Heart Of Darkness
THEMES IN HEART OF DARKNESS
1. GOOD VS EVIL
Much of Heart of Darkness is concerned with Marlow’s struggle to maintain his sense of morality as power conspiracies rage all around him and the mysterious figure of Kurtz piques his curiosity. Marlow’s desire to do good grows increasingly futile as he is plunged into a world where no absolute goodness exists and the best he can do is choose between a selection of nightmares. Eventually, we see that the characters become unable to distinguish between good and evil. Conrad illustrates this moral ambiguity with light and darkness imagery that often blends together, yet is imbued with an overall inevitably sinister shade.
Questions About Good vs. Evil
Does Conrad seem to have clear definitions …show more content…
The conventional use of white as good and black as evil is clearly challenged when we view it through the lens of race, particularly when we see white men brutally subjugating and forcing black Africans into hard labor simply for profit. The Europeans justify their mistreatment of the Africans with claims of "spreading civilization," of helping Africans become "enlightened." This, in itself, is a form of prejudice – a denial of the Africans’ traditional lifestyle and culture.
Questions About Race
How are the differences between white and black people depicted in Heart of Darkness? What kinds of activities does each group participate in?
How does light and dark imagery apply racially? What does this say morally about each group of people as portrayed in Heart of Darkness?
What kinds of white European expectations does Marlow bring into his journey up the Congo? How are they dispelled? Look specifically at the examples of the accountant, manager, brickmaker, and Kurtz. What is Marlow’s attitude towards the native Africans?
How is Kurtz’s attitude towards the black Africans ambiguous? How might he be viewed as the ultimate symbol of imperialism and black subjugation? Alternatively, how might he be read as the exact …show more content…
One, with his chin propped on his knees, stared at nothing, in an intolerable and appalling manner: his brother phantom rested its forehead, as if overcome with a great weariness; and all about others were scattered in every pose of contorted collapse, as in some picture of a massacre or a pestilence. While I stood horror-struck, one of these creatures rose to his hands and knees, and went off on all-fours towards the river to drink. He lapped out of his hand, then sat up in the sunlight, crossing his shins in front of him, and after a time let his woolly head fall on his breastbone." (1.41)
Marlow, like most of the white men, does not see the black Africans as complete human beings. His language here proves that. He describes the slaves as objects, ghosts, or through animal imagery: "acute angles," "phantom," "creature," "woolly head."
Quote
1. GOOD VS EVIL
Much of Heart of Darkness is concerned with Marlow’s struggle to maintain his sense of morality as power conspiracies rage all around him and the mysterious figure of Kurtz piques his curiosity. Marlow’s desire to do good grows increasingly futile as he is plunged into a world where no absolute goodness exists and the best he can do is choose between a selection of nightmares. Eventually, we see that the characters become unable to distinguish between good and evil. Conrad illustrates this moral ambiguity with light and darkness imagery that often blends together, yet is imbued with an overall inevitably sinister shade.
Questions About Good vs. Evil
Does Conrad seem to have clear definitions …show more content…
The conventional use of white as good and black as evil is clearly challenged when we view it through the lens of race, particularly when we see white men brutally subjugating and forcing black Africans into hard labor simply for profit. The Europeans justify their mistreatment of the Africans with claims of "spreading civilization," of helping Africans become "enlightened." This, in itself, is a form of prejudice – a denial of the Africans’ traditional lifestyle and culture.
Questions About Race
How are the differences between white and black people depicted in Heart of Darkness? What kinds of activities does each group participate in?
How does light and dark imagery apply racially? What does this say morally about each group of people as portrayed in Heart of Darkness?
What kinds of white European expectations does Marlow bring into his journey up the Congo? How are they dispelled? Look specifically at the examples of the accountant, manager, brickmaker, and Kurtz. What is Marlow’s attitude towards the native Africans?
How is Kurtz’s attitude towards the black Africans ambiguous? How might he be viewed as the ultimate symbol of imperialism and black subjugation? Alternatively, how might he be read as the exact …show more content…
One, with his chin propped on his knees, stared at nothing, in an intolerable and appalling manner: his brother phantom rested its forehead, as if overcome with a great weariness; and all about others were scattered in every pose of contorted collapse, as in some picture of a massacre or a pestilence. While I stood horror-struck, one of these creatures rose to his hands and knees, and went off on all-fours towards the river to drink. He lapped out of his hand, then sat up in the sunlight, crossing his shins in front of him, and after a time let his woolly head fall on his breastbone." (1.41)
Marlow, like most of the white men, does not see the black Africans as complete human beings. His language here proves that. He describes the slaves as objects, ghosts, or through animal imagery: "acute angles," "phantom," "creature," "woolly head."
Quote