As a child, Marlow wanted to explore “blank spaces” on the globe. This dream turns into reality when Marlow becomes a sailor when he is a young man. He gets appointed by an ivory-trading company. His mission is to go to the Congo and visit enigmatic Mr Kurtz.
On this voyage through the jungle he has to wait at several stations of his company, where he notices how meaningless the work of the white agents in the Congo is. This makes him to an anti-colonialist. He recognizes the lie in the words “enemies”, “criminals” or “rebels” used in connection with the natives by the other white "pilgrims". In some situation he feels sympathy with the native workers, but mostly he reacts like an objective observer; especially at the beginning of his story. Later his character changes: His coolness vanishes more and more, but he get more human and shows feelings.
Table of Contents
- About the author
- Two main characters
- Marlow's character
- Mr Kurtz' character
- Summary of "Heart of Darkness"
- Part I
Objectives and Key Themes
This text offers a detailed analysis of Joseph Conrad's novel "Heart of Darkness," exploring the complex themes of colonialism, imperialism, and the human condition.
- The destructive nature of colonialism and its impact on both colonizers and colonized.
- The psychological effects of isolation and power in a remote and hostile environment.
- The search for meaning and identity in the face of societal pressures and moral dilemmas.
- The ambiguity of good and evil and the slippery slope from idealism to savagery.
- The power of storytelling and the ways in which narratives shape our understanding of the world.
Chapter Summaries
The story begins on a ship on the Thames River near London, where Marlow recounts his journey to the Congo. He reflects on the history of British colonization, comparing it to the Roman Empire. As a young man, Marlow was drawn to explore unknown parts of the world and his aunt helps him secure a job as a steamboat pilot for a trading company in the Congo. He arrives at the company's headquarters in Brussels, where he becomes aware of the dangers he will face. On his voyage to Africa, he witnesses the brutality of the colonial regime and the meaningless labor of the native population. He reaches an outer station where he encounters the harsh realities of colonial exploitation, including forced labor and the death of many native workers due to illness and hunger.
Keywords
Key terms and concepts explored in this text include colonialism, imperialism, power, isolation, identity, morality, savagery, civilization, storytelling, and the human condition. The analysis focuses on the role of the Congo River and its symbolic significance, the character of Mr. Kurtz, and the moral ambiguities of colonial encounters.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Förster (Author), 2005, Heart of Darkness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/109783
