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The use of symbolism in the novel
Essays on symbolism
Literature science
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The Parallel meaning of the novella with its title- Heart of Darkness
The title, Heart of Darkness, aptly chosen, can be very strongly linked to the novel. IT can be used to describe Joseph Conrad’s views on civilization, the individual mind and the land into which he ventures. These sum up his opinions on the bourgeoise society, uncivilized society and the faults of human nature, linking them to the land under one common theme and thus establishing the title.
‘Heart of Darkness’ can most noticeably describe Marlow’s journey into the heart of the land. A dominant symbol in the novel is of the river- the snake- “But there was in it one river especially, a mighty big river, that you could see on the map, resembling an immense snake uncoiled with its head to the sea, its body at rest curving afar over a vast country, and its tail lost in the depths of a land” (71). This river brings him into what has become a ‘dark’ place- “It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery- a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness” (71). As in snakes and ladders, you start at the head and go towards the tail. This leads him into evil (snake symbolism), danger (uncoiled), and deeper towards Kurtz, whom the snake has swallowed towards the tail. As he travels along, just as the snake’s body grows thinner, so do the tolerance levels of those who think they are civilized. First Fresleven clubs a black village chief, then a brawl breaks out, and this progresses to all-out insanity, where cannibals, primitives, Inca-like natives and, eventually, Kurtz, reside, where he loses any control he had of his life, doing anything for more ivory, and realizes this in his dying moments. Marlow again mentions headin...
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...ke hell break loose. Voyage into the land increases the themes of death and chaos. However, with the trek into the heart of the land, the other two concepts significantly grow- civilization becomes more and more edacious, and the dark heart of each individual is more likely to burst free. This may very well explain how when with his aunt, Marlow is so resisting that he states that the company is totally profit-oriented. By the time he has been at the station for a period of time and reads Kurtz’s book, he actually considers his views on the inferiority of the natives. Also note how the continent ‘got to’ Fresleven, causing him to go insane. The half-hidden, negative side in each concept becomes the ‘heart of darkness,’ both relating it to the title and a very unifying theme.
Bibliography
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkeness. New York: Chelsea House, 1987.
Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness uses character development and character analysis to really tell the story of European colonization. Within Conrad's characters one can find both racist and colonialist views, and it is the opinion, and the interpretation of the reader which decides what Conrad is really trying to say in his work.
Watts, Cedric. 'Heart of Darkness.' The Cambridge Companion to Joseph Conrad. Ed. J.H. Stape. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. 45-62.
Heart of Darkness is a book soaked with meaning, but the most prevalent theme is that of darkness. This motif is evident through the physical blackness of nature during the excursion, Kurtz’s mind and mannerisms in his final moments, and the everyday turpitude with which Marlow has grown
Conrad's racism is portrayed in the actions and perceptions of Marlow along his trip up the Congo. Marlow's views of the area during the beginning of the trip are given as inhumane, and uncivilized. The Heart of Darkness for Marlow is the ignorance and brutality that he witnesses from natives as well as Whites that are met upon his trip.
1. The protagonist of Heart of Darkness is a person named Charlie Marlow. Oddly, his name only appears once in the novel. Marlow is philosophical, independent-minded, and generally skeptical of those around him. He is also a master storyteller, eloquent and able to draw his listeners into his tale. Although Marlow shares many of his fellow Europeans’ prejudices, he has seen enough of the world and enough debased white men to make him skeptical of imperialism. An example of Marlow being independent-minded and philosophical is when he takes a trip up a river, as a break from working on ships. Marlow describes the trip as a journey back in time, to a “prehistoric earth.” This remark on how he regards colonized people as primitive, which is his philosophical viewpoint.
Heart of Darkness is Joseph Conrad's tale of one man's journey, both mental and physical, into the depths of the wild African jungle and the human soul. The seaman, Marlow, tells his crew a startling tale of a man named Kurtz and his expedition that culminates in his encounter with the "voice" of Kurtz and ultimately, Kurtz's demise. The passage from Part I of the novel consists of Marlow's initial encounter with the natives of this place of immense darkness, directly relating to Conrad's use of imagery and metaphor to illustrate to the reader the contrast between light and dark. The passage, although occurring earlier on in the novel, is interspersed with Marlow's two opposing points of view: one of naïveté, which comes before Marlow's eventual epiphany after having met Kurtz, and the matured perspective he takes on after all of the events leading up to his and Kurtz's encounter.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a novel about a man named Marlow and his journey into the depths of the African Congo. Marlow is in search of a man named Kurtz, an ivory trader. Though Marlow?s physical journey seems rather simple, it takes him further into his own heart and soul than into the Congo. The setting, symbols and characters each contain light and dark images, these images shape the central theme of the novel.
