Name __Chisondi Warioba P3__AP Literature Heart of Darkness Journal writing

After each of the following questions, answer in complete sentences if not paragraphs. Please think about the significance of each question to the novel. Quality of work and depth of thought count. Page numbers are in relation to the Signet Classic version and are meant to be a marker, not an absolute fact.

Page 54 and 551. How is the imagery used to compare the Thames to the Congo? 6.Comment on the symbolism attached to the rivers.In the novel, the description of the Thames as being covered by a mist that was like a gauzy and radiant fabric is similar to the heavy fog that hung over the Congo. In essence, the perceived perfection and purity of the Thames is only visible while it is still light. The Thames River, which is seen as calm and civil is a contrast to the darkness and fractiousness of the Congo River. The beauty of the river Thames vanishes with the sunset, while the true nature of the Congo is revealed as the sun rises and with it, the fog also dissipates. However, for an English sailor, the mouth of the Thames would mark the point between the light of civilization and the darkness of the unknown ends of the earth. The pacific nature of both rivers are compared at different times of the day. The beauty of the Thames disappears with the darkness of the night. The sailors on board the Nellie judge the Thames to be great because of its age and the multiple ships that have traveled in and out of it helping further the growth of civilization. Although the Thames and Congo are both rivers that have existed just as long as the other, the Congo illustrates the true backbone of the Thames. Essentially, the fog and mist are used to differentiate between the prehistoric aspect of the Congo river and the supposed civilized core of the river Thames. In the end they both lead to darkness; furthermore the imagery of the mist on the Essex march and the heavy fog that hung over the Congo bring to light that fact that there is very little difference between the civilized and uncivilized, just as there is little difference in the two rivers. As the Thames allows access into Europe, so does the Congo river allow European access into the interior of the Congo.

2. What implications can we draw from Marlows remarks about civilization and darkness? How does his view differ from the narrators?Marlow implies that civilization and darkness are interconnected as he states that England has been one of the dark places of the earth. Through the use of lightness and darkness Marlow establishes his belief that regardless of where the white man exists, in civilized Europe or the depths of Africa, he brings darkness and inhumanity. This is in contrast to the views of the narrator who believes that the river Thames and England itself has been the gateway of civilization and evokes the great spirit of the past. Marlow implicates that it is not the wealth and actions that distinguishes between the civilized and uncivilized, it is the inner core and human desire that does. Marlow indicates that it is not a disgrace to be uncivilized unless one has had the preconception of being civilized. The reason why England, before described by the narrator as great and civilized, is perhaps the darkest of all is because civilization brings to light the savagery of human inheritance. All the history that the river Thames has, is just more evidence to the depths of its darkness. Marlow insinuates the threat of darkness and ultimately the threat to true progress. The darkness is all the knowledge of the past and present as described by the narrator, the greatness that had.. floated on the...river into the mystery of the unknown earth. In this Marlow substantiates the true threat and danger of the darkness: it is both the unknown and unknowable, the inner depths of humanity.3. Comment on the adjectives used. 4.What assonance occurs on this page? What is its effect?The adjectives used by the narrator contribute to the aura of peace and serenity that is presented by both Marlow and the river Thames. Describing Marlow as ascetic and resembling an idol parallels the meditative mood of the sailors and the serenity of the Thames. Conrad uses peaceful adjectives to set the scene for the ensuing tail of madness and savagery. The peacefulness of the scene serves to reveal the intention of most men to hide the evil and sin rather than stating sin as they truly are. Marlow's sitting position as a Buddha indicates that he is the only one who has found true peace with himself; and, he is the only one comfortable with stating the truth of England being one of the dark places of the earth. Describing the river as being covered by a gloom and under the lurid glare of the stars further substantiates the darkness hidden by the light of civilization. This relation to darkness and creating a dark and foreboding mood occurs with the description of the town to the west of the river as a monstrous town. This description of monstrosity is a stark contrast to the prior description of the Thames as being the gateway to civilization. These adjectives illustrate that the peace of civilization is just a flicker, a spark from the sacred fire. The true monstrosity of the town is not apparent until the dark encroaches and the light is no longer there to mask the true intentions and evil desires of the civilized people. In these two pages alone, Conrad uses the word brooding three times, all in relation to the gloom that hung over the Thames. Conrad repeats brooding and gloom numerous times so as to lose the meaning of the word. In this sense, Conrad is blurring the line between civilized and uncivilized, dark and light. Just as the gloom slowly chases away the light, the darkness of savagery becomes one with the supposed light of civilization. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad's intention is to expose the lack of meaning of the words just as the history of the river Thames does not substantiate or qualify England's civilized nature. Just as there is lack of meaning in repeated words, there is also a lack of civilization in England. Language in Heart of Darkness only has meaning in terms of the exteriors of appearance such as the description of the river Thames, the gloom that covers it and the meditative description of Marlow. However, this definition is embraced by those who are ignorant enough to not understand that there is an interior and depth to humanity which language cannot penetrate. Conrad demonstrates that language is only a facade for the true depths of humanity, the true savagery of intentions and desires. Similar to Marlow, one is confronted with the blurred disparity between human nature and the surface that words are able to touch. With the use of assonance and descriptive adjectives, Conrad is able to break the surface of reality and reach deeper into the true gloom' and darkness of humanity.

5. Comment on the symbolic meaning suggested by the sunset.While the sailors are sitting aboard the Nellie and the sun is setting in its curved and imperceptible fall having been stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men, Conrad reiterates the fall of darkness and the tragedy of civilized men. The falling of the sun is like the passing of an inheritance, and as the sun falls it leaves behind a lurid glare under the stars which is opposite of the brooding gloom in sunshine. The sunset suggests the killing of light to produce an overwhelming darkness. The sunset can be seen as a never ending cycle like life the sun goes up and come back down everyday; furthermore, the darkness suggests the savagery inherited by men from generation to generation. Life is a cycle as well that goes around and around, continually passing on the darkened hearts of prior generations just as Marlow explains that all the people that traveled on the Thames have the same evil intents and desires that envelopes the towns of England in a deep darkness. In essence, the darkness is enveloping the land and hiding the evilness that occurs throughout the day. In the day the evilness is a lurid glare and very pronounced but the darkness accommodates the darkness and masks it in a way making it less evident. In the day, the same evil intent still exists, it is just blinded by the light of day, making it a brooding gloom in sunshine.7. What role does the river play in dreams of men?The river Thames serves as the passage time for both civilization and the dreams of men. Although there is a variety of people that have traveled on the river, they all came with the same basic motivation of greed and desire for fortune and glory. Essentially, the narrator states that men go out with great dreams that contributes to the welfare of the world. The narrator romanticizes the aspect of conquest and diseases brought by men, illustrating that the men and dreams that had gone out on the stream were bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. The river is made even more beautiful and significant by the men who traveled in and out of it. The immediate relationship to the Thames River and the narrator's praise of civilization and the history of all the men and warriors who have flowed in and out of the river presents strong images that have strengthened his claim of the Thames being the gateway of civilization, the carrier of dreams of men. Conrad is convicting society's obsession with manhood that is considered a test to be passed, which creates unnecessary egotistical challenges and competitions, and work that links man with the social stresses of protecting, providing and reproducing.

Page 56 and 578. The original narrator of the story points out that Marlow is not a typical seaman. In what way is he different from others who follow the sea? What significance might this have for the novel? 10. Why are seamen less aware of their surroundings?Marlow is different from other seamen in his tendency to tell stories not with simple meanings but rather with wise, universal meanings. Most seamen or men rather, are content with direct simplicity while telling stories; however, Marlow's stories were in depth and the meaning was not inside like a kernel but outside, enveloping the tale which brought it out. Marlow does not just look into the meaning of the story itself but rather into the ramifications it has on all of life and individuals in particular. This is significant because Marlow's story about his journey into the inner station forces listeners to look into their own souls and find what darkness lies there. Marlow's intention is to illuminate the inhumanity of which even the civilized people of England are capable of. Marlow's story is not just about the journey and the adventure, neither is it just about finding the idiosyncrasies of humanity and the savagery within each of us, Marlow's story encompasses the totality of the journey, the degradation of civilization and the evil desires that have traveled with men for millennium. Seamen are less aware of their surroundings because the sea is the mistress of his existence and they look at the world around the with slightly disdainful ignorance. Unlike Marlow, seamen see only that which is pertains to them, they get to the core of their stories just as the core of their existence is the sea and they need not worry about anything else. Quite contrary to this view, Marlow argues that the sea is encompassed by the world and the foreign shores, the foreign faces, the changing immensity of life. Similarly, Marlow warns that although his story will surely be confusing, it is not the story that matters, but rather the connection of the story and how it has changed him as a man. Focusing on only one aspect of life hardens hearts and does not reveal the role that empathy plays in hearts of men. The seamen described by the narrator illustrate the mundane, ordinary people who do not seek further meaning to life, but rather have a narrowed minded view with a scope that does not encompass true reality in which all humans live on the same earth. Conrad speaks to the core of imperialism in which Europeans do not see beyond their desires for wealth, therefore they do not feel sympathy for wronging the Africans. Selfishness is the core of savagery and humans do the unspeakable in order to achieve what they believe is their Destiny. Europeans looked at the brutality of imperialism with disdainful ignorance because they did not believe the lives of these natives served any purpose other than to labor for the improvement of Europe's economy and way of life.

