Duality In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
Published in 1899 and centered on a time of racism and imperialism, Heart of Darkness serves as a relic of author Joseph Conrad's own experiences of such as he voyaged upon the Congo River in Africa in 1890. Reflective of the culture surrounding that time period, Heart of Darkness raises questions about racism and morality. Though these questions are never explicitly answered, through the story it can be inferred that the characters and actions they take part in or are bystanders to are far from moral.
Though The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published 13 years before, a few themes brought up in Heart of Darkness are tied to that of the initial. For example, the theme of human nature and its duality in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde …show more content…
Is there a "sound" way to use an elephant for its ivory? Put simply, no. However, delving even deeper than that, these "unsound methods" may refer to the fact that Kurtz has swayed the natives enough that they worship him as a God and thus, work for him. The fact that Marlow worships Kurtz and puts him on such a pedestal says far more about him than anything.
Thus, we can conclude that Marlow is not a man of much morality. Though he is taken aback by the severed heads adorning the posts and the mistreatment taking place, he does virtually nothing to stop it. As for his obsession with Kurtz, it speaks volumes of Marlow's ethics and morals. He is a man obsessed with another man who is obsessed with obtaining the most ivory possible.
However, the dualities within characters make it difficult to decipher what stance other characters in the book take on Marlow and Kurtz, mainly Kurtz. Were the natives sad that he died? Or did they feel an overwhelming sense of relief? Was it immoral of Marlow to lie to Kurtz' Intended? Did he feel guilty for it? Or would it have caused her more pain to know the …show more content…
My woman disagreed, perhaps why so many times before I had gone so confidently to tell his Intended then retreated just as fast. She did not want me to disrupt his Intended's peace. It was a fair point, and why I had lied to her in the first place. I could not stand to break her heart even more.
However, as I pondered on it more and more over the years I began to reevaluate my decision. Imagine what it would be like to live such a sorrowful life based on a lie. She had a false perception of him to begin with, and I had only added to the cause. She was still mourning, and if Kurtz were alive he could not have cared less. Pitiful.
So, on a cold and windy December morning I turned up at her door. I was going to tell her every detail- his last words and the false image of him she had held so beloved. As she opened it, she was immediately taken aback. From her black trench pulled tightly around her to the shudder of her spine I could tell she was still grieving, and I had only brought more memories flooding
Though The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published 13 years before, a few themes brought up in Heart of Darkness are tied to that of the initial. For example, the theme of human nature and its duality in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde …show more content…
Is there a "sound" way to use an elephant for its ivory? Put simply, no. However, delving even deeper than that, these "unsound methods" may refer to the fact that Kurtz has swayed the natives enough that they worship him as a God and thus, work for him. The fact that Marlow worships Kurtz and puts him on such a pedestal says far more about him than anything.
Thus, we can conclude that Marlow is not a man of much morality. Though he is taken aback by the severed heads adorning the posts and the mistreatment taking place, he does virtually nothing to stop it. As for his obsession with Kurtz, it speaks volumes of Marlow's ethics and morals. He is a man obsessed with another man who is obsessed with obtaining the most ivory possible.
However, the dualities within characters make it difficult to decipher what stance other characters in the book take on Marlow and Kurtz, mainly Kurtz. Were the natives sad that he died? Or did they feel an overwhelming sense of relief? Was it immoral of Marlow to lie to Kurtz' Intended? Did he feel guilty for it? Or would it have caused her more pain to know the …show more content…
My woman disagreed, perhaps why so many times before I had gone so confidently to tell his Intended then retreated just as fast. She did not want me to disrupt his Intended's peace. It was a fair point, and why I had lied to her in the first place. I could not stand to break her heart even more.
However, as I pondered on it more and more over the years I began to reevaluate my decision. Imagine what it would be like to live such a sorrowful life based on a lie. She had a false perception of him to begin with, and I had only added to the cause. She was still mourning, and if Kurtz were alive he could not have cared less. Pitiful.
So, on a cold and windy December morning I turned up at her door. I was going to tell her every detail- his last words and the false image of him she had held so beloved. As she opened it, she was immediately taken aback. From her black trench pulled tightly around her to the shudder of her spine I could tell she was still grieving, and I had only brought more memories flooding