Horror in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' and 'The Secret Agent'

Dossier / Travail de Séminaire , 2009 , 20 Pages , Note: 2,3

Philologie Anglaise - Littérature

“’The horror! The horror!’” “’Horrible, horrible!’”
Although the novels are different in style and plot, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent have one thing in common: They are full of different kinds of ‘horror’ and ‘madness’. But what are all these different kinds of horror? Why does Conrad use this word this often? Is the horror in the Heart of Darkness the same as in The Secret Agent?
In this paper, I will try to analyse some of the horrible aspects Conrad mentions in his texts. The first chapter will have a closer look at Kurtz’s famous phrase “’The horror! The horror!’”. I will give insight in some of my own interpretations of what could be meant with this horror. The second part of this paper will investigate the horrors and fears of the three main characters in The Secret Agent: Stevie, Winnie Verloc and Mr Verloc. In the end, there will be a short conclusion of the aspects of horror I have explored.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Kurtz's 'The horror! The horror!' in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
• Horrors in Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent
  • Stevie
  • Winnie
  • Mr Verloc
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper analyzes the different kinds of "horror" and "madness" present in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent. The paper explores the meaning of Kurtz's famous phrase "The horror! The horror!" in relation to his experiences in the Congo. It also examines the horrors faced by the main characters in The Secret Agent, including Stevie, Winnie Verloc, and Mr. Verloc.

• The concept of "horror" in Conrad's works
• The role of colonialism and imperialism in shaping the characters' experiences
• The nature of madness and its relationship to the horrors encountered
• The psychological impact of violence and oppression
• The ambiguities and complexities of human nature

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction establishes the focus of the paper on analyzing the various forms of horror and madness present in Conrad's novels. It introduces the two primary works, Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent, and highlights the shared theme of "horror." The first chapter delves into the interpretation of Kurtz's famous phrase "The horror! The horror!" by examining its linguistic origins and exploring possible interpretations of what Kurtz might have been referring to. This chapter discusses the potential impact of Kurtz's experiences in Africa, including his encounters with the natives and the horrors of colonialism, on his mental state. The second chapter analyzes the horrors faced by the three main characters in The Secret Agent, exploring the specific challenges and anxieties they confront. This chapter examines the impact of their social and political environments on their individual experiences of horror.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include "horror," "madness," "colonialism," "imperialism," "violence," "oppression," "psychology," "human nature," and the novels Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent. The paper also examines the characters of Kurtz, Stevie, Winnie Verloc, and Mr. Verloc.

• Université: Saarland University (Anglistik, Amerikanistik und Anglophone Kulturen)
• Cours: Joseph Conrad
• Note: 2,3
• Auteur: Eva K. Sammel (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2009
• Pages: 20
• N° de catalogue: V140455
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640475551
• ISBN (Livre): 9783640475452
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Horror, Joseph, Conrad, Heart, Darkness, Secret, Agent