Kelly Nelson
Bosch
29 October 2007
AP English Lit-12
Heart of Darkness
Date: Wednesday 17 October 2007
Pages: 3-10
#1 "[H]aze rested on the low shores," "[A]ir was dark abouve Gravesend...mournful gloom, brooding motionless..." (3). "The sky with out a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light..." "Only the gloom to the west, brooding over the upper reaches, became bore sombre every minute, as if angered by the sun." (4).
Our introduction to the book the Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, begins with an unknown narrator speaking of gloom and sombreness and brooding motionlessness.
Within the haze is the gloom and the sombreness and the anger that broods in the west. Whatever happens in the west, in the haze, is introduced to us as some kind of evil. the sky, looking down on the haze is "unstained," untainted, basically good. It is a "benign immensity," immensity most likely referring to the ongoing reality that is the sky. Benign meaning gentle, and harmless. Which represents the sky and which represents the West? Whit or Black? Common knowledge of European ideals of the time identifies the purity of the sky to be the white Europeans looking down upon the "brooding," and "gloomy," "sombre," black natives.
#2 ""Marlow sat cross-legged right aft, leaning against the mizzenmast. He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, hte palms of his hands outwards, resembled and idol." (4).
The description of Marlow is much different than the description of anyone else on the ship. Such as the Lawyer: "The best of old fellows....lying on the only rug," (4).
The accountant: making structures out of a set of domino's.
the director: sitting amongst the rest of the men.
Marlow description is in a little bit more detail. He sits differently than the other men, he isn't talking casually amongst the other men. He has separated himself. He is described as resembling an idol. An idol being a sort of god, maybe Marlow is superior in morality to these other men, or maybe he just thinks he's superior.
He's described as an "ascetic aspect" just before this. What does he have to be in denial about? Why is his description so contradictory of itself calling him ascetic and then an idol?
Date: Thursday 18 October 2007
Pages: 11-19
#1 "It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery- a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness." "...[A] mighty big river, that you could see on the map, resembling an immense snake uncoiled..." "The snake had charmed me." (11).
Marlow describes how, ever since he was a young boy he wanted to explore mysterious lands, lands that hadn't been discovered or overrun by Europeans. He describes a large vast spot on the map, a "white" space and he describes it as "delightful," and , "glorious,". But it had become, "a place of darkness," when it was no longer a mystery. Why? Was it simply because imperialism had begun to take place? Did he want the, "glory of exploration,"(11), all to himself? Or was it because of what he learned about what took place there? Who the inhabitants were?
What is the real cause of this place to turn into a, "place of darkness," ?
Even though he knew this place to a place of darkness, as he describes it, he decides to venture there, because the "snake," (the Congo River) had "charmed," him, the idea of such a trading opportunity to make himself immensely rich.
#2 "Oh, it didn't surprise me in the lease to hear this, and at the same time to be told that Fresleven was the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs. No doubt he was; but he had been a couple of years already out there engaged in the noble cause, you know, and he probably felt the need at last of asserting his self respect in some way. therefore he whacked the old nigger mercilessly..." (13).
Marlow tells the story of a man named Fresleven, who was in Marlow's position in the company before Marlow's arrival. Fresleven felt cheated by the natives and decided to attack and beat the chief, and in doing so, he was killed by the chief's son.
Fresleven is ironically described as gentle and quiet and Marlow believes this description. He believes imperialism and the trade industry to be a, "noble cause," ans since Fresleven was invested in it for a couple of years, Marlow believed his actions excusable. Marlow gives more excuses to Fresleven when saying he was just trying to assert his self respect.
Marlow's use of the word, "Therefore," preceding how Fresleven beat the chief, makes it sound like he is explaining a scientific equation. That it was perfectly logical to beat an old chief, probably to death, for something as insignificant as two hens. He feels no pity for the chief and we can see that he is racist. He later refers to the remains of Fesleven as a, "supernatural being,"...does this mean he looks up to him?
Date: Friday 19 October 2007
Pages: 20-28
#1 "Her ensign dropped limp like a rage; the muzzles of the long six-inch guns stuck out all over the hull; the greasy, slimy swell swung her lazily and let her down, swaying her thin masts. In the empty immensity of the earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firing in to a continent. "-and nothing happened. Nothing could happen. there was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious droller in the sight..." (21).
