Heart of Darkness

1. The use of savagery is meant to contrast the civilized nations with the undeveloped nations of the late nineteenth century. In the beginning of the story, Marlow states, “Sandbanks, marshes, forests, savages,—precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink.” Alluding to the Congo and her uncivilized people, Marlow embarks by stating this, only to change his mind as he continues down the river. As he penetrates deeper into the heart of darkness, Marlow is confronted with the true meanings of civilized and savage. This quote is used to draw one of the first contrasts in the book between the supremacy of the Europeans and the inferiority of the savages. The thought of drinking the extremely polluted Thames water is more alluring than living in the Congo and being seen as uncivilized to the Europeans. This is ultimately mocking the Europeans way of life, as the reader discovers further in the book. This quote, also, establishes the setting of Marlow’s surroundings as he tells the story. After deriding civilization, Marlow uses this quote to applaud the savage’s motivation to survive. The sardonic tone in the quote shows how the Europeans want to distance themselves for the uncivilized cultures in all ways.

2. Marlow’s bias begins to change as he witnesses the “savage’s” struggle between starvation and cannibalism. He states, “And I saw that something restraining, one of those human secrets that baffle probability, had come into play there.” This is when Marlow realizes the natives’ restraint and their control. Conrad parodies this, by then having the Europeans begin to bicker, showing how the civilized people lack this essential quality. The savages are not truly savages, but it is the Europeans ...

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...ll, that was only a savage sight, while I seemed at one bound to have been transported into some lightless region of subtle horrors, where pure, uncomplicated savagery was a positive relief, being something that had a right to exist—obviously—in the sunshine.” In this quote, Marlow sees that the savagery committed by the Europeans was actually displayed and revered; they were prideful of their murders and their conquest in the Christian name. Kurtz hung his victorious trophies on the post, as an attempt to demonstrate his authority and remind himself of the power he possessed. In this twisted world, savagery dominated civil ideals and compelled people to act as impulsive brutes. The greed behind the Europeans drove them to this savagery. The Europeans showed no restraint over their impulses, gave in to the narcissistic greed, objectified, and murdered the natives.