How is Marlow described as he sits on deck and prepares to tell his story?
Use at least two quotes from the text.
What does Marlow say the Ancient Romans encountered when they came to Britain?
In what ways would a Roman soldier’s experience have been similar to that of a colonial trader in Africa?
How does Marlow summarize the Roman Conquest? How does he differentiate it from European colonialism?
p.108-112
This is the summary with missing words we filled in during class. Make sure you have the right answers.
This section has several concrete objectives. The first of these is to locate Marlow more specifically within the wider history of colonialism. It is important that he goes to Africa in the service of a company rather than a British one. The map that Marlow sees in the Company offices shows the continent overlaid with blotches of color, each color standing for a different imperial power. While the map represents a relatively neutral way of describing imperial presences in Africa, Marlow's comments about the map reveal that imperial powers were not all the same. In fact, the yellow patch—“dead in the center”—covers the site of some of the most disturbing atrocities committed in the name of empire. The Belgian king, Leopold II, treated the Congo as his private treasury, and the Belgians had the reputation of being far and away the most cruel and rapacious of the colonial powers. The reference to Brussels as a “whited sepulchre” is meant to bring to mind a passage from the Book of Matthew concerning hypocrisy. The Belgian monarch spoke rhetorically about the benefits of colonialism, but the Belgian version of the practice was the bloodiest and most inhumane.
This does not, however, mean that Conrad seeks to indict the Belgians and praise other colonial powers. As Marlow journeys into the Congo, he meets men from a variety of European nations, all of whom are violent and willing to do anything to make their fortunes. Moreover, it must be remembered that Marlow himself willingly goes to work for this Belgian concern: at the moment he decides to do so, his personal desire for adventure far outweighs any concerns he might have about particular colonial practices. This section of the book also introduces another set of concerns, this time regarding women. Heart of Darkness has been attacked by critics as misogynistic, and there is some justification for this point of view. Marlow's aunt does express a naïvely idealistic view of the Company's mission, and Marlow is thus right to fault her for being “out of touch with truth”. However, he phrases his criticism so as to make it applicable to all women, suggesting that women do not even live in the same world as men and that they must be protected from reality. Moreover, the female characters in Marlow's story are extremely flat and stylized. In part this may be because Marlow uses women symbolically as representatives of “home.” Marlow associates home with ideas gotten from books and religion rather than from experience. Home is the seat of naïveté, prejudice, confinement, and oppression. It is the place of people who have not gone out into the world and experienced, and who therefore cannot understand. Nonetheless, the women in Marlow's story exert a great deal of power. The influence of Marlow's aunt does not stop at getting him the job but continues to echo through the Company's correspondence in Africa. At the Company's headquarters, Marlow encounters a number of apparently influential women, hinting that all enterprises are ultimately female-driven.
Marlow's departure from the world of Belgium and women is facilitated, according to him, by two eccentric men. The first of these is Fresleven, the story of whose death serves to build suspense and suggest to the reader the transformations that Europeans undergo in Africa. By European standards, Fresleven was a good and gentle man, not one likely to die as he did. This means either that the European view of people is wrong and useless or else that there is something about that makes men behave aberrantly. Both of these conclusions are difficult to accept practically or politically, and thus the story of Fresleven leaves the reader feeling ambivalent and cautious about Marlow's story to come.
The second figure presiding over Marlow's departure is the Company's doctor. The doctor is perhaps the ultimate symbol of futility: he uses external measurements to try to decipher what he admits are internal changes; moreover, his subjects either don't return from Africa or, if they do, don't return to see him. Thus his work and his advice are both totally useless. He is the first of a series of functionaries with pointless jobs that Marlow will encounter as he travels toward and then up the Congo River.
The Company's doctor, a craniologist (or phrenologist), measures Marlow's head with calipers.
A phrenologist would then refer the measurements to a chart or model in an attempt to discover something about the subject's mental faculties, tendencies and personality.
As explained in the note to p.112, phrenology was in vogue when Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness, but was subsequently discredited.
Page 116 – 121
“‘There’s your Company’s station,’ said the Swede…”
How does Marlow describe the six chained men?
What is the effect of this description?
Another man is described as “one of the reclaimed” (p.117).
What is the significance of this epithet?
How does his description contrast with that of the six workers?