While Marlow is on his way to take his position for the trading company, he encounters a ship they are trying to give letters to. The ship has it's guns out and is firing into nothing it sees, though a ship-mate tries to assure Marlow that there are natives, "enemies" just inside the jungle. "Muzzles," makes the scene seem very animalistic. "Empty immensity...earth, sky, and water,". Again the immense sky is referred to, this time by Marlow as opposed to the unnamed narrrator, they view the subject quite differently.
It seems the shipmate believes the scene to be heroic and exciting (the ship defeating "enemies," ) while Marlow views the scene as an absurd and insane, a ship shooting at a continent, calling the sigh, "a sense of lugubrious drollery,". Has arlow's shipmate been there longer than he has? The people on the ship? Does this country have an effect on people's minds like the French Doctor said it does?
The absurd scene with the ship shooting at imaginary enemies seems to represent the absurdity of all racism and imperialism alike. they are imaginary enemies- meaning they're aren't any enemies until you make them. The Europeans made their own enemies through imperialism, colonialism, and their racist beliefs.
#2 "He had tied a bit of white worsted around his neck. Why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge- an ornament- a charm- a proprietary act? Was there any idea at all connected with it? It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white thread from beyond the seas." (26).
After he gets off the Swede's ship, Marlow begins to walk to his companyand along the way comes by six black men chained together and driven by another black man with a gun- and in a uniform. It reminds Marlow of the war ship, and he diverges from his origional path. he comes upon many sick and dying black people in the shade, one of which has tied a white cloth around his neck. Marlow cannot fathom why.
Pages: 45-53
#1 "It was an inextricable mess of things decent in themselves but that human folly made look like the spoils of thieving." (50). "To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe." (50).
At the company's trade post there arrives a group called the Eldorado Exploring Expedition. What they wanted were the riches of the land, just like everyone else. But unlike everyone else, giving the riches to trade companies for money, they kept the riches for themselves. Marlow says that what they wanted, were wanted for the work of the world. Marlow believes this group has no moral purpose because they keep the riches for themselves, it's like stealing to him. This makes it seem like he believe he and his company have a moral purpose, they give the treasures to the world. But they are essentially doing the same thing as the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, stealing from the land, and from the people.
#2 "Anything can be done in this country." (53).
Marlow over hears the uncle, and the leader o the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, talking to his nephew the manager. They only speak to eachother, kind of like they are plotting something. They talk alot about Kurtz. Does anything mean, killing to get rid of the abnormality that they view Kurtz to be? It shows what they have been up to in the Congo nevertheless, anything they want.
Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Pages: 52-62
#1 "I saw him extend his short flipper of an arm for a gesture that took in the forest, the creek, the mud, the river- seemed to beckon with a dishounouring flourish before the sunlit face of the land a treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of its heart."( 54).
This is the first mention, and allusion to the heart of darkness. Exactly what the heart of darkness is, can't be determined yet, but it has to do with the land, and the forest. It is the land's lurking death, hidden even and the darkness of the lands heart that is being given a treacherous appeal by the managers uncle.
Marlow calls this display of confidence, "black". Black is referred to as bad, and evil.
#2 "I was learning to clap my teeth smartly before my heart flew out, when i shaved by a fluke some infernal sly old snag that would have ripped the life out of the tin-pot steamboat and drowned all the pilgrims."
Marlow and his company are in his steamboat traveling the river to get to Kurtz's station. The phrase, "before my heart flew out," caught my eye, I'm not exactly sure what is meant by this. Maybe it just that the snag is so deadly that it could kill him, as it would rip the "life out of the ...steamboat,".
Date: Thursday, 25 October 2007
Pages: 63-71
#1 "Before it stopped running with a muffled rattle, a cry, a very loud cry, as of infinite desolation, soared slowly in the opaque air. It cease. A complaining clamor, modulated in savage discords filled our ears."(66) "[T]o me it seemed as though the mist itself had scremaed, so suddenly, and apparently from all sides at once, did this tumultuous and mournful uproar arise." (66).
They are given their first encounter with the heart of darkness in this blinding fog, it is worse than the night according to Marlow. The heart of darkness greets them with a mournful and horrible scream that echo's through the forest, and seems to come from all directions. The pilgrims think it is a native about to attack. Marlow, however seems to feel that it was the mist itself that screamed in mourning. It makes it seem like even nature is in agony, is mournful in the heart of darkness.
#2 "Restraint! What possible restraint? Was it superstition, disgust, patience, fear -or some kind of primitive honor? No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call priciples, they are less than a chaff in a breeze." "i would just as soon as have expected restr4aint from a hyena prowling amongst the corpses of a battlefield."
