Joseph Conrad

Life and Work

Early life-Family Background

• Patriotic,noble family

• His father was a writer and influenced him

• He did not speak English fluently until 20

• Romanticism,precursor of modernist literature

• Joseph Conrad+Jessie George= 2 sons:John and Borys.

Criticism

• Chinua Achebe’s essay

• Conrad seen as a “thoroughgoing racist”

• Debates caused by the essay

The Book

General Facts

Author: Joseph Conrad

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Genre: Novella

Publisher: Blackwood’s Magazine

Publication date: 1902

• Dark side of Belgian colonization

• 2 tasks: -Ivory

-bringing back Kurtz

• 3 main ideas: -Congo wilderness

-cruel treatment of the natives

-darkness within every human being for committing evil acts

The Plot• Charlie Marlow works for a

Belgian trading company• His journey to Africa• There meets Kurtz• Discover the rough life the

native inhabitants live• Spend time with Kurt• Kurt, eventually dies

The Characters Charlie Marlow

Kurtz

• General manager • Pilgrims • Russian trader• Kurtz’s African mistress• Kurtz’s Intended

ThemesMadness as a Result of

Imperialism

The Absurdity of Evil

Motifs & Symbols

• Interiors and Exteriors • Darkness

• Fog• Women• The River

MovieIt was made In 1993

Directed by Nicolas RoegStars: Tim Roth and John Malkovich