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.
Civilization is not as advanced as first assumed. Joseph Conrad asserts this disheartening message in his novel, Heart of Darkness. The novel follows a European man reliving his journey to the Congo through story telling to his shipmates. Through Marlow’s journey, Conrad reveals the stark contrasts between European civilization and African savagery. Heart of Darkness explores the struggles of different societies with an intention to expose the weaknesses of a complicated imperialistic ideal.
Upon arriving in Africa, Marlow notices a group of African slaves huddled near a grove of trees, seemingly dying of disease and starvation. Marlow’s “horror-struck” reaction is the first indication of his conscience – he recognizes that the condition of these people is terribly immoral (Conrad 14). Later, Marlow learns that Kurtz, an employee of the ivory trading firm operating out of the inner Congo, has raided African villages for ivory, even enlisting Africans to participate in these raids against their fellow people. These violent raids, along with the human heads that Kurtz used as ornamentation around his living area, convince Marlow that Kurtz is a man who “lacked restraint” and was “hollow at the core,” a “deficiency” that Kurtz may not recognize in himself until death (53). With this description, Marlow critiques colonialism while characterizing Kurtz as a ruthless, violent representative of the European imperialists. If Marlow could recognize the atrocities of colonialism and had the moral sense to abhor them, as his reaction indicates, then Marlow was fully equipped to assume the role of an active witness, as opposed to a bystander, and speak out about this behavior in an attempt to mitigate the present oppression. Although Conrad structured Heart of Darkness as
Heart of Darkness was a huge milestone in the history of literature do to the impeccable way Conrad used ambiguity to describe his story. He does this by using symbols, themes, and archetypal images. These include light and dark, the Congo river, colors, and by not explaining everything to the reader. While reading the novel, the reader is actually required to interpret the text and really think about what certain details mean. The way Conrad wrote the novel is for the reader is to look for clues and develop ideas. It is completely subjective and trying to find exact answers is not an option. This writing style opened the eyes of many writers and changed the way literature was understood.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may be a narrative about colonisation, revealing its drawbacks and corruption, but it may also be understood as a journey into the depths of one’s psyche, if taken at a symbolic level.
Devotion, Admiration, and Respect. These were all the qualities that Marlow possesses the beginning of his journey as he traveled into the Heart of Darkness. A devotion to his job and his European counterparts. Admiration to one of the best Ivory sells man in the Congo and respect for himself. Conrad shows us that these beliefs that Marlow once thought were true are slowly changing as he spends his days in the jungle. Watching as the Europeans treated the natives with no consideration or respect put much hatred inside Marlow’s heart for the pilgrims(92).Marlow’s change in attitude towards Kurtz changes drastically, as his love and deep admiration for the man has turns into disgust and regret.(39). The respect that Marlow had for himself has turned into lies as he tries to make himself feel like a better person .(93) Throughout Heart of Darkness, Marlow’s voyage down the river Thames has allowed him to undergo a journey into self discovery.
“ The Marxists hate imperialism and consider it as the highest stage, the peak of capitalism and coincidently Heart of Darkness has been considered as an anti-imperialist work, so the work invites a Marxist approach in itself.” (Sardar) The natives were basically stripped of their agency and were forced under the European influence to do hard labor with the ivory. “This imperial relationship between Europe and the underdeveloped world as defined by Lenin is certainly detectable in the historical setting of Heart of Darkness.” (Sardar) They weren’t given the same opportunities as the others. “European imperialism would suggest that this is a utopia considering they can exploit the African masses for maximum gain and they believe that they bring civilization and light to a dark and savage area…” (Rodarte101litcrit 1) And this is kind of topsy turvy because Marlow dreamed of having a utopia. Now that he has met Mr. Kurtz and has seen, and personally worked with his many wonders that he so powerfully possessed, he’s convinced that what he is doing is right. Marlow was naive and hopeless, and Mr. Kurtz seemed all powerful and glorified. Yet we see through the hands of Mr. Kurtz, power is not to be dealt with people who do not know how to control
While Heart of Darkness offers a powerful view into the hypocrisy of imperialism, it also delves into the morality of men. Darkness becomes a symbol of hatred, fear and symbol of the power of evil. Marlow begins his story believing that these elements exists within the jungle, then with the natives and finally makes the realization that darkness lives within the heart of each man, even himself. People must learn to restrain themselves from giving into the "darkness." Marlow discusses at one point how even suffering from starvation can lead a man to have "black" thoughts and restraining oneself from these thoughts would be almost impossible in such hardship.