Marlow doesn't believe the cannibals posses restraint. He can't fathom that they can control their hunger, when he believes it's impossible to do so just because he cannot do it.
"What you may call principles," first diminishes that these cannibal natives can even have principles at all. He then calls their so-called principles "less than a chaff in a breeze," meaning that morals mean less to these people than anything, and even if they had them, they would bring them into account, because they are, in Marlow's eyes, immoral savages.
Date: Wednesday 17 October 2007
Pages: 3-10
#1 "[H]aze rested on the low shores," "[A]ir was dark abouve Gravesend...mournful gloom, brooding motionless..." (3). "The sky with out a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light..." "Only the gloom to the west, brooding over the upper reaches, became bore sombre every minute, as if angered by the sun." (4).
Our introduction to the book the Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, begins with an unknown narrator speaking of gloom and sombreness and brooding motionlessness.
Within the haze is the gloom and the sombreness and the anger that broods in the west. Whatever happens in the west, in the haze, is introduced to us as some kind of evil. the sky, looking down on the haze is "unstained," untainted, basically good. It is a "benign immensity," immensity most likely referring to the ongoing reality that is the sky. Benign meaning gentle, and harmless. Which represents the sky and which represents the West? Whit or Black? Common knowledge of European ideals of the time identifies the purity of the sky to be the white Europeans looking down upon the "brooding," and "gloomy," "sombre," black natives.
#2 ""Marlow sat cross-legged right aft, leaning against the mizzenmast. He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, hte palms of his hands outwards, resembled and idol." (4).
The description of Marlow is much different than the description of anyone else on the ship. Such as the Lawyer: "The best of old fellows....lying on the only rug," (4).
The accountant: making structures out of a set of domino's.
the director: sitting amongst the rest of the men.
Marlow description is in a little bit more detail. He sits differently than the other men, he isn't talking casually amongst the other men. He has separated himself. He is described as resembling an idol. An idol being a sort of god, maybe Marlow is superior in morality to these other men, or maybe he just thinks he's superior.
He's described as an "ascetic aspect" just before this. What does he have to be in denial about? Why is his description so contradictory of itself calling him ascetic and then an idol?
Date: Thursday 18 October 2007
Pages: 11-19
#1 "It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery- a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness." "...[A] mighty big river, that you could see on the map, resembling an immense snake uncoiled..." "The snake had charmed me." (11).
Marlow describes how, ever since he was a young boy he wanted to explore mysterious lands, lands that hadn't been discovered or overrun by Europeans. He describes a large vast spot on the map, a "white" space and he describes it as "delightful," and , "glorious,". But it had become, "a place of darkness," when it was no longer a mystery. Why? Was it simply because imperialism had begun to take place? Did he want the, "glory of exploration,"(11), all to himself? Or was it because of what he learned about what took place there? Who the inhabitants were?
What is the real cause of this place to turn into a, "place of darkness," ?
Even though he knew this place to a place of darkness, as he describes it, he decides to venture there, because the "snake," (the Congo River) had "charmed," him, the idea of such a trading opportunity to make himself immensely rich.
#2 "Oh, it didn't surprise me in the lease to hear this, and at the same time to be told that Fresleven was the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs. No doubt he was; but he had been a couple of years already out there engaged in the noble cause, you know, and he probably felt the need at last of asserting his self respect in some way. therefore he whacked the old nigger mercilessly..." (13).
Marlow tells the story of a man named Fresleven, who was in Marlow's position in the company before Marlow's arrival. Fresleven felt cheated by the natives and decided to attack and beat the chief, and in doing so, he was killed by the chief's son.
Fresleven is ironically described as gentle and quiet and Marlow believes this description. He believes imperialism and the trade industry to be a, "noble cause," ans since Fresleven was invested in it for a couple of years, Marlow believed his actions excusable. Marlow gives more excuses to Fresleven when saying he was just trying to assert his self respect.
Marlow's use of the word, "Therefore," preceding how Fresleven beat the chief, makes it sound like he is explaining a scientific equation. That it was perfectly logical to beat an old chief, probably to death, for something as insignificant as two hens. He feels no pity for the chief and we can see that he is racist. He later refers to the remains of Fesleven as a, "supernatural being,"...does this mean he looks up to him?
