1.38). How do I do this?
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