Transcript Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Some History and Background
What is it about?
Heart of Darkness illustrates the evils of imperialism and the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that time.
Congo in the 1890’s Inner Station
Anti-colonialism Conrad about colonialism: •
“The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or lightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.”
•
”a taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all like the whiff from some corpse
.” •
In an essay Conrad calls the colonial exploitation of the Congo, “the vilest scramble for loot that ever dis figured the history of human conscience…”
Style
Frame Story: story within a story
First narrator (who is unidentified) sets the scene.
Marlow takes over as the main narrator and central character of the story and tells the tale about ”Heart of Darkness” Basically, the first narrator is telling the story about Marlow telling the story about Kurtz
Meaning of Heart of Darkness
The “darkness” refers to the “darkest” side of human nature as seen in the brutal colonizers and ivory traders Kurtz, and his hunger for power, which leads to his ultimate descent into madness Refers to the colonialism and imperialism that the Europeans were practicing at the turn of the 20th century.
Some Thematic Ideas in HOD
Existentialism The philosophical idea that the individual is solely responsible for giving his or her own life meaning and for living that life passionately and sincerely. Focus is on the individual rather than the group.
What is truth?
The focus is not on what is true, but on the search for that truth. Thus, the real meaning is in the search, not the answer.
What is the meaning of colonialism?
The meaning of colonialism – that one race is more powerful than the other— is maintained by the IDEA only – the idealism of colonialism – In other words, colonialism in and of itself is futile and does not work, what works is the idea of colonialism (very important as we will discover in Kurtz, the aunt, etc.)
“The conquest of the earth, which mostly means to take 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. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea.”
More Ideas and Themes
Irrationality Lawlessness Human Suffering Chaos (All produced and promoted by colonialism)
And of course…psychology
Freudian Influences: Id Ego Superego (represented in the three stations)
Outer Station Ego
-man’s exterior self external social appearance (ex. accountant kept up his appearance) superficial
Central Station Superego -
the conscience, keeps the
Id
under control (ex. though the people in the Central Station are dangerously close to the wilderness, they have not completely given in to it.)
Journey up the river
—traveling into the darkness of the unconscious mind
Inner Station The Id
—man’s irrational and chaotic unconsciousness (ex. no superego at the Inner Station to keep Kurtz from forgetting himself).
Reflects Conrad’s idea that once the
superego
is removed as the dominant control over the
Id,
control can never be regained. If control could be regained, man is forever changed and can no longer live with the illusions of the
Ego.
Archetypal Motifs
A universal symbol recognized by all
Journey
up the Congo river in search of Kurtz
Quest
(wealth, control, power, increased consciousness)
Hero
(Marlow represents quiet, knowledgeable hero figure—descends into hell and returns with an expanded consciousness)
Temptress
Kurtz’s mistress
Outcast
(the Russian Harlequin—his book allows him to maintain his sanity despite his idolatrous devotion towards Kurtz)
More Archetypes
Devil (symbolically) The Congo River
—like the snake in the biblical account of Adam and Eve
Manager
—no noble intentions (wrecks Marlow’s steamer, delays arrival of rivets, orders the beating of the native child for the burning down of the supply building which he probably burnt himself, orders steamer to turn around within two miles of Inner Station, wants Kurtz to die)
Fall
The ultimate fall of Kurtz
Some Literary Devices (
but there are many, many more) Irony created through a mix of tragedy, absurdity, and dark satire Foreshadowing (of death)
Main Theme
(but there are many, many more)