Date: Friday 19 October 2007
Pages: 20-28
#1 "Her ensign dropped limp like a rage; the muzzles of the long six-inch guns stuck out all over the hull; the greasy, slimy swell swung her lazily and let her down, swaying her thin masts. In the empty immensity of the earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firing in to a continent. "-and nothing happened. Nothing could happen. there was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious droller in the sight..." (21).
While Marlow is on his way to take his position for the trading company, he encounters a ship they are trying to give letters to. The ship has it's guns out and is firing into nothing it sees, though a ship-mate tries to assure Marlow that there are natives, "enemies" just inside the jungle. "Muzzles," makes the scene seem very animalistic. "Empty immensity...earth, sky, and water,". Again the immense sky is referred to, this time by Marlow as opposed to the unnamed narrrator, they view the subject quite differently.
It seems the shipmate believes the scene to be heroic and exciting (the ship defeating "enemies," ) while Marlow views the scene as an absurd and insane, a ship shooting at a continent, calling the sigh, "a sense of lugubrious drollery,". Has arlow's shipmate been there longer than he has? The people on the ship? Does this country have an effect on people's minds like the French Doctor said it does?
The absurd scene with the ship shooting at imaginary enemies seems to represent the absurdity of all racism and imperialism alike. they are imaginary enemies- meaning they're aren't any enemies until you make them. The Europeans made their own enemies through imperialism, colonialism, and their racist beliefs.
#2 "He had tied a bit of white worsted around his neck. Why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge- an ornament- a charm- a proprietary act? Was there any idea at all connected with it? It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white thread from beyond the seas." (26).
After he gets off the Swede's ship, Marlow begins to walk to his companyand along the way comes by six black men chained together and driven by another black man with a gun- and in a uniform. It reminds Marlow of the war ship, and he diverges from his origional path. he comes upon many sick and dying black people in the shade, one of which has tied a white cloth around his neck. Marlow cannot fathom why.
I think the white cloth, "from beyond the seas," around the mans neck represents, not only the presence of the white Europeans , but the devastation they are causing, because he is dying, and because the cloth is around his neck. Marlow's confusing as to why exactly the cloth is there and where it came from could represent the native mans feelings about the white men who are killing his people.
Date: Saturday 20 October 2007
Pages: 28-35
#1 "[B]ig flies buzzed fiendishly, and did not sting but stabbed." (29).
"When a truckle bed with a sick man (some invalid agent from upcountry) was put in there, he exhibited a gentle annoyance." (29). "The sick man was too ill to groan. The flies buzzed in peace," (30).
While Marlow is in the Company's chief accountant's office, a sick man is brought in there, and his groans annoy the accountant. The flies buzzed, "fiendishly," and "stabbed,". Then the accountant begins to speak of Mr. Kurtz. A man of great importance as believed by all in the Company, because he sends in more ivory himself as chief of a trading post, than all the other posts combined.
AFter the discussion of Kurts the flies, "buzzed in peace," and do not stab anymore, and the sick man was too ill to groan. This silence accentuates the awe that Marlow feels for the man Kurtz. It also shows how much he is in awe of this mysterious man. He is so encompassed bythe supposed greatness of Kurtz that he no longer notices the harsh bite o fht flies. Either that or, even the flies are in awe of him and don't bite anymore because they too are distracted. Either way, it shows the importance of Kurtz.
#2 "Once when various tropical diseases had laid low almost ever 'agent' in the station, he was heard to say, 'Men who come out here should have no entrails.' He sealed the utterance with that smile of his, as though it had been a door opening into darkness he had in his keeping." (35).
Marlow has his first encounter with the manager after his steamboat wrecks. th man makes him uneasy and has a creepy smile.d The smile means something more than just a smile to Marlow. He describes it as, "stealthy," (34), and said it was as if,"a seal applied on the words to make the most commonest phrase appear absolutely inscrutable."(34). He had the power to make Marlow feel uneasy.
"a door opening into a darkness he had in his keeping." (35), suggest that because he is the manager, he is responsible for all the debauchery that is going on in the Congo an Marlow is about to enter through that door to which the manager holds the key. He is introducing Marlow into the Heart of Darkness.
Date: Monday, 22 October 2007
Pages: 36-44
#1 "By heavens! there is something after all in all the world allowing one man to steal a horse while another must not look at a halter. Steal a horse straight out. Very well he has done it. Perhaps he can ride. But there is a way of looking at a halter that would provoke the most charitable of saints into a kick." (39).
