The True Human Condition In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness
The True Human Condition The true human condition is continual fear, and yet most people will choose not to believe in their own helplessness. In Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, the narrator listens as Marlow describes an experience he had while traveling through Africa and how it changed his perception of life's meaning. The efforts to colonize and capitalize Africa and exploit its resources had a lasting impact on Marlow. His contact with African natives, his inspirational hero Kurtz, and his return to a ‘civilized’ environment all wrought great change in Marlow’s perceptions of reality. Part of Marlow’s psychological change is attributed to his interaction with natives. African Natives were used for menial tasks and physical
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(pg. 31-32)
The living conditions and care for the sick are appalling, Marlow is genuinely repulsed. The pity he feels is also genuine. Later in the story the effect of having a somewhat trained native as a crew-member on his river-boat also brings some empathy to the condition of the natives. The true sorrow comes with the death of this native who was trained to man the boiler.
“He steered for me – I had to look after him, I worried about his deficiencies, and thus a subtle bond had been created, of which I only became aware when it was suddenly broken. (…) like a claim of distant kinship affirmed in a supreme moment.” (pg. 66)
Marlow had grown to depend on him as a vital part of his life onboard his ship, and with that interaction become attached to the individual. There wasn’t friendship per-say yet Marlow felt responsible for the safety and well-being of this man. This event may have caused Marlow to take measures concerning a crowd of natives in …show more content…
In fact, Kurtz is the main reason Marlow journeyed so far into the interior. Kurtz is a legendary figure from the first moment Marlow hears his name. Kurtz is the unrivaled chief collector of ivory or white gold and is not in good standing with the frivolous management types at the station or base near the coast. Marlow has a lot of time to learn about Kurtz as he observes the wake left by the man’s actions. When They finally meet, Marlow is only briefly dismayed that Kurtz is a somewhat unsavory fellow, that he’s ‘less civilized’ than the rest of the Europeans in the group. Marlow doesn’t realize the man he is until he is shown into his presence.
“The volume of tone he emitted without effort, almost without the trouble of moving his lips, amazed me. A voice! a voice! It was grave, profound, vibrating, while the man did not seem capable of a whisper. However, he had enough strength in him – factitious no doubt – to very nearly make an end of us… (pg. 76)
Then Marlow’s true appreciation and awe are earned by this man on the journey to the coast. During this time Kurtz fights a disease and is hardly ever lucid. During his times of lucidity the man is always ready to converse and impart some fact or wisdom. And yet it’s Kurtz’s last words that leave the greatest impact, and gains Marlow’s total respect…
“’The horror! The horror’” (pg.
(pg. 31-32)
The living conditions and care for the sick are appalling, Marlow is genuinely repulsed. The pity he feels is also genuine. Later in the story the effect of having a somewhat trained native as a crew-member on his river-boat also brings some empathy to the condition of the natives. The true sorrow comes with the death of this native who was trained to man the boiler.
“He steered for me – I had to look after him, I worried about his deficiencies, and thus a subtle bond had been created, of which I only became aware when it was suddenly broken. (…) like a claim of distant kinship affirmed in a supreme moment.” (pg. 66)
Marlow had grown to depend on him as a vital part of his life onboard his ship, and with that interaction become attached to the individual. There wasn’t friendship per-say yet Marlow felt responsible for the safety and well-being of this man. This event may have caused Marlow to take measures concerning a crowd of natives in …show more content…
In fact, Kurtz is the main reason Marlow journeyed so far into the interior. Kurtz is a legendary figure from the first moment Marlow hears his name. Kurtz is the unrivaled chief collector of ivory or white gold and is not in good standing with the frivolous management types at the station or base near the coast. Marlow has a lot of time to learn about Kurtz as he observes the wake left by the man’s actions. When They finally meet, Marlow is only briefly dismayed that Kurtz is a somewhat unsavory fellow, that he’s ‘less civilized’ than the rest of the Europeans in the group. Marlow doesn’t realize the man he is until he is shown into his presence.
“The volume of tone he emitted without effort, almost without the trouble of moving his lips, amazed me. A voice! a voice! It was grave, profound, vibrating, while the man did not seem capable of a whisper. However, he had enough strength in him – factitious no doubt – to very nearly make an end of us… (pg. 76)
Then Marlow’s true appreciation and awe are earned by this man on the journey to the coast. During this time Kurtz fights a disease and is hardly ever lucid. During his times of lucidity the man is always ready to converse and impart some fact or wisdom. And yet it’s Kurtz’s last words that leave the greatest impact, and gains Marlow’s total respect…
“’The horror! The horror’” (pg.