Heart Of Darkness Imperialism Essay
Heart of Darkness
By S. Hanford
Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness is much more than simply “the story of a journey up a river.” Although it was first published in 1902, the text contains perennial themes that remain relevant to a 21st Century audience today. Through his writing, Conrad cleverly expresses his views on colonisation and imperialism, explores the depth and concept of the inner journey, and comments on society’s need for some form of restraint. Conrad draws on his own personal experiences to accurately convey both the inner and literal journeys of the boat. As a 21st Century audience, we gain insight into Conrad’s beliefs and the effects that isolation and lack of restraint have on individuals.
One of the major …show more content…
Upon originally arriving in the Congo, Marlow discovers that there are two types of work being performed: very little work and pointless work. A theme throughout the novella states that work is a form of restraint, that while people’s minds are occupied there’s no reason for any depravity. Marlow admits that he doesn’t like work, but he likes “what is in the work, the chance to find yourself.” Once again, because of there being “no external checks,” lack of restrain is emphasised and the ivory company’s operations can be carried out with virtually no boundaries or moral control. Restraint is depicted as necessary for social wellbeing. In civilisation, it emerges in the form of “kind neighbours ready to cheer you, or to fall on you,” showing that being surrounded by the public is what restrains people. Out in the Congo, “no warning voice of a kind neighbour can be heard whispering of public opinion.” Due to the isolation, people have to rely on their own “innate strength” to prevent their moral corruption. Marlow identifies the distinction of restraint between the Pilgrims and the Cannibals on the boat. Rather than being bold explorers, the Pilgrims exhibit cowardice and fire their arms into the bush without any targets. They allow their simple emotions to dominate over their rationality, which displays their lack of restraint. On the other hand, the Cannibals restrain themselves from eating any of the boat’s passengers, a trait which Marlow admires deeply. As mentioned earlier, Kurtz had lost all forms of restraint, and his methods were “unsound.” Despite having work as a form of restraint, Kurtz’s inability to restrain his greed led it to overpower everything else, and drove him to insanity. The theme of restraint serves as a warning to the 21st Century audience that without restraint and self-control,
By S. Hanford
Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness is much more than simply “the story of a journey up a river.” Although it was first published in 1902, the text contains perennial themes that remain relevant to a 21st Century audience today. Through his writing, Conrad cleverly expresses his views on colonisation and imperialism, explores the depth and concept of the inner journey, and comments on society’s need for some form of restraint. Conrad draws on his own personal experiences to accurately convey both the inner and literal journeys of the boat. As a 21st Century audience, we gain insight into Conrad’s beliefs and the effects that isolation and lack of restraint have on individuals.
One of the major …show more content…
Upon originally arriving in the Congo, Marlow discovers that there are two types of work being performed: very little work and pointless work. A theme throughout the novella states that work is a form of restraint, that while people’s minds are occupied there’s no reason for any depravity. Marlow admits that he doesn’t like work, but he likes “what is in the work, the chance to find yourself.” Once again, because of there being “no external checks,” lack of restrain is emphasised and the ivory company’s operations can be carried out with virtually no boundaries or moral control. Restraint is depicted as necessary for social wellbeing. In civilisation, it emerges in the form of “kind neighbours ready to cheer you, or to fall on you,” showing that being surrounded by the public is what restrains people. Out in the Congo, “no warning voice of a kind neighbour can be heard whispering of public opinion.” Due to the isolation, people have to rely on their own “innate strength” to prevent their moral corruption. Marlow identifies the distinction of restraint between the Pilgrims and the Cannibals on the boat. Rather than being bold explorers, the Pilgrims exhibit cowardice and fire their arms into the bush without any targets. They allow their simple emotions to dominate over their rationality, which displays their lack of restraint. On the other hand, the Cannibals restrain themselves from eating any of the boat’s passengers, a trait which Marlow admires deeply. As mentioned earlier, Kurtz had lost all forms of restraint, and his methods were “unsound.” Despite having work as a form of restraint, Kurtz’s inability to restrain his greed led it to overpower everything else, and drove him to insanity. The theme of restraint serves as a warning to the 21st Century audience that without restraint and self-control,