9. How has the Thames been one of the dark places on earth? Quote.Marlow tells of how darkness was here yesterday but light came out of this river since. Marlow is describing how the Romans who conquered England must have seen the people as savage just as the Europeans think of the Africans that they are conquering through imperialism. Europeans were also in the situation that Africa is in under imperialism; however they have forgotten the feeling of non-natives taking over their land. Now, the Europeans are doing to Africans what was done to them. The Congo in essence is the deep, buried echoes of the grotesque savagery that Europe was once in and is still essentially controlled by. Marlow illustrates that darkness is at the core of all those who conquer others. In its scramble to ravage Africa of all its wealth, Europe has fallen victim to the same mindless and frenzied behavior that is at the roots of savagery. The true warning in Marlow's tale is of how close in relation Africans and Europeans truly are; furthermore, there is not much distinguish between the uncivilized nature of the two other than European savagery being fueled by greed and the dreams of men.

11. What vocabulary choices does Conrad make to describe the hearts of wild men?Conrad describes the hearts of wild men only being evident when they are away from civilization and the depth of the impact that the "utter savagery" of the wilderness has on them in terms of the ability and freedom to do anything they want to and to give in to the savagery that they see in their surroundings is fatal and inescapable. At the core of Marlow's story is an ongoing metaphor equating light with knowledge, civility with mystery, and darkness with savagery. Marlow equates light, civility, with reality, believing it to be a tangible expression of man's natural state. Similarly, Marlow uses darkness to depict savagery as a vice that left nature and that the civilized man has to live with in the midst of the incomprehensible. But as men leave civilization, they encounter their own primitive nature and begin to understand savagery as a primitive form of civilization and, therefore, a reflection on their own reality. Marlow, through his journey and also assumes that past men have come come to the same realization that the only reality, truth, or light about civilization is that it is, regardless of appearances, unreal, absurd, and shrouded in darkness. Marlow describes that in the end, the hearts of wild men continuously long for civilization and something to substantiate their own existence.

12. Comment on imagery associated with the actions of conquerors.Marlow establishes his warning that the individual society chooses to send to the brink of civilization must be self confident, and capable of staring into the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed around him and have enough sanity to make sense of that darkness. The individual must choose to enter the darkness, as Kurtz and Marlow chose, and, upon entering the darkness, if no sense can be made of it the individual must impose one instead of succumbing to the hearts of wild men. Marlow states that there is a need for a civilized man, one who liberates the land of its savagery and madness. This was the initial goal of imperialism: to rid Africa of its savagery and improve the living conditions of the natives while also connecting them with God. As Marlow stated what redeems it is the idea only, an unselfish belief in the idea. Marlow uses imagery to describe how it the encroaching darkness was a result of selfish desires that eventually consumed the conquerors. The gravity of how darkness changed these civilized men is used to describe man's overall disgust, the surrender, the hate that consumes them after realizing the savagery of their actions due to reveling in greed and selfish desire. His description of entering into savagery as a journey into a distant land and wading through a swamp is intense imagery used to understand that humans do not belong in darkness. This supports the argument that God made us in his image but after the fall of Adam, humans are inherently evil and that darkness gets passed down generation to generation.Pages 58-5913. Comment on Marlows justification for telling about one of (his) inconclusive experiences.Marlow justifies boring and confusing his listeners with his journey of being a fresh-water sailor by arguing that to understand the effect of it on [him] [they] ought to know how [he] got there. Marlow wants the listeners to understand the context of the conclusion he has arrived at. His journey of obtaining the job, working on the steamboat, traveling down the Congo river, and finally meeting Kurtz all play into the experiences that have guided him to the definition of the darkness that he stated had consumed Europe before the arrival of civilization. Ultimately, the core of Marlow's story is how he is a changed man because of those experiences. Marlow comments on how before his journey, he had the notion of Imperialism being a positive idea, one that people could bow down before. Marlow later found out out that the conquest of the earth is fueled by greed and lust, but he in the end become part of this cycle of darkness. In order to fully capture his fall into inevitable cycle of selfish desire and savagery, he has to tell his story of his journey into the heart of darkness. Ultimately, the evil that surrounded Marlow in his journey eventually found a way into his heart. It is an inevitable aspect of human nature to become exactly like one's predecessor, and that cycle continues from generation to generation. Marlow emphasizes that all of man's good intentions, thoughts, and ideas do not have subsistence when compared to all of man's evil intentions, thoughts, and selfish desires. Marlow's story is that as a result is who he has become because of the clash between these two imposing sides of human nature.14. Comment on the use and effect of Biblical imagery.In Heart of Darkness, Biblical imagery is used in describing the Congo river as an immense snake uncoiled, with its head in the sea. The Congo river is being compared to the serpent in the garden of Eden and as Marlow follows it, he is led into darkness, death and destruction. Eve listened to the serpent in the Garden of Eden and her eyes were opened and she gained the knowledge of good and evil. It is interesting that Conrad chooses to use the Congo instead of the Thames as Biblical imagery. Perhaps, this alludes to the prehistoric nature of the Congo and as a consequence of falling prey to the darkness, other generations have suffered. Essentially Marlow states that the Congo, just as the serpent was, is the source of all suffering, greed, and selfish desires that consume people. Just as Eve was enchanted by the snake in the garden of Eden, Marlow states that the snake had charmed him. Marlow's innocent and naive notion of imperialism was replaced with the true good and evil of man that consumed the continent of Africa during its imperialism. In using biblical imagery, Marlow asserts his belief that the heart of darkness should not exist and it is ultimately the fault of Eve. This satisfies Conrad's view of women in which they should be kept separate from men in their own little world. With this allusion to the snake, Marlow suggests that if it were not for Eve taking the first bite, the darkness that consumes the earth would not exist. This is why Conrad asserts the belief that women should be segregated so as to contain the darkness that so easily tempts the hearts of men.15. Marlows trip to Africa was the result of a combination of accidents and coincidences. Explain.Marlow's trip was made possible by first his connection with his aunt, then the death of his predecessor Fresleven. Marlow's aunt was determined to make no end of fuss to get him appointed in order to go to the Congo as captain of a river steamboat. Marlow is depicting women as the gateway to darkness because he would not have entered the savagery of Africa if it was not for his aunt and her connections. The Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. Nobody else wanted the job in fear of being killed just like Fresleven. The Europeans were upset because one of their own was just killed; furthermore, this justifies the Europeans' perception of the natives as savages. On the other hand, the natives were in fear because in their minds they had killed a god and expected all kinds of calamities to happen. Fresleven's situation emphasizes the lack of understanding between natives and Europeans. Fresleven's reaction to being cheated out of a few measly hens further illustrates Marlow's connection to darkness and how being disconnected from society causes one to lose their minds

