Heart of Darkness

An Introduction

Impressionism

                                                                                                                                         

                

Why the Blurriness?

• For modern novelists, the messiness and confusion and darkness of experience is interesting.

Why the Blurriness?

• Novelists are in the business of recreating and communicating the rich complexities of the experience itself.

• Their purpose is to get the reader to re-live an experience, with all its complexity and messiness, all its darkness and ambiguity.

Historical ContextKing Leopold II

• In 1878, King Leopold II of Belgium aspired to establish a In 1878, King Leopold II of Belgium aspired to establish a Belgian colony in the Congo. He had outposts set along Belgian colony in the Congo. He had outposts set along the Congo River. the Congo River. Leopold II described his motives to the Leopold II described his motives to the rest of Europe as springing from a desire to end slavery in rest of Europe as springing from a desire to end slavery in the Congo and civilize the natives, but his actual desires the Congo and civilize the natives, but his actual desires were for material gain.were for material gain. Leopold II, who was to be sole ruler Leopold II, who was to be sole ruler of this land, never set foot in the Congo Free State. of this land, never set foot in the Congo Free State. Instead, he formed a company, called simply “the Instead, he formed a company, called simply “the Company” in Company” in Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness, that ran the country for , that ran the country for himhim..

Belgian Atrocities in the Congo

• The Belgian traders The Belgian traders committed many committed many well-documented well-documented acts of atrocity acts of atrocity against the African against the African natives, including the natives, including the severing of hands severing of hands and heads. and heads.

The Ivory Trade

• In 1892, Leopold II declared all In 1892, Leopold II declared all natural resources in the Congo natural resources in the Congo Free State to be his property. Free State to be his property. This meant the Belgians could This meant the Belgians could stop dealing with African traders stop dealing with African traders and simply take what they and simply take what they wanted themselves. As a wanted themselves. As a consequence, Belgian traders consequence, Belgian traders pushed deeper into Africa in pushed deeper into Africa in search of new sources of ivory, search of new sources of ivory, setting up stations all along the setting up stations all along the Congo River..Congo River..

Joseph Conrad

► In adulthood Conrad In adulthood Conrad became a British became a British merchant sailor and merchant sailor and eventually a master eventually a master mariner in 1886.mariner in 1886.

► He traveled widely in He traveled widely in the east.the east.

► He took on a stint as a He took on a stint as a steamer captain (1890) steamer captain (1890) in the Congo, but in the Congo, but became ill within three became ill within three months and had to months and had to leave.leave.

Conrad’s BiographyConrad’s Biography► After his illness, After his illness,

Conrad retired from Conrad retired from sailing and took up sailing and took up writing full time.writing full time.

► Writing took a Writing took a physical and physical and emotional toll on emotional toll on Conrad. He Conrad. He considered his considered his writing experiences writing experiences draining.draining.

Background Background continued…continued…

► While traveling from Boma, he met Roger While traveling from Boma, he met Roger Casement who told Conrad stories of the Casement who told Conrad stories of the harsh treatment of Africans in the colonies.harsh treatment of Africans in the colonies.

► Conrad saw some of the most shocking and Conrad saw some of the most shocking and depraved examples of human corruption depraved examples of human corruption he’d ever witnessed. He was disgusted by he’d ever witnessed. He was disgusted by the ill treatment of the natives, the scramble the ill treatment of the natives, the scramble for loot, the terrible heat and the lack of for loot, the terrible heat and the lack of water. water.

► He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many were bodies of men from the chain - many were bodies of men from the chain gangs building the railroads. gangs building the railroads.

What is the book about What is the book about anyway?anyway?

seafaring river boating trade and exploration imperialism and colonialism race relations the attempt to find meaning in the universe while trying to get at the mysteries of the subconscious mind

Frame StoryFrame Story

►The novella opens with a frame story in The novella opens with a frame story in which the unnamed narrator and four which the unnamed narrator and four companions aboard the a ship named the companions aboard the a ship named the NellieNellie are sailing the Thames River. To pass are sailing the Thames River. To pass the time, one of the men, Charlie Marlow, the time, one of the men, Charlie Marlow, describes his experiences as a steamboat describes his experiences as a steamboat captain for a European trading company captain for a European trading company with outposts in Africa. Our anonymous with outposts in Africa. Our anonymous narrator occasionally intrudes on Marlow’s narrator occasionally intrudes on Marlow’s narrative and comments on it.narrative and comments on it.

