The nineteenth century corresponds to the scramble for Africa and to the birth of colonialism. During that period, a lot of writers, philosophers and explorers emerged. Among them, there were Joseph Conrad and Stanley. In their writings, their main claim is that Africa is a jungle where live “savages” but also an unhistorical part of the world. Indeed, throughout their texts, there are a lot of animalistic, pejorative and inhuman terms used to qualify Africans. For instance, Stanley points out…
quickly learned that there was more going on then that. Marlowe morals changed drastically throughout the book and not in the best of ways. Conrads novel, heart of darkness he uses the literary elements of symbolism, conflict, and characterization to illustrate the theme that what humans are surrounded by darkness they can become blind to the truth. Conrad uses various types of symbols throughout the novel to illustrate the theme. For…
“ Nature and Our Innate Destructive and Primitive Qualities” On The Road by John Kerouac explores the spiritual and physical experience of his narrator, Sal Paradise, travelling with his friends in a post-war era imbuing the spirit of anti-conformity and rejection of materialism. Sal Paradise, along with Dean who is a very close friend, explore America through hitch-hiking, reckless behavior, and moments of brief and unusual stability in their lives where they settle down. John Kerouac uses Sal…
In Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, the motif of antiquity runs consistently and purposefully throughout the story. Conrad explores antiquity in order to address the recurring themes of civilization, savagery, and what exactly separates the two. The references of ancient civilization are made through the use of allusion, comparing central figures of the story to central figures of the stories in Greek mythology. These allusions prove significant as they parallel themes running throughout the…
Have you ever wondered the difference between human and humane? In the story Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, right off the bat the reader is hit with the problem of the “nature of man”, and what it means to be human or humane. To be human means to have a sense of mind, to be living, and be at peace in mind. However, to be humane means to be gentle compassionate, caring, and have sympathy. It is often pondered that to be human means to be humane, however as Marlow learned on his travels…
As the day began a slimmer of light pierced his eye and as he awoke covered in sand and scrap. Wilson had looked around and saw that he was surrounded in a deserted wasteland of water and left ashore with the remains of his shattered boat. As Wilson arose he looked at the remains of his boat. And saw a glimmer of light bounce off a small rusted red trunk. Wilson came to the trunk and with a loud creek the trunk opened. The trunk held a hatchet with rust around the edges along with the tool came…
In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad explores the evilness that imperialism breeds by believing that one’s ideas, culture, and religion are superior of that of another. Not only does Conrad criticize the concept of imperialism by questioning the intentions behind imperialism to justify the murder, rape, and pillaging that actually ensues in the imperialistic process that's goal is actually to rob the native Congo of natural resources, namely ivory and make a great deal of money doing so, all the…
Cultural, personal and social discoveries or rediscoveries for an individual can lead to new understandings and renewed perceptions of the world, others and oneself. It is indeed through the challenges and adversities that meaning and transformation can be derived. In The Tempest, William Shakespeare reveals how a discovery can lead to a new-found identity, position and view on society. Whilst, in A Hanging, George Orwell reveals how a sudden discovery can challenge the perspective of colonisers…
Different writers of psychological horror have demonstrated how the negative thought processes, if allowed to prevail, can damage one’s self-esteem and even lead to further isolations and feelings of paranoia (Jarrett 813). Joseph Conrad and Francis Ford Coppola Conrad in their works “Heart of Darkness” and “Apocalypse Now” demonstrate sing real life stories the impact isolation can have on one’s life story. These two stories concentrate generally on the possible negative effect of isolation. A…
Throughout life, people are faced with choices that lead them to goodness and light, or allow them to stray towards evil and darkness. In “Heart of Darkness,” by Joseph Conrad, a young seaman, Marlow, begins working for an ivory company in Africa. Early on, Marlow is compared to a man named Kurtz who works for the company, too. Marlow looks forward to meeting him as they travel on the river to the inner station where he works. However, Marlow begins to see the truth behind what the company is…