He has pride and a uniform. The six 'criminals' don't notice Marlow, whereas this man sees Marlow - or a white man at least - coming and therefore salutes (though more for his own safety than out of respect, a salute to a white man being "simple prudence").
What further examples of futile activity does Marlow encounter around the station?
What does Marlow find in the shade of the trees?
What echoes are there of An Outpost of Progress?
Like the ten station men, they are fed the wrong food, they have been displaced and badly treated, and are suffering the effects.
Why does Marlow think of the chief accountant as a “vision” and a “miracle”? (p.119)
What is surprising about the chief accountant’s appearance?
What is the effect of Marlow’s detailed description of him?
What two reasons does Marlow give for mentioning the chief accountant in his story?
What does the chief accountant reveal about his priorities on p.120?
What does Marlow learn about Mr. Kurtz from the chief accountant?
What is the purpose of the short passage immediately preceding Marlow’s departure?
(“He turned to his work… …grove of death.”) p.121
The short scene, with the grove of death, the dying agent and the accountant keeping his records of trade, is a microcosm of the effect of Colonialism in the Congo as a whole.
Page 121 – 124
"The next day I left that station at last..."
What effect does the sound of drums have on Marlow?
He is not afraid of the sound (unlike Kayerts and Carlier); although he finds it "weird", it is also "appealing, suggestive and wild", again demonstrating his fascination with and captivation by his surroundings in the Congo.
How does Marlow’s companion hinder his progress towards the Central Station, and what does he say is his motivation for coming to the Congo?
What bad news does the manager of the Central Station have for Marlow?
How has the manager risen to his position?
Although he has "no learning, and no intelligence", the manager has survived a long term of service in the Congo without becoming sick: "His position had come to him - why? Perhaps because he was never sick..." Presumably he has replaced other agents who died or were sent home due to poor health.
What details show the manager’s lack of authority?
When Marlow arrives at the Central Station he sees that it is "neglected". The manager can't stop his staff from arguing over rank, so he has a large round table made. He also has a native servant-boy whom he lets treat the white men with"provoking insolence".
What does Marlow think the manager means by “That ought to do the affair”? (p.124)
What might he really mean?
Marlow assumes that the manager is referring to repairing the boat, but looking back on events Marlow believes the manager knew just how long he wanted to delay the aid Kurtz needs.
READING JOURNAL
These are the topics relating to Heart of Darkness thus far:
3. Does Marlow seem suited to working for a Belgian company in the Congo? (Up to p.116)
4. What do the employees Marlow has encountered so far reveal about the Company they work for? (Up to p.125)
How does Marlow describe the Eldorado Exploring Expedition (EEE)?
ReplyDeleteWhat significance does it have?
I think you need to change your question Sayumi - you should be trying to clarify a point you don't fully understand, not setting a comprehension test.. o.O
ReplyDeleteAt one point, Marlow had wanted nothing but rivets. But after the encounter with the foreman, his attitude suddenly changes. What exactly had caused his change of attitude in the story?
ReplyDeleteorz
☆The leader of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition is the manager's uncle. It seems that he speaks to no one but his nephew, and "You could see these two roaming about all day long with their heads close together in an everlasting confab."Do the two's relationship represent anything?
ReplyDelete☆Is the Eldorado Exploring Expedition one of Marlow's example of futileness?
☆I don't understand what the lines mean on p126 line31, "By heavens!-----saints into a kick"
I can't understand the explanatory note that is explaining this quote too...
Good questions - for Shuzo's have a look at these sections:
ReplyDeletep.130 "What I really wanted was rivets, by heaven! Rivets."
p.132 "We shall have rivets!"
p.133 "I had given up worrying myself about the rivets."
What happens to cause Marlow to give up?
There may be a connection between Shuzo's question and Rie's...
The Eldorado Exploring Expedition appear on p.132
Are they an example of futility, or of something else Marlow has mentioned? What does Marlow say their purpose is?
Have a go at answering these questions yourselves.
Rie - that quote on p.126 is a bit obscure... the point is that the men at the Central Station spend a lot of time and energy on conspiring against each other without actually doing anything: "as to effectually lifting a finger - oh, no." Marlow seems to feel that threatening or pretending to do something malicious is somehow more dishonest than just going ahead and doing it.
