2. Heart of Darkness Content and Themes
Most simply described, “Heart of Darkness” is a novel about the experience of Marlow, a nomad with strong ties to Britain, as he travels throughout Africa and is especially involved with businesses with prominent ties to British imperialism (Kimmel 203). Marlow is somewhat difficult to describe, given his varied background and experiences. In some ways, he serves as a protagonist immune to the influences of cultures, although he, as a human, has of course been strongly shaped by his experiences. Marlow serves as the ideal character for comparing cultures based on his experiences and reflections alone. Also, any literary assessment of Marlow should include his role as cultural observer, although he can …show more content…
That is, there are several moments within the novel in which a character introspectively explores emotions, feelings, and attitudes outside of cultural influences, or at least known cultural influences. The stripping away of cultural influences to get at the heart of humanity, so to speak, allows the characters to better understand their own emotions and attitudes. “It takes a man all of his inborn strengths to fight hunger appropriately. It is easier to face bereavement, dishonor, and the perdition of one's soul than this kind of prolonged hunger. Sad, but true. And these chaps, also, had no earthly reason for any kind of scruple" (Conrad 58). Here, Marlow is reflecting on his own experiences with hunger and similar sufferings. Conrad is having Marlow connect with the indigenous populations through mutual suffering and shared experiences. Recalling his own battles with bodily desires and having insufficient resources, Marlow can relate to the populations that he sees. It is important to recognize that this raw look at humanity can be viewed as not a point of distinction or individuality, but a shared sense of humanity. Despite living in vastly different cultural and sociopolitical environments, Marlow was able to sympathize with African populations by relating to them through a shared experience of sorts. As mentioned earlier in the discussion on the psychological conception of individuality, empathy …show more content…
Conrad writes as Marlow, "Glamour urged him on and glamour kept him unscathed. He surely wanted nothing from the wild but space to breathe in and to push on through. His need was for existence and to move onwards at the greatest possible risk, and with a maximum of privation. If the absolute pure, uncalculating, unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human, it ruled this be patched youth. I almost envied him the possession of this modest and clear flame. It seemed to have consumed all thought of self so completely, that even while he was talking to you, you forgot that it was he, the man before your eyes, who had gone through these things" (Conrad 89). Again, this is a point in which Conrad returns to a conception of humanity as a binding force, forgotten or even replaced by culture. For Marlow, recognizing basic human needs is a source of connection between people. The reader can relate, especially since the reader views the work from Marlow’s perspective. Yet, there is a recognition that the British imperialists do not have such recognition, or at least some of them do not. This means that a part of their humanity has been abandoned in favor of materialism, power, or some other Western, upper-class
Most simply described, “Heart of Darkness” is a novel about the experience of Marlow, a nomad with strong ties to Britain, as he travels throughout Africa and is especially involved with businesses with prominent ties to British imperialism (Kimmel 203). Marlow is somewhat difficult to describe, given his varied background and experiences. In some ways, he serves as a protagonist immune to the influences of cultures, although he, as a human, has of course been strongly shaped by his experiences. Marlow serves as the ideal character for comparing cultures based on his experiences and reflections alone. Also, any literary assessment of Marlow should include his role as cultural observer, although he can …show more content…
That is, there are several moments within the novel in which a character introspectively explores emotions, feelings, and attitudes outside of cultural influences, or at least known cultural influences. The stripping away of cultural influences to get at the heart of humanity, so to speak, allows the characters to better understand their own emotions and attitudes. “It takes a man all of his inborn strengths to fight hunger appropriately. It is easier to face bereavement, dishonor, and the perdition of one's soul than this kind of prolonged hunger. Sad, but true. And these chaps, also, had no earthly reason for any kind of scruple" (Conrad 58). Here, Marlow is reflecting on his own experiences with hunger and similar sufferings. Conrad is having Marlow connect with the indigenous populations through mutual suffering and shared experiences. Recalling his own battles with bodily desires and having insufficient resources, Marlow can relate to the populations that he sees. It is important to recognize that this raw look at humanity can be viewed as not a point of distinction or individuality, but a shared sense of humanity. Despite living in vastly different cultural and sociopolitical environments, Marlow was able to sympathize with African populations by relating to them through a shared experience of sorts. As mentioned earlier in the discussion on the psychological conception of individuality, empathy …show more content…
Conrad writes as Marlow, "Glamour urged him on and glamour kept him unscathed. He surely wanted nothing from the wild but space to breathe in and to push on through. His need was for existence and to move onwards at the greatest possible risk, and with a maximum of privation. If the absolute pure, uncalculating, unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human, it ruled this be patched youth. I almost envied him the possession of this modest and clear flame. It seemed to have consumed all thought of self so completely, that even while he was talking to you, you forgot that it was he, the man before your eyes, who had gone through these things" (Conrad 89). Again, this is a point in which Conrad returns to a conception of humanity as a binding force, forgotten or even replaced by culture. For Marlow, recognizing basic human needs is a source of connection between people. The reader can relate, especially since the reader views the work from Marlow’s perspective. Yet, there is a recognition that the British imperialists do not have such recognition, or at least some of them do not. This means that a part of their humanity has been abandoned in favor of materialism, power, or some other Western, upper-class