Heart Of Darkness Identity Essay

“An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the person faces and uses his experience.” -James Baldwin. Authors such as Joseph Conrad, Binyavanga Wainaina, Countee Cullen, and Edward D. Morel establish Baldwin’s point in that one arrives at their identity based upon how they overcome challenges and utilize their experiences to their advantage. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness Marlow recalls his past in Africa. While Marlow traveled down the Congo River he overcame several obstacles, all of which contributed to his current identity by making him stronger as a person. For example on page 34 Marlow says “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern wheel flopped languidly, (...) for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment. It was like watching the last flickers of a life. But still we crawled.” Marlow came across many things on the Congo that he would not have imagined seeing in his life before Africa. Marlow’s endeavors only made him stronger and expanded his view of the world. Marlow’s new outlook on life changed his identity. He …show more content…
Morel discussed how white people continue to mistreat black people but they have become used to it. “Pile on the Black Man’s burden, His back is broad though sore; What though the weight oppress him, He’s borne like that before (...)” (Morel 537). In this quote, Morel uses the black man's back as a metaphor for all the cruelty and stress pushed upon him and is figuratively resting on his back. Morel says “He’s borne like that before” to show that the black man is used to this and can survive it because it has been forced upon him before. The black man has gained toughness through his experience and it has contributed to his identity. The struggles and challenges black people have faced whether it has been slavery, discrimination, or abuse have made them tougher and Morel wants to convey that in this