Page 62-6516. Describe the allusion in, and the effect of Conrads description of the entrance to the Companys office and the old women who sit there.The description of Marlow's entrance to the Company's office is very dark and gives off a mood of sheer panic and uneasiness. The first thing Marlow sees when he enters the immense double doors are two women, one fat and the other slim,... knitting black wool. The fact that black is a reoccurring color in this scene foreshadows the darkness awaiting Marlow at the Inner Station. The Company's office is the heart of darkness in Europe just as the Inner Station is the heart of darkness in the Congo. The two knitting women illustrate the inevitably of Marlow going on his journey and coming back with as pure of a heart as he has before embarking on this journey. The two women allude to the ancient Greek personifications of fate and the fact that there is only two out of the three fates there suggests that it is not Marlow's body that will die on this journey but his civilized soul or the fact that he was never born with a clean soul in the first place. The fates welcome in travelers who are self-deceived and enter with the naive notion of self control. These two women guard the door of Darkness and know all. These two knitting women are put in place as judges of Marlow, and are able to determine his fate. The darkness encompassing this entire scene gives readers a negative mood and premonition of what is to come. 17. Compare Marlow with his aunt and the Company personnel in terms of the kind of appeal Africa has for each of them. To what extent do Marlow, his aunt, and the Belgians recognize and understand the differences in their attitudes? 20. What warnings are implicit in the doctors examination of Marlow? Quote.Africa presents itself to Marlow as an area of childhood mystery that fills him with wonder and a sense of adventurous awe. When Marlow was a little chap [he] had a passion for maps and would lose himself in all the glories of exploration. Marlow's naivete lasts into adulthood and he believes his journey to Africa is just an adventure and that the country was run for profit. Marlow does not wish to come to terms with the uneasiness of what could possibly be going on with the natives. Marlow is made quite uncomfortable by his aunt's perception of imperialism as weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways. The irony of this is that Marlow's aunt is the ignorant one since she sits at home with her own idea of the way things are that is not true at all. Marlow's aunt is one who believes in white superiority and feels that Africa is the perfect place for Europe to exercise it's God- given authority over the savages. Marlow's aunt also has the misconception that the natives or labourer[s] as she calls them, are paid for their work. The Company understands the misconceptions of the people who apply for jobs; furthermore, the Company understands that no man can go into the heart of the jungle and not come back changed. This is why the doctor states that the changes take place inside and smiles as if it were some quiet joke. The doctor sees the he sees the explorers as a scientific experiment. The doctor warns Marlow of protecting his mind and succumbing to the darkness. The doctor also implies that keeping the darkness out of one's mind is an impossible feat. The doctor measures Marlow's skull, which he sees as being similar to taking scientific observations of Marlow's brain. The Company understands the madness that takes place after a man has witnessed the true savagery of the white man and the brutality toward the natives. Marlow's irritation at being asked about any family history of madness suggests his innocence. The clear implication is that going to the Congo changes individuals, specifically driving them mad. By the end of the journey, Marlow has no such misconception and understands the true breadth of the brutality of humanity. The irony is that although Marlow does not return completely insane, he is dangerously close to the brink of madness.

18. How does Marlow explain the idealism of his aunt in terms of feminine psychology?Marlow explains his aunt's idealism by explaining that women need to be protected from the harshness and brutality of reality. Marlow believes women to be out of touch with reality and that they live in a world of their own. Conrad implies that women are not mentally equipped to survive in society and go through life with misconceptions that men should never address because that is just the nature of women. Marlow conveys that it is the responsibility of men to save women and preserve their naivete. Marlow's entire story and journey is overall a struggle between awareness and madness, and women represent the side lacking awareness while men are the ones most perceptible to madness. In the end, it is ironic how Marlow, who claims to be aware of life, understands that he can just as easily fall into the same madness as Kurtz. Marlow's aunt disregards, or rather can not see, the darkness that hides in the corner of every man's heart, therefore she is not able to understand the lies that have been presented to her. Conrad hints that women are accepting of whatever truth man provides her with and believe it with fierce loyalty. Marlow describes women as naive in the sense that they are too accepting and cannot grasp the savagery of man, which is why they need the protection of men. Marlow believes the thoughts of women to be too beautiful altogether, almost laughable and silly to think about.19. Marlow speaks of light coming out of the river. Marlow also says his aunt expected him to be an emissary of light. Given the meaning of darkness, what does Conrad mean by light? To what extent is light considered good and the darkness evil?Marlows aunt thinks Marlow more noble than he actually is, she believes he is going to the Congo out of the goodness of his heart, but he is only going to help the Company profit. Conrad uses darkness as an abuse of power and a lack of civilization that leads to savagery. Marlow's being an emissary of light represents him as being a disciple who will wean those ignorant millions from their horrid ways. Marlow's aunt views darkness as ignorance and simply being lost and out of touch with the truth and reality. Conrad uses irony in his demonstration of women being ones who live in a world of their own. This clash of ideas surfaces the possibility that darkness is rather coming to terms with reality, seeing the truth, and not being able to handle the magnitude and depth of its evil. Conrad imposes the idea that light is ignorance and darkness is knowledge. Light is considered good in the sense that humans are veiled and protected by ignorance that suppresses their inner darkness. Europe is civilized because the people living in it are ignorantly unaware of the evil that surrounds them. Europe is only dark because underneath the facade of light and order is darkness and anarchy that is the core of the human condition. Marlow's aunt believes Marlow to be an emissary of light because of his knowledge, but the irony is Marlow's lack of knowledge of the evil man is capable of. Darkness, as emulated by Kurtz and Marlow, is the deceptiveness and selfishness of the white people that has disturbed the solitariness of the natives, thus making Africa the dark place it was during imperialism. Being supposed emissaries of light Kurtz, Marlow, and the Company are in fact trying to keep the natives under their control. Social status, political power, economic production, and the way of life are all under the control of the supposed people of light(Europeans). The Europeans believe the goal of imperialism is to give light to the natives who are living in ignorance, Europeans hope to civilize and educate the natives, but they are in reality attempting to keep the natives under European control in order to exploit them. The irony is that the Europeans who are attempting to rid the world of darkness, are covered by darkness themselves. In the novel, there is talk about finding the light, but all these characters possess only darkness. The reason why Marlow is distrusting of words is that there is a vast difference between what the Europeans say and what they actually do. Even though the natives are uncivilized in the European sense, the Europeans are the savages because of their exploitation of knowledge and their attempt to exert control over other human beings who are by nature free.

21. The theme of people who change after they go out there recurs several times in this part of the novel. What instances can cite of people mentioned in the story whose personality or behavior undergoes radical change? What seems to be the cause for each?Marlow's mind set changes from seeing all of the glory and profit involved in the ivory trade to seeing the evil involved, the death and destruction. The first instance is Fresleven, who had been the gentlest, quietest creature that had ever walked on two legs. Being out in the jungle for an extended period of time drove Fresleven to savagery because of his desire for authority and control. Fresleven had a view point akin to the Europeans who colonized Africa in that he believed the natives were inferior to him so he therefore had the right of control. Fresleven was filled with more evil and darkness than the savages in that it was not the intent of the natives to kill Fresleven or even harm him; however, Fresleven beat a man simply to feel elevated and superior. A similar situation occurs with Kurtz who lived a life of desire, temptation, and surrender that eventually caught up with him in his final breaths. Humanity can only ignore evil for so long before it completely changes a man and the brutality of that evil causes internal conflicts that eventually leads to death. Kurtz illustrates that despite the inherently evil nature of humans, their last hope for redemption is knowledge, the knowledge of good and evil that convicts man before death. Conrad is essentially stating that humans are redeemed because they are not mindlessly evil, they are aware of their darkness and are convicted because of their desperate search for the light. Lastly, Marlow is changed after his journey by going from a mindset of naivete to awareness and embracing the truth of the human condition, the truth that all humans have a hint of darkness tucked away inside of their hearts.