Answer to Shuzo's question:
ReplyDelete(I'm not entirely sure, this is my wild guess)
on ps 133 it says that Marlow had stopped fretting about rivets because "one's capacity for that kind of folly is more limited than you would suppose" and that, spending 3 months at the station, he "had plenty of time for meditation," where he could think about Kurtz.
During the delay of 3 months, Marlow is able to hear more about Kurtz - as Mr.Fannon said about people creating a 'legend' out of the man. The incidents preceding the day he will meet Kurtz in person builds that anticipation, allows Marlow to vicariously accumulate background knowledge of where he is headed, who he will meet.
... but then again, Marlow also says 'I wasnt very interested in him [Kurtz]' on the very next line so that answer is a bit weak. So it could just be Marlow becoming more patient.. being obsessed about getting hold of rivets for 3 months does take a kind of tenacity in itself too :D
The change in Marlow's enthusiasm for rivets occurs when he meets the 'devoted band called...the Eldorado Exploring Expedition,' which he looked at with disdain. ('greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage' and 'things decent in themselves but that human folly made look like the spoils of theiving')
Marlow generally has an insightful perspective of the events and people around him. Maybe he, looking at the group of explorers who were preoccupied with retrieving gold from a place that may not even exist, reflected that upon himself and decided that his preoccupation of rivets is as pointless as well. ??
I'm probably a mile off but those my thoughts for now! :D
wow... i wrote a lot :D
ReplyDeleteHere's my question.
Marlow's view of European colonization seems mixed.
some quotes that express his views:
p109 Fresleven 'engaged in the noble cause'
p 110 Brussels described as a 'whited sepulchre'
p113 'It appeared, however, that I was also... something like an emissary of light.. a lower sort of apostle' --> but this idea made him feel 'uncomfortable'
p 117 'after all, I also was a part of the great cause of these high and just preceedings.' --> is he being ironic?
p117 'I foresaw that... I would become acquainted with a flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly.'
p117 describing the futile labor on the station as something that may 'have been connected with the philanthropic desire of giving the criminals something to do.'
p119 Marlow's respect towards the chief accountant despite the obvious maltreatment of the natives that takes place under his very nose
p125 'a taint of imbecile rapacity' that pervaded the station, the minds of the men, the word ivory
p 126 at another station and the people there: 'the philanthropic pretence of the whole concern'
p 133 'reckles without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage...'
and his generally wry tone while talking about all the laborous work done in vain, the people accomplishing nothing, the waste of time, money, lives.
He says that 'what redeems it [the cruelty and violence, conspiracy] is the idea only.'
After all that he sees -- and will continue to see, no doubt, throughout the book, and moreover in probably more appalling forms of evil -- he's still a believer in that ideal? Because he's telling the story in retrospect, what he says seems to be genuine.. his tale is supplemented by his overall view on the issue (both of colonization, people, life itself) yet those ideas seem to contradict each other quite easily.
What kind of narrator is he?
telling the story with 'the pose of a Buddha preaching in European clothes and without a lotus flower'
He seems both polarized and ambivalent at the same time. Does he believe in the ideals of Eurpean civilization? Deep down underneath all the conspiracy, does he really think that there is 'an unselfish belief in the idea... something you can...offer a sacrifice to'? Can the heartless crimes of colonization -- the grove of death, for example -- be redeemed by the idea only? (in Marlow's opinion, I mean. If I brought this out as a more open question it would become contentious and political wouldnt it? :D)
...
ReplyDeleteI think to a) avoid the message board becoming hugely complicated, leaving people unable to keep track of what's been said, and b) make it easier to follow exactly what your questions are, we might need a loose limit on posts.
By all means post a lot of opinions, but divided into manageable pieces so that some kind of 'conversation' can develop.
About the length of Rie's post or a bit longer is probably a good target; let's say 10-15 lines.
Nanami - without removing your previous comments (because you have some valuable insight and useful quote-gathering in there), could you rephrase your question in a (much) shorter post?
Thanks
But that's not Nanami's fault!!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, here is my question...
On page 132, Marlow says that "I don't know why we behaved like lunatics."
What made him behave "like a lunatic"?
Is it because he wanted rivets?
And what is the point in mentioning the boiler-man in the story? Does it mean anything? Or is he just a flat charater?
I don't get this book.
QUESTIONS!
