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Analyse'darkness'as a powerful symbol in Conrad's Heart of Darkness
Themes and symbolism in Joseph Conrad The Heart of Darkness
Character of Kurtz in heart of darkness
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1. The Russian states to Marlow that “I had gone so far that I don’t know how I’ll ever get back.” Literally, it means he had gone so far by distance from Russia that he is not sure how and when he will go back to his own country, Russia. The Russian man originally started his journey “with a light heart and no more idea of what would happen to him” but after he met Mr.Kurtz, now, he ended up being in a deep jungle in Congo. Symbolically it means, he had gone so far in Kurtz that he doesn’t know how he will get out from him. For instance, Russian look up to Mr.Kurtz, similar to the natives, that he states he listens to Mr.Kurtz more than he speaks to him, Russian told Marlow that he should not look Kurtz the way he look ordinary person, and also states “this man (Kurtz) has enlarged my mind”. To this Russian man, Kurtz is like the deep jungle. The Russian finds himself so fascinating to Kurtz that he doesn’t know how he will get out his mind about Kurtz. So he tells Marlow “take Kurtz away quick-quick”. 2. When Marlow asks about what Mr.Kurtz had traded for ivory, the Russian reply back by saying Kurtz “raided the … villages round lake” with the help of “tribe to follow him” – who worshiped Kurtz as their God. This is significant because it shows the power of The woman who walks up along the river “had brass leggings to the knee, brass wire gauntlets to the elbow, a crimson spot on her tawny cheek, innumerable neckless of glass beads on her neck.” Marlow states “she must have had the value of several elephant tusks upon her.” She walks out and stares at the steamboat then walks away to the forest. This woman is significant because according to what Russian told to Marlow, this woman has some relationship with Kurtz and it is very ironic how kurtz has relationship with an Afirican woman especially during 1800s. Also the woman is very contrast to the Kurtz’s intended because Marlow describes the Native woman as “savage and superb” whereas intended as
What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'? Davis, Burke.
Kurtz’s “superb … magnificent” mistress who “[has] the value of several elephant tusks upon her” (Conrad 137) also exemplifies power. The Russian reveals the extent of her influence on Kurtz as he recalls how she once “talked like a fury”, but Kurtz “felt too ill that day to care, or there would have been mischief” (138). The Russian also feels threatened by Kurtz’s mistress, as he “has been risking [his] life everyday … to keep her out of the house” (138). The sexist and racist attitudes of that era, in addition to the idolized Kurtz’s savage behaviour towards the Africans, amplify the anomaly of an African woman instilling fear into colonial white men. Conrad establishes the influence that women can have, as it clearly contrasts Hardy’s insinuation of the powerless nature of females when compared to men.
The things that Kurtz had both done and seen in his life were in fact horrible, but was something. that Marlow was able to see past. This is later clear by what is in. his thoughts as he talks to the woman. He condemns mankind as a whole with this statement. .
In the book “Heart of Darkness”, Joseph Conrad wrote about the horrors that were committed by Leopold’s regime. As one of the first insider to witness these horrors, he wrote “Heart of Darkness”, with this book, he was able to spread the word about the atrocities he had seen in Leopold’s greedy pursuit of rubber and ivory in the congo. This book details closely how Leopold made his humongous profit. Leopold issued decrees on the Congo such as that the native people may only trade with his state agents or with his concessions. Leopold’s concessions were private companies that would sell the ivory and rubber, they would give Leopold 50% of their profits. The Abir Congo Company was one of these concessions that harvest the natural rubber of the Congo.They were granted a large portion of the land in the north and had the right to impose a rubber tax on its inhabitants. It was through concessions like these but also from his personal company (the Congo Free State) that Leopold created his personal wealth. This book brings us one step closer to answering our question since it tells us how Leopold got ahold of all of his profits. But this brings us to another question of, exactly how much money did the Congo bring to Leopold II?
When Marlow finally reaches Kurtz he is in declining health. This same jungle which he loved, embraced and consumed with every ounce of his flesh had also taken its toll on him. Marlow finally meets the man whose name has haunted him on his river journey. Could this frail human be the ever so powerful Kurtz? The man who has journeyed into uncharted territories and has come back with scores of ivory and the respect of the native tribe. Yes, this was the very man and though he is weak and on his way to death his power still exudes from him.