Marlow is in the cabin of a certain agent who supposedly sells and makes bricks, no one blieves that story however. Everyone thinks he is a managers spy. Marlow thinks he is a managers assistant trying to become of higher position than he already is. marlow said he felt an aire of plotting in the cabin, maybe that's what they were plotting to do, get into a higher position. Marlow compares stealing a horse to stealing the top position away from Kurtz in a few years. Looking at the halter may suggest what the managers assistant was trying to do to Marlow, pump him for information, let him see his plan to steal the top position and expect him not to say a word, to turn a blind eye or to not look at a halter.
#2 "Then I noticed a small ketch in oils, on a panel, representing a woman, draped, and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. The background was sombre- almost black." (40).
When Marlow is in the manager's assistants cabin he notices a painting. The painting was made by Kurtz. I think the woman is supposed to represent all the people in the Congo trying to make money off of the land and off of the people. Back in those times women were thought of as foolish beings. Kurtz believes the agents and pilgrims to be foolish for going into the Congo, for wandering around into the heart of darkness, which is represented by the black somberness all around the woman.
The men out there are foolish and do not know what they are getting themselves into, hence not only the blindfold but also the drapery. Perhaps it could also mean they are blind to the true cruelty of the treatment of the natives, they do no think it to be cruel, they are blind to what cruelty truly is.
The lighted touch is symbolic of how they still move on towards, and in around the heart of darkness thinking that materials can help them get out of there, and get them what they want, treasure. But it is useless because of their blindness to it all.
They wander around blind and cut off from what they perceive to be reality, and the sombre blackness envelopes them as it is around the woman.
Date: Tuesday, 23 October 2007Date: Saturday 20 October 2007
Pages: 28-35
#1 "[B]ig flies buzzed fiendishly, and did not sting but stabbed." (29).
"When a truckle bed with a sick man (some invalid agent from upcountry) was put in there, he exhibited a gentle annoyance." (29). "The sick man was too ill to groan. The flies buzzed in peace," (30).
While Marlow is in the Company's chief accountant's office, a sick man is brought in there, and his groans annoy the accountant. The flies buzzed, "fiendishly," and "stabbed,". Then the accountant begins to speak of Mr. Kurtz. A man of great importance as believed by all in the Company, because he sends in more ivory himself as chief of a trading post, than all the other posts combined.
AFter the discussion of Kurts the flies, "buzzed in peace," and do not stab anymore, and the sick man was too ill to groan. This silence accentuates the awe that Marlow feels for the man Kurtz. It also shows how much he is in awe of this mysterious man. He is so encompassed bythe supposed greatness of Kurtz that he no longer notices the harsh bite o fht flies. Either that or, even the flies are in awe of him and don't bite anymore because they too are distracted. Either way, it shows the importance of Kurtz.
#2 "Once when various tropical diseases had laid low almost ever 'agent' in the station, he was heard to say, 'Men who come out here should have no entrails.' He sealed the utterance with that smile of his, as though it had been a door opening into darkness he had in his keeping." (35).
Marlow has his first encounter with the manager after his steamboat wrecks. th man makes him uneasy and has a creepy smile.d The smile means something more than just a smile to Marlow. He describes it as, "stealthy," (34), and said it was as if,"a seal applied on the words to make the most commonest phrase appear absolutely inscrutable."(34). He had the power to make Marlow feel uneasy.
"a door opening into a darkness he had in his keeping." (35), suggest that because he is the manager, he is responsible for all the debauchery that is going on in the Congo an Marlow is about to enter through that door to which the manager holds the key. He is introducing Marlow into the Heart of Darkness.
Date: Monday, 22 October 2007
Pages: 36-44
#1 "By heavens! there is something after all in all the world allowing one man to steal a horse while another must not look at a halter. Steal a horse straight out. Very well he has done it. Perhaps he can ride. But there is a way of looking at a halter that would provoke the most charitable of saints into a kick." (39).
Marlow is in the cabin of a certain agent who supposedly sells and makes bricks, no one blieves that story however. Everyone thinks he is a managers spy. Marlow thinks he is a managers assistant trying to become of higher position than he already is. marlow said he felt an aire of plotting in the cabin, maybe that's what they were plotting to do, get into a higher position. Marlow compares stealing a horse to stealing the top position away from Kurtz in a few years. Looking at the halter may suggest what the managers assistant was trying to do to Marlow, pump him for information, let him see his plan to steal the top position and expect him not to say a word, to turn a blind eye or to not look at a halter.
#2 "Then I noticed a small ketch in oils, on a panel, representing a woman, draped, and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. The background was sombre- almost black." (40).