22. The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the ideasomething you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to What kind of idea is Marlow talking about? How does it redeem the act of taking the earth away from people with different complexions? Of all the people encountered in this section of the novel, is there anyone who can be described as a representative of, or believer in, the idea?Marlow is talking about the idea of civilizing the natives and educating them, an unselfish belief in the idea. The colonization of Africa was not initially a scramble for wealth and power. The idea worth bowing down before is the ambition of ruling the world, civilizing it. The redemption is the union of the world and accomplishing a feat that has never been done before. Conrad reflects the ideology of the time that if something is able then it can be anyones. With the talk of the idea being saved by an unselfish belief in the idea, Marlow is contradicting himself because he does not clearly state what the idea is . The idea is conquest, and particularly in the conquest of Africa, it is the ivory trade. Acquiring wealth for oneself is not unselfish. Through this, Marlows concept of civilization breaks down and he is grasping for some sort of explanation that substantiates the selfish ambition of the British, this is why Marlow is silent for a long moment after this realization. The Europeans considered the natives savages because of their beliefs in idols and concepts that the Europeans considered insane, but in turn the Europeans idolize this concept of conquest and wealth. Although different in aspect, the core of the ideas are the same and Conrad emphasizes his idea of inner savagery that is just as much a part of European life as it is the natives. The irony of the conquest of the earth is that these Europeans were Christian, God-fearing men, yet they were obsessed with wealth and were driven by selfish desire. This idea is just as supernatural as the gods of the natives therefore it is not real and will not last. Conrad warns that selfish desires cannot be the substance of ones life and that the conquest of the e arth was in vain because it was idolized by the Europeans. Just as Marlow explains that Congo is a reflection of the past of the Thames, he also parallels the ideas of savagery. The Europeans were under the illusion that they had also conquered savagery simply because they had cities and ships and civilization, but Conrad states that savagery simply took a different form and ironically insinuates that savagery has evolved. Page 66 to 6823. What is the significant in Marlows description of his first encounter with black fellows.Marlow, like so many Europeans, believed the Africans to be inferior and as natural and true as the surf along their coast. When he first saw the black fellows rowing a boat, Marlow simply thought of them as a part of nature. He felt as though they were a great comfort to look at just as the jungle around him. Marlow wanted to conform to the belief that Europeans were humans and the natives were not. Marlow understands that the natives wanted no excuse for being there and they were content with their lives. The natives did not search for meaning in their lives because they had already found it; on the other hand, Europeans were driven by selfish desire that was unquenchable. Marlow desired to be as content with reality as these black fellows, but his inner being felt that there was darkness in the jungles and the world was not a world of straightforward facts. Like so many others, Marlow is desensitized to reality and is unwilling to come to come to terms with reality. Conrad portrays humanity in the sense that the whole journey is on the unmapped and uncharted territory of the human soul. At the beginning, the darkness is shrouded by naivete and lack of knowledge that hides the depth of the darkness.

24. How are the ships attacks on the enemies futile? How does Conrads choice of vocabulary emphasize this? 26. How are the colonizers shown to be more barbaric than the criminals?The French ship's attacks on the natives was in vain because the ship was shooting at nothing. The sailors were under the illusion that they were fighting a band of natives. There wasn't a camp of natives, the ship was simply firing into a continent. Conrad's vocabulary emphasizes the weakness and futility of the Europeans. It is as though they are grasping in the dark for something more that isn't there, something to squelch their evil desires. The ship would shoot and a tiny projectile would give a feeble screech-and nothing happened. Nothing could happen. The French ship emphasizes the savagery of the Europeans and the darkness that drives them to vain destruction. Conrad is insinuating that under the cover of darkness, men commit ludicrous acts of savagery. With no accountability and no law, humans do not have direction in life and all of their actions are for naught. The irony of the French warship is that many of the passengers aboard are all sick and close to death. Similar to Kurtz near the end of the novel, the French crew are drawn to the darkness, unwilling to leave it behind but there is nothing left for them. This idleness ultimately leads to destruction and vanity, as Marlow states. Being that Marlows intended audience is caucasian males, he is describing the lugubrious drollery that is a result of darkness. Ultimately Conrads message is that men cannot be completely free and idle without being consumed by death, destruction, and darkness. The colonizers are shown to be more barbaric because of the way they treated the supposed enemies. Marlow clarifies by stating that they were called criminals, and the outraged law, like the bursting shells, had come to them, an insoluble mystery from the sea. The natives did not deserve the treatment they received from the Europeans, it was uncalled for. Conrad and Marlow both show their disgust of this barbaric treatment, as if the Europeans owned the natives which they did not. The natives had done nothing to warrant attacks from the French nor the forced labor of the chain gang. However, they were under the outraged law which they could not fight against. Marlow also states the complete comfort of the Company that allows the chain gang and how it is rather sadistic. No one should be able to stand seeing others suffer, but the Europeans do with complete indifference. Although Marlow acknowledges the natives as savages, he does not relate them to animals. Conrad explains that by enforcing this forced labor, natives have stepped out of humanity. The nonchalance of the European overseer is the first step of darkness and Kurtz is the last. The first step into darkness is a sort of civilized barbarity and the last is complete submission to darkness.

25. What are some of the details which convey the nightmarish quality of his journey?Marlow describes his journey as one of like a weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmare. The nightmare is that Marlow is travelling into the unknown, unmapped territory covered by darkness. The journey to the Companys station has a sort of warning to it as if Nature herself had tried to ward off intruders. The streams and jungles Marlow passes by give off an air of decay and death, and impossible slowness of the water which thickened into slime. He describes the brush as writhing to him in the extremity of an impotent despair. The darkness and gloom hint at nightmarish qualities that are present at the fringes and outskirts of the heart of darkness. The journey to the Companys station sets a mood of despair and warning as if going further on the journey will result in irrevocable circumstances. This despair is further evidenced by a Swede captain Marlow talks to who tells him of a man he knew who hanged himself! Why, in Gods name?... The sun too much for him, or the country perhaps. The entire aura and mood of the jungle invites despair and tragedy. The man who hung himself could not handle the darkness surrounding him; furthermore it was not the country that caused this nightmarish quality but rather the Europeans. As a repeated theme in his novel, Conrad reitterates that a man can only be in darkness for so long before being consumed by it. Pages 70 to 7327. Explain Conrads references to devils. 32. What most enrages and upsets Marlow in As I stood on this hillside I foresaw that in the blinding sunshine of that land I would become acquainted with a flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a capricious and pitiless folly. What is it about the whole spectacle which most enrages and upsets Marlow?Marlow describes the corruption and greed of the white man by stating that he has seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire. Marlow is contrasting the level of evil found in Africa to the evil in Europe. He describes the white men in Europe as a weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly. He states that he does not realize the depths evil can reach until several months later and a thousand miles farther when he meets Kurtz. As stated before, Marlow comes to the realization that when away from civilization, the darkness of man is truly revealed because it is not suppressed by civilization. The sins of civilized people are miniscule when compared to the brutality Marlow sees in the chain gang. Seeing the treatment of the natives, tied together and watched by a white man, Marlow is shocked at the nature of white man and how insidious he could be. At this point in his journey, Marlows naivete and knowledge is being broken down and changed after seeing how things truly are. Humans live in a sheltered state that is not changed unless brutally faced the truth. This is the folly of civilization, the civilized people do not see the consequences of reality. This is similar to America and much of European civilization which is ignorant to the pain and suffering occurring around them. People do not concern themselves with matters that do not directly affect them, this is why this journey was such an eye opening experience for both Marlow and Conrad: it changed their perception of reality. What most enrages Marlow is that he had the same evil that drove the chain gang inside of him, only it was suppressed by civilization. Not only will he discover how insidious he could be through Kurtz, he would discover the fullness of that evil in himself. Marlow saw the connection between the evil of civilization and that evil without limits and what he saw greatly angered him because there was little differentiation. He stood there appalled, as though by a warning and that warning was to beware of that same evil inside of him being unbound and unleashed. Civilization was just a buffer for the true acidic nature of that evil that caused the Europeans to force the natives into labor that they did not deserve. Lust and selfish desire is what drove the colonizers of Africa and lust and selfishness were the same forces that were at the center of conflict back in Europe. Marlow says that he has seen these evils in Europe but the evils he saw here were stronger, these were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men. The evils unrestricted by civilization were even greater and Marlow realizes that he himself no longer under the restriction of civilization and that same madness could easily overtake him also.

28. What is the purpose of the chain gang? Why is it unfair? 29. Behind this raw matter one of the reclaimed, the product of the new forces at work strolled despondently Marlow is being ironic here as he describes the native guard watching over the prisoners. What does he mean by raw matter? In what sense is the guard reclaimed? What are the forces at work?The Europeans were building a railway so they needed the chain gang to move the earth being destroyed. The natives were connected together with a chain and by no stretch of imagination be called enemies. The chain gang is unjust in nature because it caused other humans to work and be treated similar to criminals although they had nothing to deserve this sentence. Out in the jungle, Africans could not plead their case because Europeans were superior in technology, therefore the natives could not resist. The unjust judge of human darkness had determined they be put into labor. Marlow and his aunt both had had the preconceived notion of the laborers being payed for their work, but in reality, the chain gang was no different than slavery. The arrival of Europeans to Africa had broken the natives harmony with nature and this work they were doing was just as vain the French warship that Marlow had seen shoot into nothing. Marlow is frightened because each had an iron collar on his neck. There is no reason for the brutality Europeans are showing to natives. This labor has turned the natives into mindless being who stared stonily as if no longer aware of the brutality being put on them. Conrad's choice of vocabulary characterizes the natives as the walking dead as if being put into arduous killed their souls and they are just walking bodies, without a soul. They were driven by the force of darkness given to them from the Europeans. Marlow realizes that it is the Europeans who made Africa savage; it was pure and innocent before imperialism, but the evil of European imperialism turned it into a place of darkness. Marlow describes the native guard as being the product of the new forces at work. Despite the death and despair of his fellow natives walking before him, the native guard has been civilized and watches his fellow natives suffer. The irony is that the Europeans, rather than sending one of their own to oversee the chain gang, they civilized one of the natives to watch. The native thinks he is superior but in reality he is on the same level as his fellow natives. The Europeans had instilled in this guard that he was a part of the cause of these high and just proceedings. The native guard is being just as exploited as the savages and he has been reclaimed by the powers of darkness. In this sense, Marlow states that the natives were not as savage because they were not fueled by greed and darkness as the Europeans. The forces at work are the devils that Marlow references later. The Europeans are in fact civilizing the natives but they are also drawing them deeper into darkness because with civilization comes greater evil and a loss of the innocence that the natives had with nature.

