"Men! The only animal in the world to fear" (Lawrence). This quote by D.H. Lawrence makes a statement about the fact that man is capable of the most heinous and despicable acts. Though man is not an animal, he is inclined to be much more cruel than any other living thing. Humans have a moral guideline to live by, but throughout many generations, they have proved themselves to be less than civilized. By way of example, in his novel, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad illustrates how man can truly behave without any restraint or modal guideline when placed in a less than human environment. Conrad 's novel truly shows the journey of mans heart and when they are placed in an environment of evil and cruelty. In his novel, Conrad uses the literary
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One such example of an external conflict is the way the natives were treated by the Company in order to get ivory. This conflict between the Company and the natives shows how desperate they were to get ivory and how blind they were to the evil they were partaking in. This exhibits the darkness in people 's hearts and how they can become unconscious to their surroundings. "They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now, nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish room" (Conrad 14). This depicts the way the natives were no longer viewed as human. Rather, they were viewed as mere shadows of desperate humanity devoid of a soul. Furthermore, there is another conflict in the novel between Marlow and the Manager. Marlow continued to believe Kurtz was a remarkable man even after he saw the evil he was capable of. The darkness of the jungle had taken over Kurtz as well as Marlow. Marlow became so desensitized to what Kurtz was a part of and truly thought of him as being above reproach. "Nevertheless I think Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man, I said with emphasis. He started, dropped on me a cold heavy glance, said very quickly, 'he was, ' and turned his back on me" (Conrad 57). This creates a conflict between Marlow and Manager because the Manager no longer trusts …show more content…
Both men 's characters were transformed on their journey in the Congo. Marlow is a tough, honest, fiercely independent man. Yet he also seems weary at times and cynical. He initially sees the natives as being exploited by the white men as he takes on the assignment of finding Kurtz. He is horrified by their treatment. "I 've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! these were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men-men, I tell you" (Conrad 13). Gradually, he realizes there is little he can do about the tragic situation with the natives. Marlow becomes desensitized to the horrors around him. In the desensitizing process, Marlow 's heart is darkened. Kurtz is highly gifted but tragically flawed. He embodies the heart of darkness in that he is devoid of substance. Marlow often refers to Kurtz as hallow. He takes his success in the company and turns it into greed. "You should have heard him say, 'My ivory. ' Oh, yes, I heard him. 'My Intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my— ' everything" (Conrad 44). Kurtz is completely blinded by his ambition. Nothing else matter to him. This results in him becoming like an animal, who lives with no
One such example of an external conflict is the way the natives were treated by the Company in order to get ivory. This conflict between the Company and the natives shows how desperate they were to get ivory and how blind they were to the evil they were partaking in. This exhibits the darkness in people 's hearts and how they can become unconscious to their surroundings. "They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now, nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish room" (Conrad 14). This depicts the way the natives were no longer viewed as human. Rather, they were viewed as mere shadows of desperate humanity devoid of a soul. Furthermore, there is another conflict in the novel between Marlow and the Manager. Marlow continued to believe Kurtz was a remarkable man even after he saw the evil he was capable of. The darkness of the jungle had taken over Kurtz as well as Marlow. Marlow became so desensitized to what Kurtz was a part of and truly thought of him as being above reproach. "Nevertheless I think Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man, I said with emphasis. He started, dropped on me a cold heavy glance, said very quickly, 'he was, ' and turned his back on me" (Conrad 57). This creates a conflict between Marlow and Manager because the Manager no longer trusts …show more content…
Both men 's characters were transformed on their journey in the Congo. Marlow is a tough, honest, fiercely independent man. Yet he also seems weary at times and cynical. He initially sees the natives as being exploited by the white men as he takes on the assignment of finding Kurtz. He is horrified by their treatment. "I 've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! these were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men-men, I tell you" (Conrad 13). Gradually, he realizes there is little he can do about the tragic situation with the natives. Marlow becomes desensitized to the horrors around him. In the desensitizing process, Marlow 's heart is darkened. Kurtz is highly gifted but tragically flawed. He embodies the heart of darkness in that he is devoid of substance. Marlow often refers to Kurtz as hallow. He takes his success in the company and turns it into greed. "You should have heard him say, 'My ivory. ' Oh, yes, I heard him. 'My Intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my— ' everything" (Conrad 44). Kurtz is completely blinded by his ambition. Nothing else matter to him. This results in him becoming like an animal, who lives with no