Skip to main content

In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, how can Marlow's ironic rendering of an experience he had 20 years earlier be seen as a means to make amends...

Throughout Heart of Darkness, Marlow can be seen as immature or naive. He searches for wealth and adventure in the jungle, unaware of the danger and corruption of the ivory trade because he is blinded by greed. Marlow's coming-of-age experiences occur in the jungle, where he sees the death of slaves, the death of Kurtz, and the savage nature of the natives. Upon his return to London, Marlow matures and escapes the suffocating darkness...

Throughout Heart of Darkness, Marlow can be seen as immature or naive. He searches for wealth and adventure in the jungle, unaware of the danger and corruption of the ivory trade because he is blinded by greed. Marlow's coming-of-age experiences occur in the jungle, where he sees the death of slaves, the death of Kurtz, and the savage nature of the natives. Upon his return to London, Marlow matures and escapes the suffocating darkness of the jungle and the ivory trade. 


There is situational irony present in the telling of Marlow's tale, however. Marlow is aboard a ship like the one he originally took to Africa, surrounded by the dark pollution of London. The fragmented nature of his story, peppered with flashbacks and moments from the present, suggests Marlow has been negatively affected by his experiences. He is a haggard man with a troubled past, and his repetition of phrases makes him seem mentally affected as well. Marlow's rendering of the story is a testament to the darkness he experienced. It serves as a warning to others and an amendment for his own previous naivety as he works to remove that same naivety in the next generation of sailors and explorers. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more