Mystery and Suspense in Heart of Darkness
It seems like everywhere there is something in life that seems to be left behind. In the books I read about mystery or suspense, this always seems to be the case in such. The Heart of Darkness draws me into such depths of suspense and unknown that seem to associate with my life.
This whole book is full of mysteries. Marlow has a heart that is full of mystery when he is stuck in Africa, and looking for a man named Kurtz. Marlow is waiting, he learns about where the place is at, what could be coming ahead. Maybe he was just acquiring some ideas of what was ahead, or who he would be working with. Why is all this senselessness happening around him?
Marlow is enthralled with mystery. You wouldn't think that somebody would be simply crazy to go and take a trip down the Congo river. He has heard some aspects about the place, and the way it seems to suck the visitors in. All the people getting diseases. One would go insane there, so why? Why would he want to go do this? Again, it's full of mystery, and that makes an interesting book.
Kurtz, with this person, I can not express how much mystery applies to him and his personality. People haven't heard from him for quite a long time, because he is up the river from the station where Marlow is at. People are wanting the boss, and they're getting restless. Is Kurtz, sick? Could one of these people get a new promotion in their job? The people don't want Marlow to go explore up the river a ways and kind Kurtz, suppling him with help that he might need. And yet, Marlow needs Kurtz.
Yet, there is the mystery of the Congo river. It has a way with the people that come into it and try to explore it's orgins. It seems to drag you in, and not let you go. All of this, because they were curious and brave. But not all brave men will make it through this jungle that the Congo river lays on.
Heart of Darkness is a kind of little world unto itself. The reader of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness should take the time to consider this work from a psychological point of view. There are, after all, an awful lot of heads and skulls in the book, and Conrad goes out of his way to suggest that in some sense Marlow's journey is like a dream or a return to our primitive past--an exploration of the dark recesses of the human mind.
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.
3. Kurtz, who is not the protagonist or antagonist is a very significant character in the book as Marlow and Kurtz essentially form a team as the novel progresses. He is the chief of the Inner Station and Marlow basically follows him. Kurtz is a man of many talents (he is a talented musician and painter). His abilities are nothing without his charisma and his ability to lead. Kurtz is a man who understands the power of words, and his writings present a complexity that obscures their horrifying message (his writings are often hard to understand, as they are complex in structure, often hiding the morbid message behind them). Although he remains a “puzzle,” e...
Proponents and opponents debate about globalization, the effect of globalization can be felt worldwide. The pros and cons will be discussed in job creation, national sovereignty and culture diversity, inequality and poverty, and finally about the natural environment.
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.
...ributed to Kurtz loosing track of his life emotionally, and later physically. Kurtz loved her, and his heart went cold as she was separated from his life. This can be seen in the story at the conclusion in a dialogue between the intended and Marlow, where she asks Marlow what Kurtz's final words were. Marlow lies, not because of his friendship with Kurtz, but because he recognizes the importance of him to her (and visa versa.)
The "Heart of Darkness," written by Joseph Conrad in 1899 as a short story, is about two men who face their own identities as what they consider to be civilized Europeans and the struggle to not to abandon their themselves and their morality once they venture into the "darkness." The use of "darkness" is in the book's title and in throughout the story and takes on a number of meanings that are not easily understood until the story progresses. As you read the story you realize that the meaning of "darkness" is not something that is constant but changes depending on the context it used.
At the beginning of the novel, Marlow is traveling the jungle and the many scenes of life can be seen. Africa has seems to be taken over by many travelers which makes one wonder what is there ulterior motive? Africa is a third world country, which makes it easy for someone to come in and talk on their soapbox. It is very easy to tell that these men are not the biggest fans of colored people, so it is plausible that they have come to instill a sense of imperialism. As Marlow passes through the waters of the Congo it is easily visible the trouble of the natives. “Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees, leaning against the trunks, clinging to the earth half coming out, half effaced with the dim light, in all the attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair.” (20) Show that the holding of these colonies has started. The soldiers have come in and taken the inhabitants and are destroying them and taking from them the one thing they deserve over everything, life. The imperialists seem to not care about the Africans and are just there for their land.
The current integrated and interdependent world economy is the outcome of the process of Globalization. Various definitions of Globalization are available. As per Block (2004), in his research paper, has defined globalization as “Intensification of world-wide social relationships which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by distant events and, in turn, distant events are shaped by local happenings.” The IMF (2008) claims that globalization is a result of advancement in technologies and modernization of the people. It is the result of growing incorporation of economies in the world, predominantly through the movement of labor, technology, knowledge, services, merchandise and investments across international borders. Globalization also has a direct effect on the social, environmental and political aspects of the economy (ibid). Enhancement in technology is the key driving force of globalization. Advancement in technology especially the growth of internet and telecommunication infrastructure has facilitated an easy method of communication and conducting business globally and creating global markets. Moreover the interconnections of economies will increase both opportunities for the business and competition among them. Zhu (2009) argues that globalization has two different parts namely Globalization of markets and Globalization of productions.
Globalization has a tremendous amount of support as well as a tremendous amount of opposition. While multinational companies tend to push for globalization and therefore higher profit margins, opponents work hard to make sure that developing nations are not taken advantage of in the process. Globalization cannot continue without supporters and it should not continue with out detractors. As always a balance must be found to protect not only the nations that are developing but those that are already developed as well. Proponents and opponents must work together to ensure the well being of generations to come that will surely inherit the earth.
Globalization is the new notion that has come to rule the world since the nineties of the last century with the end of the cold war. The frontlines of the state with increased reliance on the market economy and renewed belief in the private capital and assets, a process of structural alteration encouraged by the studies and influences of the World Bank and other International organisations have started in many of countries. Also Globalisation has brought in new avenues to developing countries. Greater access to developed country markets and technology transfer hold out promise improved productivity and higher living standard.
Marlow starts out as just as everyman, trying to put some bread on the table. His original plans were setting out to make money, but his journey turns into so much more. His expedition turns into a quest to find and save Kurtz, and to understand the people so many were prejudice against.
Krain, Matthew (2005), “AP Comparative Government and Politics Briefing Paper: Globalization,” [http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap05_comp_govpol_glob_42253.pdf], accessed 15 May 2012.
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).
Globalization’s history is extremely diversified and began during the beginning of civilization. Now we live in a world that is constantly evolving, demanding people to use resources in locations that are very difficult to obtain certain resources. This could make it completely impossible to operate in these specific parts of the world. However, globalization allows people across the world to acquire much needed resources. Globalization creates the opportunity for businesses to take advantage and exploit the ability to take part of their business to a different country. Nevertheless, globalization is part of today’s society and will be involved in virtually all situations.