30. Evaluate the description of the shady area and its contents. How is this significant? 31. What does Marlow mean by These moribund shapes were as free as airand nearly as thin?In the description of the shady area, Conrad makes an allusion to Dante Alighieris The Inferno. Marlow states that upon stepping into the shady area, it seemed as though he had stepped into the gloomy circle of some Inferno and this was the place where some of the helpers had withdrawn to die. The shady area was filled with attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair. The significance of this is that Marlow is comparing the suffering of the natives to hell and this goes to show the depth of European darkness. While these innocent natives were dying, the work continued as if not a soul on earth would miss the dying natives. Conrad describes the despair to be so much that it seems eternal, that there will be no change in European treatment of the natives. The natives are being punished for the sins of the Europeans, as if Fate itself was plotting against them. This is important in causing Marlow to doubt his beliefs of the divine nature of European imperialism and causing him to doubt the morale of colonization simply on the merits of wealth. The Europeans have no judge or law to keep them accountable in Africa so they have taken authority and have wrongfully played the role of God by bringing death to the natives sooner than necessary. Marlow is in shock that Europeans that the work was going on and no one felt the need to stop despite the death it was causing. Earlier, Conrad had describe the natives as working with the deathlike indifference of unhappy savages. The truth of the matter is that death and life were no different to the natives, they had no choice in either matter. Marlow means that the only freedom the natives would receive is death, through death they were able to escape arduous labor, pain, and despair. Marlow says that the natives were brought from all the recesses of the coast in all the legality of time contracts, lost in uncongenial surroundings, fed on unfamiliar food, they sickened, became inefficient, and were then allowed to crawl away and rest. In this one sentence, Marlow describes the basis of native existence: work, get sick, and die. Dying in the shady area, the natives once again became free, being a part of nature once more. Before the arrival of Europeans, natives lived in harmony with nature and were not the presumed savages that Europeans called them. Forced labor caused them to lose innocence and punished by dying in a circle of hell. By stating that the natives were as thin as air, he concludes that they were no longer of concern to the natives but in their existence, they fueled European life in Africa. In reality, Europeans could not thrive in Africa without the labor of the natives.

33. How does Conrad juxtapose his description of the white man?Conrad juxtaposes his description with the despair, uncleanliness, and darkness of the shady area with the dying natives. The prior darkness is vanquished with the light of the white man who is clean with a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, a clean necktie, and varnished boots. Everything about the white man is white, pure, and amazing. Marlow says he has backbone because in the great demoralization of the land he kept up his appearance. Marlow shakes hands with this miracle. The reason why Marlow refers to this man as a miracle is because it is very rare for a man to be out nearly three years in the jungle without succumbing to his inner darkness. The white man's starched collars and got-up shirt-fronts were achievements of character. The white man clearly stood for his morals so he was not easily swayed by the freedom of the jungle. In the juxtaposition of the white man, Conrad illustrates that not all men become utterly lost after going into the jungle. This gives Marlow hope after loitering in the shade and he feels as though he himself might not go back home completely mad. In juxtaposing the white man, Conrad is also juxtaposing despair and hope, light and darkness. The white man, the Company's chief accountant, is the epitome of true civilized man in that he is anchored to morality and has self control unlike the French warship and the chain gang Marlow had seen earlier.

34. After a ten-day wait at the Companys Coastal Station where he was deposited by the Swedish captain, how do Marlows experiences during this leg of the journey serve to reinforce his initial impressions of Africa? What is making Marlow scientifically interesting as the Belgian doctor would have said?During his ten day waiting period, Marlow lived in a hut in the yard, but to be out of the chaos [he] would sometimes get into the accountant's office. Marlow is living in the same chaos as the natives and he has nothing to do therefore he is becoming scientifically interesting. The idleness of the jungle is what changes a man, sitting there having to live with oneself. The Belgian Doctor hinted at idleness as being the source of insanity when going out there. Humans are incapable of living only with themselves and not finding the darkness that lies within. This ten day stretch of idleness is what starts Marlow's transformations, he starts looking inwards, into his inner chaos. This ten day wait is what characterizes Conrad's major theme of the heart of darkness, the inner despair and anarchy. All these images Marlow has seen so far of the chain gang and the shady place with dying natives, will stay in his memory until he dies. The true quandary is that one cannot escape the heart of darkness because it lies within and it is impossible to escape oneself. This is why without civilization, man goes insane and becomes scientifically interesting. Marlow is degrading into his primitive nature of savagery and he uses the accountant's office as an escape because the accountant is the most civilized man he has met so far.

Page 7435. Comment on the introduction of Mr. Kurtz. 36. Why is this interspersed with descriptions of the sick man?The accountant introduces Mr. Kurtz as a very remarkable person who will go far, very far. The Company sees Mr. Kurtz as one who simply brings in the most ivory, and that is the only reason why he is considered so great. Kurtz is in charge of a very important trading post in the true ivory-country. His introduction is interspersed with descriptions of the sick man as foreshadowing. The company has bowed down before this idea of wealth and success that Kurtz bring but they do not realize that the man himself is sick and full of darkness. Despite the clean, and put-together persona Conrad gives of the Company's chief accountant, the accountant's praise of Mr. Kurtz demonstrates the selfish desire at the core of humanity. The accountant seem in awe and praise of Mr. Kurtz as illustrated by his comment to let Kurtz know that everything here...is very satisfactory. Kurtz is not only worshiped and idolized by the natives but he is also worshiped by the Europeans. The irony is that the Europeans, who came to spread the word of god and vanquish belief in false gods, are themselves falling to there knees before the god of wealth and desire. This god, Kurtz, is dying, and in reality he has no power at all. Kurtz's greatness was taken away by the darkness and in essence the Europeans are worshiping this darkness. Strip Kurtz of the natives he took control over, and there is nothing spectacular at all, just a sick man destined for nothing more than death just as the sick man at the accountant's office.

Page 7837. Why must a white man in Africa have no entrails? 39. The excitable man with the black moustache assures Marlow that everybody had behaved splendidly! at the occasion of the sinking of the steamer. But the same man makes an identical comment when they are all fighting a fire in a storage shed. What does this reveal about this mans judgment? What light does it shed on the sinking of the steamer? 49. What is the threat implicit in the brickmakers warning to Marlow, No manyou apprehend me?no man here bears a charmed life? How does this tie in with the managers apparent lack of entrails?In order to survive amid darkness, one must not have a conscious, they cannot have a heart. Conrad illustrates that surviving in Africa takes a hollow man in the sense that he is not moved by anything, a man with no morals, no entrails. In bringing up this unforgettable character, Marlow has put into question the necessity of heart or mind, soul or intellect. Essentially, one needs to put aside their humanity, their emotions and their morals in order to live through the sickness, despair and darkness. Marlow describes the manager as one who inspired neither love nor fear, nor even respect. He inspired uneasiness. The introduction of the manager parallels Kurtz's state of mind later on; however, Kurtz dies in the end because he had his mind, he had intelligence, and despite it all he had the curse of being able to distinguish between right and wrong. The manager is simply hollow, he is respected because he stands for something he does not cause conflict, neither does he solve it. The manager is a person who goes through the motions in life, he never engages in his reality. Engaging with reality would open up all the pain of the world, but because of his indifferent nature, the manager does not suffer. Conrad puts into question whether it would be better for humanity to be isolated and guard their own hearts so they do not fall victim to sickness and heartache, or if humans should embrace reality despite the pain. Conrad introduces the manager as uneasy because he has no identity and he has not made a difference in the world. Conrad insinuates that a man who has made no mark on the world, left no legacy, is not worthy of praise. Even those who have left a legacy of pain, despair, and darkness such as Kurtz, are worthy because they have shown their humanity and have put their heart into some cause. Kurtz put his life and soul into the ivory trade, and despite the evil of it all, he is memorable because he engaged in reality and had an identity. Everyone who met Kurtz remembered him as the best ivory trader and respected because of that however, the manager is respected for his indifference. Conrad contrasts lives of people who have engaged in reality and have allowed their hearts to be in involved in their lives as opposed to those who let life go on without being a part of the change. The man with the black moustache was trying to put a hole in the fire while there was a hole in the bottom of his pail. This man is completely checked out of reality and he has succumb to hysteria. He does not understand the difference between reality and imagination. This man is similar to the manager in the sense that he is going through the motions of life. Conrad is explaining the possible dangers that occur when people do not engage in their realities.

