Essay on Heart of Darkness - 981 Words

Heart of Darkness The nightmare of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is found in its stark portrayal of madness under the influence of an environment filled with desolation. Its protagonist, Mr. Kurtz, was raised amongst civilized people, adapted virtues that were regarded proper in society during the Victorian era, yet when he travels into the Congo, where these qualities are of no consequence, he abandons them to become wild. To understand how Kurtz fell to this emotional corruptness, a reader must be aware of three main elements that caused his disillusionment: power, greed, and isolation. When Kurtz was living in England, he was a follower of the island’s ruling party and conducted tasks amongst the supervision of its†¦show more content†¦When Marlow arrives to bring Kurtz back to civilization, the ivory trader has become supreme ruler over most of the lands inhabitants and has brainwashed the people into following his whims. As Kurtz’s maniacal boat mate states, â€Å"they adored him†(277). How he gained power over the natives is expressed through his ruthless treatment of traitors by putting their heads on stakes and his disregard of implementing English customs and well-bred indoctrination into the mindset of his people. Instead, he encourages savagery for he understands people bred from the wild will only follow those who enforce nature’s unwritten code. He grows so favorable towards his position as ruler over the jungle that when he discovers Marlow is coming to take him back to civilization, a place where he has no control, h e tries to stop him, and dispatches natives to massacre all the passengers on the steamer. Marlow survives the onslaught and takes Kurtz away from a place he believes has deranged the man’s mind, but has actually offered him a gift so many people seek in life: control over the masses. Ivory in an insurmountable supply creates greediness in Kurtz. He is renown amongst the Congo for his expertise in the ivory trade and no one can match his production. Boatloads of the valuable commodity are sent downstream bringing him handsome profits, yet when he has achieved financial success the glamour of wealth becomes false to him. He begins to see his business not through what he can getShow MoreRelatedHeart of Darkness1958 Words   |  8 PagesSTUDY GUIDE Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness Each detail to which your attention is drawn by the Study Guide is part of the puzzle of Heart of Darkness. It is important to notice the details, to ponder them, to see how patterns repeat themselves, and to see how the pieces fit together. Marlows journey and your reading about the journey require constant alertness, discipline, patience, and a willingness to look for what is not immediately apparent. Section 1 A. The Thames Setting 1. NoticeRead More The Darkness of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness1235 Words   |  5 PagesThe Light and Dark of Colonialism in Heart of Darkness      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the opening of his novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad, through Marlow, establishes his thoughts on colonialism. He says that conquerors only use brute force, nothing to boast of because it arises, by accident, from anothers weakness. Marlow compares his subsequent tale of colonialism with that of the Roman colonization of Northern Europe and the fascination associated with such an endeavor. However, Marlow challenges this viewpointRead MoreThe Meaning Of Heart Of Darkness Essay1138 Words   |  5 PagesNishi Natalia AP Literature Comp The Meaning of Heart of Darkness Although, as a society, we discourage the process of not judging a book by its cover, we have all been guilty of doing it at some point. The first item we look at when we pick up a new book is the title and the cover as a whole. These are two key components when it comes to using our heuristics to decide if a book is worthwhile reading or not. With only two items to judge by, each has to hold significant importance in orderRead MoreHeart of Darkness Essay1068 Words   |  5 Pages1. Some critics believe that in Heart of Darkness Conrad illustrates how ‘’the darkness of the landscape can lead to the darkness of the social corruption.† This statement means that if the environment is dark, then the people in that environment will match the surrounding feeling, which is dark and depressing. For example, if it is a gloomy rainy day, most people feel tired and not as happy. If it is a bright sunny day, the most people feel motivated to get things done and joyful . Yes, thisRead MoreHeart of Darkness Paper984 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is an intriguing and extremely disturbing portrayal of mans surrender to his carnal nature when all external trappings of civilization are removed. This novel excellently portrays the shameful ways in which the Europeans exploited the Africans: physically, socially, economically, and spiritually. Throughout the nineteenth century, Europeans treated their African counterparts savagely. They were beaten, driven from their homes, and enslaved. Heart of DarknessRead MoreEssay on Heart of Darkness1208 Words   |  5 PagesJoseph Conrads The Heart of Darkness is a dark and haunting tale about the search for a substantial and mysteriously powerful man named Mr. Kurtz. Heart of Darkness centers around Marlow, a sailor and also narrator of the novella. Throughout the work, Conrad uses an array of literary devices to suggest his style of writing. The title of the work itself, The Heart of Darkness, is an example of the use of metaphor. Darkness is a significant part of the books title conceptually. However, it isRead More Heart of Darkness Essay941 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness Darkness permeates every circumstance, scene, and character in Joseph Conrads novella, Heart of Darkness. Darkness symbolizes the moral confusion that Charlie Marlow encounters, as well as the moral reconciliation he has within himself while searching for Kurtz. Marlows morals are challenged numerous times throughout the book; on the Congo river and when he returns to Brussels. Charlie Marlow characterizes the behavior of the colonialists with, The flabby, pretendingRead MoreEssay on Heart of Darkness934 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness The dark thoughts, which are usually ignored and not allowed to be brought up in conversation, are pushed back into the remote corners of the mind, but have the ability to run free when man is in his most vulnerable state. Sleep, the unconscious. It is in dreams where twisted stories of malevolence and horror take place. The soul’s core is full of sin from the first minute man is born. Even Adam, the original man, who was born when the earth began its timeline, has sin runningRead MoreHeart of Darkness Essay4410 Words   |  18 PagesThe Visions of Light Vs Darkness When Joseph Conrad composed Heart of Darkness he created a literary masterpiece which embodied the essence of light contrasting with darkness. Throughout the novel Conrad constantly utilizes the images of light and dark and uses them to mold a vision, which the reader is then able to use to decipher the literal and metaphorical meanings of the novel. As Conrad said, my task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word to make you hear, toRead MoreAnalysis Of Heart Of Darkness 1331 Words   |  6 PagesHeart of Darkness is about the dark effects of imperialism in Africa; the Englishmen wish to colonize in Africa with the purpose of taking their ivory. Charlie Marlow, who works as a sailor in the company of ivory trading. Marlow meets a man named Kurtz, the best-selling agent, during his journey to the Congo. In Heart of Darkness, the characters Marlow, Kurtz helps portray the theme. Marlow’s actions during his journey to the Congo in Africa develops his personality by revealing his character.