Self-absorption in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness

Self-absorption in Heart of Darkness

The story Heart of Darkness is a study in the benefits , and

setbacks, of self absorption. Through out the story there is a constant

emphasis on the fact that self absorption will get you what you want and

help you to survive. At the same time there is the constant moral objection.

Almost the entire book is spent showing the positive aspects of self

absorption. The life it will give you and the ability to keep that life

going as long as possible. This type of thinking, however, can catch up to

you in the end.

The lesson that self absorption is the means of self preservation is

one that is taught to the reader, and more specifically to Marlow, gradually

as the story progresses. The very first lesson in this thought process comes

very early in the story. I occurs as Marlow is going over in his mind

exactly how he came to get the opportunity to be a river steamer captain.

It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains

had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. This was my

chance, and it made me the more anxious to go...However,

through this glorious affair I got my appointment,

before I had fairly begun to hope for it.(Conrad 13)

Right away Marlow begins to think about himself and what this mans death can

bring to him. He describes the incident, and every now and then throws in a

"The poor fellow" so that he is not completely devoid of any compassion.

This is Marlow's introduction into the way of the successful person in the

Ivory trade, or any business for that matter.

The next lesson that Marlow gets in self absorption he actually has

provided for him. As he is riding the french ship down to the belgian congo

there are several stops made to let off soldiers at various posts up and

down the shore.

We pounded along, stopped, landed soldiers; went on, landed custom-

house clerks to levy toll in what looked like a God-forsaken wilderness,

with a tin shed and a flag-pole lost in it; landed more soldiers to take care

of the custom-house clerks, presumably. Some, I heard, got drowned in

the surf; but whether they did or not, nobody seemed

particularly to care. They were just flung out there, and on we