Heart of Darkness
No summary, no dissecting out of a “subject”, is adequate to express the intention and significance of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”. The theme is not schematic; it is embodied in the metaphors, in the structural pattern, and the step-by-step flow of the narration. However, Conrad does have one identifiable chief concern. As he himself stated in a letter to F. N. Doubleday on June 2, 1924: “I think that an author who tries to ‘explain’ is exposing himself to a very great risk-the risk of confessing himself a failure. For a work of art should speak for itself. Yet much could be said on the other side; for it is also clear that a work of art is not a logical demonstration carrying its intention on the face of it.” “Heart of Darkness” has it significant public side, as a heated document on illogical and brutal exploitation. It may be read merely to shock, yet it is evidence of things seen and done. To attempt to understand the purpose of the story, it is important to first closely evaluate Marlow’s character. One would think that Marlow is merely the obvious medium through which we examine the exploitation of the Congo natives and the degradation of Mr. Kurtz, the ‘hollow man’. However, “Heart of Darkness” is above . . .
It concerns Marlow and his journey toward and through certain aspects or potentialities of self. The Inner Station was the farthest point of his experience. Marlow states that he had turned to wilderness and not to Kurtz. The principle in Marlow’s interview with Kurtz’s Intended does not consist in Marlow’s feelings toward her or in the discrepancy between her opinion of Kurtz, but rather in the acceptance of darkness by a messenger of light. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** . Acclaiming light, he faces darkness; but a mounting conviction that the darkness of Kurtz and the forest may be his own or that in their internal and external perplexity, he can no longer tell light from dark is reason for concern and uncertainty. It also presents the closely related theme of light versus dark, or white versus black. His last words, said Marlow, were the young woman’s name. But even this light is vague-as her black dress implies. The theme of civilization versus savagery is significant, and begins almost immediately. It seemed somehow to throw a kind of light on everything about me-and into my thoughts. Ultimately, it becomes evident that his real journey has been to the center of the human soul. all concerned with the influence of the country and of Kurtz on Marlow. His de! fense of Kurtz out of loyalty to what is perhaps his own faulty idea of light amounts to defense of darkness and identification with Kurtz. At the climax, Marlow follows Kurtz ashore, confounds the beat of the drum with the beating of his heart, goes through the nightmare of looking into Kurtz’s mad soul and brings him back to the ship.
Common topics in this essay:
Marlow Civilization, Inner Station, Kurtz Marlow, Kurtz Marlows, Kurtzs Intended, Heart Darkness, Darkness Marlow, Doubleday June, , light dark, heart darkness, Conrad Marlow, kurtz words, marlow character, dark light, looking marlow, kurtz marlow, light darkness, light light, |
Acceptance Essays