Page 8038. Explain the image of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten fence. 42. Why does Marlow call the brickmaker a paper-mache Mephistopheles?The pilgrims Marlow is describing are on a mindless journey for an idea that consumes them and replaces their quest for religion with a goal driven by unchecked desire. Marlow watches the pilgrims and states that they wandered here and there with their absurd long staves in their hands, like a lot of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten fence. Pilgrims are known to go to foreign lands led by nothing other than their belief in either freedom of religion or spreading the word of God, there is no wandering in the description. By describing the pilgrims as wandering Conrad insinuates that they have strayed from their path and no longer have direction or will. Marlow believes these men to be indecent humans and shameful because of their lack of direction, lack of true purpose in life, they are faithless. A sense of evil and darkness seems to surround the pilgrims as Marlow describes them being bewitched inside a rotten fence. These men are consumed by the ivory trade and worship it and are entrance by it. The white men have thrown away their morals and religion for the wealth and glory brought by the ivory trade which ultimately leads to darkness. Marlow insinuates that the brick maker is fake and he is an unsuccessful schemer since he had been planning to be assistant-manager by and by under the present man. The brick maker wanted nothing more than his own promotion and he deeply envied Mr. Kurtz. The allusion is to German folklore where Mephistopheles, a demon, tempts the character Faust to sell his soul to the devil. Through this description, Marlow is intoning that he feels as though he is being drawn closer and closer to darkness. The brick maker is described as a hollow man with nothing inside. Marlow goes on to associate himself with the brick maker, as if he became in an instant as much of a pretence as the rest of the bewitched pilgrims. Marlow believes his waiting period has opened up his heart and it is slowly being enveloped by darkness.

Page 83 to 8940. What does Mr. Kurtz painting suggest about his character? 41. How does the brickmakers description contrast with this? 43. It wasnt stupidity which caused the loss of the steamer. What other explanation is Marlow hinting at here? What motive could there be?Mr. Kurtzs painting reveals that he is appalled by European requirements of the natives and has essentially become one of the savages. Her face is distorted because the effect of the torchlight on the face was sinister. The woman's face being repulsive and evil symbolizes the native's' point of view on European customs. In essence, the woman is blindfolded because Europeans cannot see the negative effects of their actions on natives as illustrated by the shadowy grove where workers of the chain gang went to die. The lady represents the Europeans and although she is holding the light, trying to find her way in the darkness, she is impeded by her own darkness. The torch she carries represents the European customs and values that they try to force upon the native Africans, but the natives are unwilling to trust such evil. The brick maker describes Kurtz as an emissary of pity and science and progress, and devil knows what else. Instead of being known as a savage and a traitor of European goals, the brick maker describes Kurtz as being the perfect vision of a true European. Just as in the painting, Kurtz is seen by the Europeans as the guidance of the cause intrusted to us by Europe. That cause is civilizing all the natives; however, Kurtz sees this as a lost cause, as demonstrated by the blindfolded woman. Kurtz believes that Africa should be left alone because Europeans are only bringing more darkness, there light is vanity. Marlow is hinting at the brickmaker being the one who caused the loss of the steamer because there was a physical impossibility in the man being a brickmaker. He suggests, just as stated before that the brickmaker simply wants to rise in status because no sensible man rejects wantonly the confidence of his superiors. The brickmaker wants to hinder Marlow's progress so that there isn't a possibility of new information that will further promote Kurtz, but hinder the progress of the brickmaker. The brickmaker is used to portray the aspect of jealousy in darkness, that inner human desire that cares for nothing more than one's own well being. This is further justified by Marlow being obsessed with coming in possession of rivets so as t fix his steamboat, thereby only thinking of himself, and becoming part of the evil the brickmaker is promoting.

Page 86-8844. What is the connection between Marlows conversation with the brickmaker about rivets and the Eldorado Exploring Expedition?Marlow finds the station managers Uncle to be devoid of human emotion and he is planning on exploiting Africa without a thought for the natives or the state of the land. Marlow explains how this devoted band called itself the Eldorado Exploring Expedition... their talk... was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage. The Eldorado Exploring Expedition is symbolic of the Whites' cruelty and their courage is nothing but exploitation of other human beings. This is a search for something that drives the most sane men mad simply because it is unachievable, it sparks desire in men with the notion of having more than they already have. Marlow believes the pilgrims themselves to be unreal, no longer men, just hollowness filled with desire and greed, as if possessed by darkness itself. Marlow felt a similar desperation in search of rivets, and this is part of his inner self that he feels leads him into darkness just like the brickmaker. However, the brickmaker did not care at all about Marlows needs, he simply wanted emphasize his own desires. The men of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition only cared about themselves and had shut out reality. They were focused on the possibility of filling their pockets with rivets. This glory they sought would not be, making men's greed insatiable, it would only be satisfied through death.

45. Why is Marlow worried about the clarity of his story?Marlow is worried about the clarity of his story because it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence- that which makes its truth, its meaning- its subtle and penetrating essence. Marlow believes that there is not a way in which he can get his fellow sailors to truly understand the depths of his experiences, he feels as though it is impossible to fully encapsulate the life-changing experience of his journey. Marlow seeks clarity so as to allow listeners to live the story with him to understand the importance of the details, the eeriness of the darkness and the way it sought to change him, change his character, and his heart. Conrad believes that that life is a sensation that is impossible to share with others, that only a person himself can know the truth behind their existence, and this is justified by individual experiences that deeply change a person, this is forever within the heart of an individual. Marlow is suggesting that we essentially live alone because it is impossible for someone else to feel what the feelings and sensations of another person. Marlow is referring to the isolation one feels while in a dream and he explains how the dreamer exists in a world of their own that no one else can experience. The truth of the matter is that both life and dreams revolve around solitude, and at the end of the day all people are on their own, they own their individual actions and they have to live with the consequences of their experiences. Marlow views the world as a lonely and desolate environment and the choices he makes throughout the novel reflect his need to express his emotions and realizations to others. He wants to find Kurtz to prove to himself that he is not alone in the world, that there is someone besides himself who understands him and can relate to his experiences.

46. What does Marlow like about his work? Significance?Marlow knows that the show one puts on to impress others can be stripped away when alone. One can discover their own reality that is hidden with the layers everyone gathers to shield away from the harsh and unforgiving world. Only slowly, while secluded from the rest of the world, can one truly comprehend his identity, which no other man can ever knowMarlow enjoys working on the steamer because this vessel contains all his dreams and hope. Marlow especially likes this work because the job is a chance to find yourself. Marlows personality pushes him to mend the problems around rather than create more difficulties. This shows that he prefers fixing things rather than destroying them, unlike other Europeans in Africa who are clouded by darkness. After several months on the same ship and most of the same people, there is a good amount of time spent with alone. He and his ship are symbiotic in which they both help one another out. As he continues on his voyage, the ship has become one of the most important aspects of his life. He is willing to wait and work incessantly on the steamer. To relate to the issue in Africa, Marlow favors helping people over the mindless destruction of Africa. He attempts to make peace and support the vulnerable such as the oppressed natives. Over time in that solitude, people are able to understand themselves on another level. It is mindless work that allows another to dwell on their own thoughts. In the constant ruckus of daily life, one has little time to reflect. With work, one can get lost in the world and be confident in his own existence.