When Marlow is in the manager's assistants cabin he notices a painting. The painting was made by Kurtz. I think the woman is supposed to represent all the people in the Congo trying to make money off of the land and off of the people. Back in those times women were thought of as foolish beings. Kurtz believes the agents and pilgrims to be foolish for going into the Congo, for wandering around into the heart of darkness, which is represented by the black somberness all around the woman.
The men out there are foolish and do not know what they are getting themselves into, hence not only the blindfold but also the drapery. Perhaps it could also mean they are blind to the true cruelty of the treatment of the natives, they do no think it to be cruel, they are blind to what cruelty truly is.
The lighted touch is symbolic of how they still move on towards, and in around the heart of darkness thinking that materials can help them get out of there, and get them what they want, treasure. But it is useless because of their blindness to it all.
They wander around blind and cut off from what they perceive to be reality, and the sombre blackness envelopes them as it is around the woman.
Pages: 45-53
#1 "It was an inextricable mess of things decent in themselves but that human folly made look like the spoils of thieving." (50). "To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe." (50).
At the company's trade post there arrives a group called the Eldorado Exploring Expedition. What they wanted were the riches of the land, just like everyone else. But unlike everyone else, giving the riches to trade companies for money, they kept the riches for themselves. Marlow says that what they wanted, were wanted for the work of the world. Marlow believes this group has no moral purpose because they keep the riches for themselves, it's like stealing to him. This makes it seem like he believe he and his company have a moral purpose, they give the treasures to the world. But they are essentially doing the same thing as the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, stealing from the land, and from the people.
#2 "Anything can be done in this country." (53).
Marlow over hears the uncle, and the leader o the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, talking to his nephew the manager. They only speak to eachother, kind of like they are plotting something. They talk alot about Kurtz. Does anything mean, killing to get rid of the abnormality that they view Kurtz to be? It shows what they have been up to in the Congo nevertheless, anything they want.
Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Pages: 52-62
#1 "I saw him extend his short flipper of an arm for a gesture that took in the forest, the creek, the mud, the river- seemed to beckon with a dishounouring flourish before the sunlit face of the land a treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of its heart."( 54).
This is the first mention, and allusion to the heart of darkness. Exactly what the heart of darkness is, can't be determined yet, but it has to do with the land, and the forest. It is the land's lurking death, hidden even and the darkness of the lands heart that is being given a treacherous appeal by the managers uncle.
Marlow calls this display of confidence, "black". Black is referred to as bad, and evil.
#2 "I was learning to clap my teeth smartly before my heart flew out, when i shaved by a fluke some infernal sly old snag that would have ripped the life out of the tin-pot steamboat and drowned all the pilgrims."
Marlow and his company are in his steamboat traveling the river to get to Kurtz's station. The phrase, "before my heart flew out," caught my eye, I'm not exactly sure what is meant by this. Maybe it just that the snag is so deadly that it could kill him, as it would rip the "life out of the ...steamboat,".
Date: Thursday, 25 October 2007
Pages: 63-71
#1 "Before it stopped running with a muffled rattle, a cry, a very loud cry, as of infinite desolation, soared slowly in the opaque air. It cease. A complaining clamor, modulated in savage discords filled our ears."(66) "[T]o me it seemed as though the mist itself had scremaed, so suddenly, and apparently from all sides at once, did this tumultuous and mournful uproar arise." (66).
They are given their first encounter with the heart of darkness in this blinding fog, it is worse than the night according to Marlow. The heart of darkness greets them with a mournful and horrible scream that echo's through the forest, and seems to come from all directions. The pilgrims think it is a native about to attack. Marlow, however seems to feel that it was the mist itself that screamed in mourning. It makes it seem like even nature is in agony, is mournful in the heart of darkness.
#2 "Restraint! What possible restraint? Was it superstition, disgust, patience, fear -or some kind of primitive honor? No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call priciples, they are less than a chaff in a breeze." "i would just as soon as have expected restr4aint from a hyena prowling amongst the corpses of a battlefield."
Marlow doesn't believe the cannibals posses restraint. He can't fathom that they can control their hunger, when he believes it's impossible to do so just because he cannot do it.
"What you may call principles," first diminishes that these cannibal natives can even have principles at all. He then calls their so-called principles "less than a chaff in a breeze," meaning that morals mean less to these people than anything, and even if they had them, they would bring them into account, because they are, in Marlow's eyes, immoral savages.