ReplyDeletep.130 "What I really wanted was rivets, by heaven! Rivets."
p.132 "We shall have rivets!"
p.133 "I had given up worrying myself about the rivets."
What happens to cause Marlow to give up?
MY ANSWER!
On page 133, he states that "One's capacity for that kind of folly is more limited than you would suppose."
Maybe he realized how "lunatic" he was acting, and he shouldn't be wasting his time thinking os something so insignificant.
Or maybe he thought rivets weren't his number 1 priority because there was an invasion.
I don't know.
I know you don't know, that's kind of the point...
ReplyDeleteThese are all good questions, though I'd still like Nanami to focus on one particular point and re-state the question. (Who said anything about fault? The post is too long).
Be prepared to discuss these points (and others) in class tomorrow!
haha right. always the big sister, jumping to the rescue. typical. haha nahh, just kidding, thanks sayumi.
ReplyDelete--> does marlow's mixed views of colonization (accurately) reflect that of conrad's?
voila! beautifully concise
mr fannon will be proud ;)
Stick to questions please - you can talk to your sister at home.. o.O
ReplyDelete☆What's the "dumb thing" on p129?
ReplyDelete☆Who says this quote, "no man here bears a charmed life" on p131?
In my book, I've circled the part "charmed life" and wrote 'general manager' as a note next to it. Maybe I wanted to say (at that time) that the general manager has this "charmed life." But I'm not sure. If that is true, what is so charmed about his life? His rank? His health?
......so much things to do...
but so little is accomplished...orz
Very poetic.
ReplyDeleteThe 'dumb thing' is the still, silent jungle; Marlow is outside with the brick-maker at night, leaning against the steamer he is repairing and looking across the river at the jungle.
The brick-maker (the agent who thinks Marlow is an important Company employee) is the one who says "no man here bears a charmed life." He tells Marlow about the hippo which wanders through the camp at night. The men stay up and try to shoot it but can never kill it; the hippo has a 'charmed life'.
Despite what the brick maker says, the general manager does seem to have a charmed life; he has achieved his position simply by staying alive.
Mr. Fannon, remember how you said -- in answer to my question before the final exam -- that Marlow seems to be a bit jaded, blase, about what is going around the station? (hense his ironic, almost detached tone when describing the man with a hole in his pail and the other futile activiy going on in the station.)
ReplyDeleteBut you also said -- during class -- that he is susceptible to irritation, distraction, enchantment.
Can both sides exist simultaneously?
or did I just misunderstand your answer?
I'm sorry I'm asking a question that is totally irrelevant to our summer homework, it was just bugging me like a needle stuck in my memory
Nanami - it's almost as if you're writing down everything I say...
ReplyDeleteI don't think the question is totally irrelevant - your understanding of Marlow's characteristics and motivations will influence your interpretation of the rest of the novel.
There are a few different points mixed up together here. Marlow (and, by extension, Conrad) uses an ironic tone throughout the tale. To a certain extent, this is simply Conrad's style. There are also many ironic comments, images and incidents through which the character and the author offer an opinion on the people and events encountered. The presentation of the futile activity around the station fits into this category.
I think we spoke about Marlow becoming jaded in relation to his long wait for rivets (as in the earlier comments above). It seems as though he accepts the fact that the rivets will not arrive anytime soon. This is not necessarily connected to his generally ironic outlook.
Finally, I don't think you should try to set this against Marlow's fascination with the unknown. This aspect of his character is well-established, with numerous examples. Of the words you used, 'enchantment' is the most appropriate for what happens to Marlow as he travels up the river.
It wasn't me who said that Marlow is susceptible to irritation - that's what the Company's doctor implies on p.112. An example of this is when Marlow arrives, tired and hungry from his long march, at the central station: "I was getting savage" (p.124).
However, I don't think this is a major element of his nature, and he is ably to maintain his detached tone throughout the events of Parts II and III. Remember, though, that he is telling the story after the event, back in the cradle of civilization.
I hope that helps remove the needle.
Keep reading and asking questions.
Thank you Mr Fannon !
ReplyDeleteNo problem (though you don't really have to say thank you..)
ReplyDeleteIf you have any more questions about Part 1 then put them here, but otherwise we can use the separate Part 2 and 3 pages from now on.
That will make it easier to follow the comments.
Have a nice summer!