47. Marlow takes a long time to develop his story, saying that in order for his friends to appreciate the meaning of his experience, he must first tell the events that led up to it. However, the alert reader will have caught the feeling of ominous foreboding that pervades Marlows satirical account of his first dealings with the Company and his journey. One way by which Conrad achieves this effect is by the interjection of eerie and morbid images and incidents. What supporting examples can you find? How does Conrads use of color contribute to the effect? 48. Conrad is ambiguous in his use of the terms light and darkness. As you read through the text, you have seen these words figure in a great many changes from the narrators literal descriptive usage to Marlows more suggestive metaphors. How many different meanings for the word darkness can you find in this part of the book? What are the implications of each?Conrad produces the ominous foreboding of the corruptness of the Company with the eerie description of the manager in the night time where a dark figure obscured the lighted doorway of the managers hut, vanished, then...the doorway itself vanished, too. This image of darkness and demoralization is emphasized by the use of darkness and the color black. Here the darkness implies the evil of the unethical happenings of the Company and the intense depravity harbored by its agents. The darkness also gives an effect of inhumanity, making the incident into something from another world, and bringing the dehumanizing factor of the colonizers back into the picture. The sudden vanishing of light in this example also highlights the significance of the concepts of light and darkness in the story, and it suggests that the importance of moral code and conscience had been blown out at this juncture because darkness had taken over the Congo. This foreshadows that Marlow is about to enter the heart of darkness from this moment onward, encountering only those whose hearts have been hollowed out by the dark and those depraved and sick like Kurtz. This idea is strengthened by Conrads placement of Marlows interaction with the foreman...a good worker whose passion was pigeon-flying, as the last the morally intact man Marlow would meet after leaving Central Station. Conrad creates a vile and morbid atmosphere as he compares Marlows steamboat to a carcass of some big river animal and paints the smell of mud, of primeval mud...rank grass into the conversation between Marlow and the brickmaker. The comparison of something a pleasant as a boat to something as horrid as a carcass adds a creepy undertone to the interaction, which along with the disgusting imagery of mud, alerts the reader to the rank and murky affairs of the Company and the jungle. Conrad also implements darkness in this description with the phrases, black creek and sombre gap and black figures strolled about listlessly, to create a nefarious effect that implies an absence of energy or purpose in this lethargic and dank place.

Part IIPage 9250. Comment on the significant aspects of imagery and vocabulary choice in the introduction of Kurtz.51. Comment on the ways in which Conrad creates the tone of the extract Going up that riverhalf-a-crown a tumble. 52. Comment on the imagery and vocabulary choices made in the description of the earth and its inhabitants.The brick master says Kurtz is an emissary of pity and science and progress, and devil knows what else Europeans believe in superiority and triumph of the white man, which is exactly the image that Kurtz is putting forth. Mr. Kurtz has helped the Company become very profitable by sending in an abundant supply of ivory, thus making him worthy of praise, almost god-like worship similar to the natives' worship of foreign, unknown gods. Conrad proposes that there is more to Mr. Kurtz than many would suppose and he describes him as the half-caste, who, as far as I could see, had conducted a difficult trip with great prudence and pluck...alluded to as that scoundrel. Mr. Kurtz has transcended and become a leader among the natives, he has become a god not only to Europeans, but natives also; furthermore, this is important to Marlow because he has looked up to him as a model. The manager and his uncle are greedy men with goals only concerning themselves and their prosperity, so they do not want Mr. Kurtz ruining their opportunities by rising in status. In reality, Mr. Kurtz has become one of those savages. Marlow now faces a new desire to find Mr. Kurtz so as to solve the conflict between morality and ambition as shown by Kurtz's ambition of bringing in a lot of ivory while also immorally acquiring the labor of the natives. Conrad describes the Congo with the air was warm, thick, heavy, sluggish...no joy in the brilliance of sunshine, it was simply a place one would not enjoy spending an extended period of time in. Conrad, ironically, creates a dark tone despite the brilliance of sunshine. In the novel, Mr. Kurtz has become a savage after witnessing the effects of imperialism. Trying to right his wrong in taking part in imperialism, Mr. Kurtz becomes a savage to save their society and culture from destruction. This idea is expressed in a better way when Conrad writes, ...no joy in the brilliance of sunshine. Generally, sunshine is associated with a positive image. The fact that the sunshine doesnt seem as inviting as it normally should sheds light on the fact that the Europeans have irreparably changed the land. Marlow realizes that the imperialism of Africa has had almost the same effect on Mr. Kurtz as it has on him. Marlow paints an illustration of Africa being the primitive nature of Europe and how Europe is caught in immorality and darkness. The European view is that the Africans are uncivilized savages who would do anything for food. Conrad describes the Congo and its inhabitants as, ...twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing...a glimpse of rush walls, of peaked grass-roofs, a whirl of black limbs In other words, the Africans are described as cannibals because they are desperate for food and ultimately, European help, which Marlow does not believe is true. The typical men show no feeling because they are in the notion of making a quick buck in Africa by taking part in the expeditions to the Congo. Since these men dont pay attention to the destructive force of imperialism, they are affected by their trip at a later time in their lifetime. Instead, Marlow believes that Africans are normal people such as the Europeans and should be left alone. In this section, Marlow also makes note of the environment of the Congo. Early on itself, Marlow views the Congo as some force of darkness. In fact, he views it darker than the earlier stations. Marlow feels this view from the time he first witnesses Mr. Kurtz. Marlow makes intricate observations and describes Kurtz as The half-caste, who, as far as I could see, had conducted a difficult trip with great prudence and pluck...alluded to as that scoundrel. Marlow sees that the darkness of the Congo has affected him in a way that only Marlow could understand. This is the case because Marlow sees some of the visions that may have affected Mr. Kurtz. In a way, Marlow and Mr. Kurtz are the only humans because they show emotion towards the treatment of Africans and the imperialism of Africa. The European view is that the Africans are simply uncivilized savages who would do anything for food.

Page 9953. Explain the irony in to look at him was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat, walking on his hind legs. A few months of training had done for that really fine chap. 54. How is this juxtaposed with the description of the fireman? 55. Comment on the parallel aspects of humanity described in the line, Eat im! he said curtly, and leaning on his elbow on the rail, looked into the fog in a dignified and profoundly pensive attitude.The fireman is surprisingly a black man who worked on the ship and even though he works, Marlow still describes him with stereotypes such as "he ought to have been clapping his hands and stamping his feet on the bank". Marlow expects the native man to act one way from the stereotypes he chose to accept of the African men. Marlow believes that the native is just as susceptible to exploitation as he is and he can manipulate him just like the rest of the natives. The fireman "was hard at work...he was useful because had been instructed". Opposite to the "dog in a parody of breeches", the fireman actually sweated and fired up and watched the glass fearfully. The man realizes that there are grave consequences if he lets the water run out so he continues to ceaselessly work on it. This intense level of concentration is commendable yet he is still put down with jabs of his ethnicity. They compare the man to a dog that has been civilized. In reality, he is just like any other man but with a different skin color, even though he holds dear to his beliefs. This man is described as having animal like qualities, and Marlow despite his anger at the abuse of the natives as laborers, still believes the natives to be inferior to him. Despite acknowledgment of the darkness, Marlow still cannot completely change himself from his way of thinking. Through this, Conrad confirms that man is destined for darkness, we cannot run away from our identity we can simply understand it. Restraint now gone, the native say that they would eat the others without hesitation. At the end of the day, one can only go so long with an unmet desire before becoming mad and doing anything in their power to meet those needs. This hunger goes deeper than just physical hunger, it is the hunger of knowledge, the desire for peace, the quest for the unknown, a deep gnawing hunger simply for change. Every soul has this desire and it is only selfishness and our perceived 'humanity' that restrains us from making a difference, from sacrificing our own needs and desires for the ultimate betterment of the world. Although eating another human being causes one to be properly horrified, one must keep in mind that the Africans were human too and must be very hungry. Sometimes there comes a point when restraint is no longer possible, when instinct takes over and darkness robs one of their humanity. He must hold onto his dignity while he says the words that define him as a savage. Cannibalism is generally viewed as barbaric yet when there are no other options, the natives must stoop down to any level necessary in order to ensure basic survival. Food is an essential basis of life, despite the form it may arrive in. Every human must eat in order to live another day and the men must have been growing increasingly hungry for at least this month past. In the same way, man must keep expanding their mind and knowledge, not living in their own secluded world of darkness because that will surely lead to destruction.