Narrative StructureNarrative Structure

► Framed NarrativeFramed Narrative Narrator beginsNarrator begins Marlow takes overMarlow takes over Narrator breaks in occasionallyNarrator breaks in occasionally

► Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego; Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego;

► Marlow recounts his tale while he is on a Marlow recounts his tale while he is on a small vessel on the Thames with some small vessel on the Thames with some drinking buddies who are ex-merchant drinking buddies who are ex-merchant seamen. As he recounts his story, the group seamen. As he recounts his story, the group sits in an all-encompassing darkness and sits in an all-encompassing darkness and passes around the bottle. passes around the bottle.

Conflicts, Themes, Conflicts, Themes, Symbols, & MotifsSymbols, & Motifs

►Light vs. DarkLight vs. Dark►Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery►RacismRacism►Search for IdentitySearch for Identity►Effects of ImperialismEffects of Imperialism►Hypocrisy of ImperialismHypocrisy of Imperialism► Individual ResponsibilityIndividual Responsibility►Absurdity of evilAbsurdity of evil

► "Darkness" - by which he means excess, "Darkness" - by which he means excess, madness, destruction, nihilism - is not only in madness, destruction, nihilism - is not only in the jungle but everywhere - "even" in London, the jungle but everywhere - "even" in London, then the heart of the empire and colonialism.then the heart of the empire and colonialism.

► Characters:Characters:

MarlowMarlow is a flawed hero - for most of the is a flawed hero - for most of the book he lacks insight and is uncertain of book he lacks insight and is uncertain of the nature of his own quest, nor is it clear the nature of his own quest, nor is it clear why he is obsessed by Kurtz. why he is obsessed by Kurtz.

KurtzKurtz himself remains an enigma. This himself remains an enigma. This quest yields an empty prize: the mystery, quest yields an empty prize: the mystery, the task, remains incomplete, "unsolved."the task, remains incomplete, "unsolved."

Key Facts• Time and Place Written: England, 1898–1899; inspired by

Conrad’s journey to the Congo in 1890

• Date of First Publication: Published in 1902

• Narrator: There are two narrators: an anonymous passenger on a pleasure ship, who listens to Marlow’s story, and Marlow himself, a middle-aged ship’s captain.

• Point of View: The first narrator speaks in the first-person plural, on behalf of four other passengers who listen to Marlow’s tale. Marlow narrates his story in the first person, describing only what he witnesses and experiences, and provides his own commentary on the story.

Tone: Ambivalent: Marlow is disgusted at the brutality of the Company and horrified by Kurtz’s degeneration, but he claims that any thinking man would be tempted into similar behavior.

Setting (time): Latter part of the nineteenth century, probably sometime between 1876 and 1892

Setting (place): Opens on the Thames River outside London, where Marlow is telling the story that makes up Heart of Darkness. Events of the story take place in Brussels, at the Company’s offices, and in the Congo, then a Belgian territory.Protagonist: Charlie Marlow

Major Conflict: Both Marlow and Kurtz confront a conflict between their images of themselves as “civilized” Europeans and the temptation to abandon morality completely once they leave the context of European society.

Rising Action: The brutality Marlow witnesses in the Company’s employees, the rumors he hears that Kurtz is a remarkable man, and the numerous examples of Europeans breaking down mentally or physically in the environment of Africa.

Climax: Marlow’s discovery, upon reaching the Inner Station.

Falling Action: Marlow’s acceptance of responsibility for Kurtz’s legacy, Marlow’s encounters with Company officials and Kurtz’s family and friends, Marlow’s visit to Kurtz’s “Intended.”

PATTERNS OF “THREE”PATTERNS OF “THREE”

Note the following patterns in your books:Note the following patterns in your books:► Three chaptersThree chapters► Three times Marlow breaks the storyThree times Marlow breaks the story► Three stations Three stations ► Three women (Aunt, Mistress, Intended)Three women (Aunt, Mistress, Intended)► Three central characters (Kurtz, Marlow, Three central characters (Kurtz, Marlow,

Narrator)Narrator)► Three characters with namesThree characters with names► Three views of Africa (political, religious, Three views of Africa (political, religious,

economic)economic)

Order in the midst of ChaosHOD’s Structure

• Three: – Chapters– Marlow breaks off story 3 times – Stations– Women – Central Characters

• Frame Narrative • Light and Dark• Transformation

Questions to Consider as you Read:

• What does it mean to be savage?

• Civilized?

• What are the different meanings of the words “dark” and “light”?

• Why do people choose to do good?

• Evil?