In German “kurtz” means short. What Kurtz actually says is plain and terse, but appalling. It is not hidden behind words, but revealed within Kurtz’s own voice and scribbled in margins. However, it is the voiceless words, the written words, the lies, and not the note scribbled by his own voice that Kurtz asks Marlow to preserve. By wanting to preserve his report, Kurtz acknowledges the power of written words. He knows that besides Marlow’s memory, writing is the only thing that can begin to immortalize him. But, perhaps, Kurtz’s knowledge is meant to die along with his voice.
· The Russian makes a visit to Marlow, tells him that Kurtz ordered the attack on their vessel that killed their helmsman.
When he finally reaches Kurtz Marlow is taken aback by what he sees. Outside the hut there are severed head impaled on poles, the heads of people who opposed Kurtz. Marlow is supremely disappointed in this finding and says of the heads that “They only showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts.” Marlow can see that Kurtz has done an atrocious and unnecessary thing just to seal himself in a place of power. The Russian that is with Kurtz also reveals that Kurtz is very unstable, and even wanted to kill him over a dispute of ivory. Even though Marlow is disappointed with Kurtz he still admires him despite his horrible actions. His point of view allows him to see some of Kurtz at his worst and some of Kurtz at his best.
Marlow’s thoughts are so consumed by Kurtz, that he is built up to be much more of a man than he truly is. In turn, Marlow is setting himself up for a let down. He says at one point, “I seemed to see Kurtz for the first time...the lone white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home...towards his empty and desolate station”(P.32). When Marlow reaches Kurtz’s station, he begins to become disillusioned. He begins to hear about, and even see, the acts that Kurtz is committing, and becomes afraid of him. He sees in Kurtz, what he could become, and wants nothing to do with it. He does not want people to know he has any type of relationship with him, and says in response to the Russian, “I suppose that it had not occurred to him that Mr. Kurtz was no idol of mine.” (P.59). It is at this point that he begins to discover the darkness in his heart.
Kurtz, a character to whom all of the rising action is dedicated in Heart of Darkness, has reason to have despair in the novella because of all he had done to the natives and because of his deceptive lifestyle. Kurtz stole from the natives often. He would find their hidden ivory and take it for the company. Kurtz stole not only their ivory, but also their worship and admiration. Kurtz was carried around on an improvised stretcher by the natives like a king, and when streams of natives surrounded the station, the Russian trader remarks that, “If he [Kurtz] does not say the right thing to them we are all done for” (III, p. 166). The Russian had apparently been at the mercy of a native tribe in a similar situation before, and has confidence in Kurtz
On one hand, Marlow is saved by his self-discipline while on the other hand Kurtz is doomed by his lack of it. Before Marlow embarked on his voyage to Africa, he had a different view. Due to propaganda, he believed that the colonization of the Congo was for the greater good. In his head, he judged that the people of Africa were savages and that colonization would bring them the elation and riches of civilization. Despite an apparent uneasiness, he assumed that restraint would function there.
... to a man's soul. Marlow's journey was not only into the heart of Africa, but also into the heart of Kurtz where he realizes the truth of colonialism and the potential evil it entails.
By the time Marlow and Kurtz meet, Marlow is already well aware of the similarities they share. Both are imperialists, and while Marlow detests the treatment of the natives by his employers (Belgian colonists), he also makes apparent his abhorrence toward the Africans. On the other hand, Kurtz abandons the pretense of helping the natives achieve civilization, as displayed by the Europeans. Instead, he adopts their customs and becomes their leader in the never-ending quest for ivory. "He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, 'must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of the supernatural beings- we approach them with the might as of a deity' (Longman, 2000, p. 2226). Marlow also admired Kurtz' resourcefulness and survival skills, especially his perseverence through jungle fever. "The wilderness had patted him on the head....it had taken him, 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. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite." (Longman, 2000, p. 2225).
Vol. 3. What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'?