Page 10556. Comment on the use and effect of animal imagery.Conrad uses words such as fed and gnawing to refer to the survival instinct of humans. Marlow then looks at the natives as you would on any human being, with a curiosity of their impulses, motives, capacities, weaknesses no fear can stand up to hunger. Marlow is talking about the restraint that animals cannot have. Marlow is able to keep his restraint because if the natives can restrain themselves, then he, a civilized man, should be able to also. Conrad is emphasizing the savagery of Europeans.He only emphasizes the Europeans because he believes there is darkness in civilization.Civilization has set morals that would consider it barbaric to eat the way the Europeans were eating. Europeans are described as regressing back into their primitive nature. The use of animal imagery in this section of the novel contributes to the rift between the Europeans and the Africans because it establishes the reason for the exploitation of the natives which is fueled by selfish desire. Conrad is thus emphasizing the doctors comment of men becoming scientifically interesting because of the darkness that encroaches in on their minds and robs them of sanity.Beginning page 11057. Describe and analyze the effect of the changing syntax in Conrads description of the attack on the boat. How does he increase the pace?Conrad increases the pace of the attack with words such as whizzing, abruptly, striking, and dropping. One thing that I noticed with Conrad was that he used a lot of gerunds and present progressive verbs to describe the attack. This increases the pace of the attack because the reader is able to perceive the images of the attack on the boat. The present progressive verbs add a sense of urgency to the action itself. I felt that the use of such verbs achieved its intended effect. Secondly, Conrad makes a distinction with, All this time the river, the shore, the woods, were very quiet--perfectly quiet. Conrad follows the description of the attack with this phrase. Conrad makes this distinction in pace to discuss the darkness of the Congo. The truth in the Congo is that there is actually no one at that station except Mr. Kurtz. No one goes to the deepest station because everyone believes that Mr. Kurtz can keep his steady influx of ivory a constant thing. The Africans attack because there are foreign people in the station. This is indicative of the darkness of the Congo because the attack reveals the impact the Africans have had on Mr. Kurtz. The morality of imperialism has impacted Mr. Kurtz in a way that he willing to do everything in his power to help the Africans. This is darkness because no one expected that Mr. Kurtz would change in this manner. Suddenly, the perfect image the Europeans had of Mr. Kurtz has broken into this view of a savage who has completely lost his mind.

Page 11358. How does Conrad use opposed images to describe Kurtz gifts? 59. How is the rivers dual presence described? Why? 61. How has Kurtz taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land?Kurtz gifts as described by Marlow are his gift of speech and his ability to attain more ivory than any other agent. Conrad describes Kurtz talent for collecting ivory as being illustrated by most men in tones of jealousy or admiration. His words on the other hand are at the same time bewildering yet illuminating and exalted yet contemptible. Once again the motif, heart of darkness arises contrasting with the pulsating stream of light. Kurtz uses his words to manipulate men in the face of adversity or celebration. Whatever the occasion, Kurtz twists his words to either deceive or distract them for his own purposes. He enlightens people sometimes with valuable words of wisdom that may in reality lead them onto the wrong path. To administer to his own gains, Kurtz may speak with great respect and veneration to a person of higher status in order to be in his favor yet belittle and stoop low to insult one who works against him. There is no real light in the dark region of the Congo, but Conrad describes the fabrications that Kurtz as a gift that gives the lost men phony purpose and relieves them of their pain. Most men may be charmed by the verbosity of his speech, yet Conrad portrays that even the fancy articulation may lie in the heart of an impenetrable darkness. Conrad describes the river as a ...devil-god There are 2 aspects to this belief: the devil aspect and the god aspect. The river is seen as a devil because it brings the truth of imperialism to light. The Congo River that they travel make Marlow completely aware of the situation in Africa right now. Marlow sees the river in the god perspective. The god perspective of the river would be that it is the source of truth. Europe has hidden the truth from the people of Europe. Some people such as Marlows aunt knew of the control Europe had over Africa, but no one ever knew about the treatment of Africans under the force of imperialism. Because of everyones preconceived ideas of Africa, Marlow formed his own idea of Africa. When he reached Africa, however, he realizes that his idea of Africa is completely false. Marlow is thankful for this revelation because he is able to understand the real world. The simple phrase devil-god encompasses the entirety of the rivers dual presence. The facets of darkness and light are once again explored. As a god, the river brings ivory and prospects of prosperity for the Europeans to explore. It is an essential part of European business a. Although the river provides sustenance trade to Africa, it is at the same time buried under the horrors of the events that come with the onslaught of people. The river is also the root cause of the imperialism in Africa. Without the river connecting the two worlds together, the Europeans would have deemed the colonization of Africa difficult, tiresome, and unnecessary. With the river, Africa becomes much more accessible and trade on this waterway is effortless and simple. At the beginning of the novel, Marlow witnesses a French steamer firing at nothing in Africa, he witnesses the chain gang being forced to work on the European railway, and he finally sees a heap of slaves on the verge of dying from the back-breaking work in the station. In a literal sense, the river was the reason for these scarring visions. Marlows fascination with the Congo reason is the devil here. Marlow always wanted to visit the river because of its intricacy to him. Most Europeans see the river in a devil perspective because they see the truth behind imperialism which scars them for the rest of their lives.He also realizes that the luxury in Europe is all an illusion; in the real world, it is all one man for himself. The Congo River helps Marlow reach this conclusion, which contributes to the god perspective of the river. Marlow also understands that societys outcasts are men who dont follow the status quo. Page 11460. Discuss significant aspects of the extract AbsurdVoices, voiceseven the girl herself now.The most significant aspect in this excerpt would be the idea that Mr. Kurtz has had a major impact on Marlow up till the present day. Marlow says, Of course I was wrong...The memory of that time itself lingers around me In this section, Marlow realizes the effect that Mr. Kurtz has had on him from the time that he met him. The syntax in this passage indicate that the memory of Mr. Kurtz is not the one that he expected. Before Marlow meets Mr. Kurtz, he expected that Mr. Kurtz would be voice of reason and help him understand his passion for Africa. Mr. Kurtz, however, not only offers a voice of reason, but he is also a living example of the effect Africa has on one person. Since this novel is told in the sense the Marlow is remembering his past experience as a sailor, Conrad foreshadows that Mr. Kurtz is going to haunt Marlow. Marlow sees Mr. Kurtz as a beacon of hope, but when Marlow realizes that he sees him as a, dying vibration of one...savage...without any kind of sense, Marlow understands the negativity that Africa brings. Marlow understands that imperialism has completely distorted the appeal that Africa has had in his mind. Mr. Kurtz is now a haunting memory for Marlow because he is the example of a person who has changed drastically as a result of the images of Africa. Although this idea is coming in the middle of the novel, Conrad has actually made a note of it since the beginning of the novel. All of Marlows visions with him seeing the French steamer, the chain gang, and the piles of dead bodies, all pointed to his discovery of Mr. Kurtz as one of the savages. These examples also pointed to the idea that Mr. Kurtz is a haunting memory for Marlow.Page 11762. What is the irony implicit in the names of society for whom Kurtz is writing his report?Conrad has a major irony when he describes Mr. Kurtzs report. Mr. Kurtz wrote his report for an organization called the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs. In other words, this organization was bent on limiting the influence and population of savages. The irony is the description that Marlow provides of Mr. Kurtz when he read through Mr. Kurtzs report for this society. Marlow says, But this must have been before his[presiding] at certain midnight dances ending with unspeakable rites... Conrad almost mocks the idea because of the obvious illogical connection. When Mr. Kurtz first reached Africa, he probably wrote this. In fact, I think that he came to Africa to write this report instead of helping the Company. As time passes, however, Mr. Kurtz undergoes this change that causes him to become a savage himself. Even though Mr. Kurtz becomes a full-fledged savage, he continues to write this report on the savagery of the Africans. I think that is why Conrad meant to write this situation as a form of dramatic irony because I think that Conrad foreshadowed this transformation in Mr. Kurtz at the beginning of this novel. Conrad makes the observation of Mr. Kurtz obvious by writing, ...a...note at the foot of the page...like a flash of lightning in a serene sky: Exterminate all the brutes! In this quote, the serene sky can be seen as Mr. Kurtz before his radical change because the rest of the report contains his eloquent phrases on the savagery of the Africans. The lightning is this footnote because it completely disrupts the image of Mr. Kurtz that everyone had. If one of us read through his report, we could see that something happened to Mr. Kurtz that caused him to write that footnote. The brutes are the Europeans because Mr. Kurtz feels that the Africans are some weak human beings that are being destroyed even more by the force of European imperialism. In this instance, Conrad points out the irony in the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs by referring to the report that Mr. Kutz wrote during his time in Africa.63. How is it that white men can appear as supernatural beings?White men could appear as supernatural beings according to the reasoning of Kurtz, who believes that white men were superior to colored individuals. Historical evidence