Themes in Heart of Darkness free essay sample

What is the heart of darkness of the novel’s title? Think in terms of abstract concepts as well as of places and characters. 2. MAN AND THE NATURAL WORLD Nature and civilization rather decisively represent the dichotomy of primitive non-Europeans and cultured Europeans. Civilization comes to refer to the supposed enlightenment and refinement of the Western world. The British imperialists feel their conceptions of black savagery are confirmed when the native Africans attack the pilgrims and reveal their cannibalism. The white Europeans seek to tame these Africans with civilization, but the notion becomes problematic when noble altruism acts as a shield for blind imperialism. The white men who call their actions altruistic are quickly recognized by the readers as hypocrites. Questions About Man and the Natural World At first glance, what does civilization represent? What does nature represent? Does this distinction hold true as the novel progresses? How does the concept of civilization become problematic as the novel progresses? How are the Company’s attempts to ‘civilize’ the Africans hypocritical? If nature is madness-inducing, what does this say about human nature, especially the native Africans? How do different aspects of nature, especially the river and the jungle, become characters in their own right? What is nature’s attitude towards man? Questions About Fate and Free Will How are the two old knitting women embodiments of Fate? Why does Marlow envision them at the end? Are all the accidents that keep delaying Marlow’s journey into the interior truly incidental? How is Kurtz a product of fate? To what extent do his personal choices affect his descent into madness? Could his demise have been prevented? Is Marlow destined to meet Kurtz? How do his personal choices towards the end of the novel affect Kurtz, himself, and the Intended? QOUTES In the street – I don’t know why – a queer feeling came to me that I was an imposter. We will write a custom essay sample on Themes in Heart of Darkness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Odd thing that I, who used to clear out for any part of the world at a twenty-four hours’ notice, with less thought than most men give to the crossing of a street, had a moment – I won’t say of hesitation, but of startled pause, before this commonplace affair. The best way I can explain it to you is by saying that, for a second or two, I felt as though, instead of going to the centre of a continent, I were about to set off for the centre of the earth. (1. 30) Marlow feels a nervous anticipation about starting his journey, as though Fate believes he is not capable. Quote #5 But as I stood on this hillside, I foresaw that in the blinding sunshine of that land I would become acquainted with a flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly. How insidious he could be, too, I was only to find out several months later and a thousand miles farther. For a moment I stood appalled, as though by a warning. (1. 37) Fate allows Marlow to see what horro rs lay in store for him, specifically a new kind of devil which Marlow is not familiar with. For one brief spasm of a moment, he has doubts about whether or not he should go on after perceiving Fate’s warning. But he allows this doubt to rule him only for an instant. Quote #6 [The accountant]: Oh, he [Kurtz] will go far, very far, he began again. He will be a somebody in the Administration before long. They, above – the Council in Europe, you know mean him to be. (1. 47) Kurtz is presented as a man destined for great things. Quote #7 [At the Central Station]: One of them, a stout, excitable chap [†¦] informed me [†¦] that my steamer was at the bottom of the river. I was thunderstruck. What, how, why? Oh, it was all right. The manager himself was there. All quite correct [†¦] I did not see the real significance of that wreck at once. I fancy I see it now, but I am not sure – not at all. Certainly the affair was too stupid – when I think of it – to be altogether natural. Still†¦but at the moment it presented itself simply as a confounded nuisance. The steamer was sunk. They had started two days before in a sudden hurry up the river with the manager on board, in charge of some volunteer skipper, and before they had been out three hours they tore the bottom out of her on stones, and she sank near the south bank†¦. the repairs when I brought the pieces to the station, took some months. (1. 50-51)