Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

by Joseph Conradby Joseph Conrad

[[The Heart of DarknessThe Heart of Darkness] is ] is a dreadful and a dreadful and fascinating tale, full as fascinating tale, full as any of Poe’s mystery any of Poe’s mystery and haunting terrors, yet and haunting terrors, yet with all the substantial with all the substantial basis of reality that no basis of reality that no man who had no lived as man who had no lived as well as dreamed could well as dreamed could conjure into existence.conjure into existence.

----from a review from a review in in

NationNation, 1906, 1906

What is the book about What is the book about anyway?anyway?

seafaring river boating trade and exploration imperialism and colonialism race relations the attempt to find meaning in the universe while trying to get at the mysteries of the subconscious mind

Conrad’s BiographyConrad’s Biography► In adulthood Conrad became In adulthood Conrad became

a British merchant sailor and a British merchant sailor and eventually a master mariner eventually a master mariner in 1886.in 1886.

► He traveled widely in the He traveled widely in the east.east.

► He took on a stint as a He took on a stint as a steamer captain (1890) in steamer captain (1890) in the Congo, but became ill the Congo, but became ill within three months and had within three months and had to leave.to leave.

► After his illness, Conrad After his illness, Conrad retired from sailing and took retired from sailing and took up writing full time.up writing full time.

► Writing took a physical and Writing took a physical and emotional toll on Conrad. He emotional toll on Conrad. He considered his writing considered his writing experiences draining.experiences draining.

Background- rewind a Background- rewind a bit…bit…

► After his long stint in the east had come to After his long stint in the east had come to an end, Conrad was having trouble finding a an end, Conrad was having trouble finding a new position. new position.

►With the help of a relative in Brussels, he With the help of a relative in Brussels, he attained his new position as captain of a attained his new position as captain of a steamer for a Belgian trading company.steamer for a Belgian trading company.

► Conrad had always dreamed of sailing the Conrad had always dreamed of sailing the Congo in Africa.Congo in Africa.

►He had to leave almost immediately for the He had to leave almost immediately for the job; the previous captain was killed in a job; the previous captain was killed in a trivial quarrel.trivial quarrel.

Background Background continued…continued…

► While traveling from Boma (at the mouthof the river) to the While traveling from Boma (at the mouthof the river) to the company station at Matadi, he met Roger Casement who told company station at Matadi, he met Roger Casement who told Conrad stories of the harsh treatment of Africans in the colonies.Conrad stories of the harsh treatment of Africans in the colonies.

► Conrad saw some of the most shocking and depraved examples Conrad saw some of the most shocking and depraved examples of human corruption he’d ever witnessed. He was disgusted by of human corruption he’d ever witnessed. He was disgusted by the ill treatment of the natives, the scramble for loot, the terrible the ill treatment of the natives, the scramble for loot, the terrible heat and the lack of water. heat and the lack of water.

► He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many were bodies He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many were bodies of men from the chain gangs building the railroads. of men from the chain gangs building the railroads.

► At one point, he went back and found his ship was damaged and At one point, he went back and found his ship was damaged and had to be repaired.had to be repaired.

► Dysentery was rampant as was malaria; Conrad had to terminate Dysentery was rampant as was malaria; Conrad had to terminate his contract due to illness and never fully recovered.his contract due to illness and never fully recovered.

Frame StoryFrame Story►The novella opens with a frame story in The novella opens with a frame story in

which the unnamed narrator and four which the unnamed narrator and four companions aboard the a ship named companions aboard the a ship named the the NellieNellie are sailing the Thames River. are sailing the Thames River. To pass the time, one of the men, To pass the time, one of the men, Charlie Marlow, describes his Charlie Marlow, describes his experiences as a steamboat captain for experiences as a steamboat captain for a European trading company with a European trading company with outposts in Africa. Our anonymous outposts in Africa. Our anonymous narrator occasionally intrudes on narrator occasionally intrudes on Marlow’s narrative and comments on it.Marlow’s narrative and comments on it.

CharactersCharacters►Anonymous narrator aboard the Nellie, a Anonymous narrator aboard the Nellie, a

former seaman with a sense of humorformer seaman with a sense of humor►Marlow-a seaman who piloted a steamboat for Marlow-a seaman who piloted a steamboat for

a large Belgian trading companya large Belgian trading company►General Manager-the chief of the company’s General Manager-the chief of the company’s

Central Station who seeks to replace KurtzCentral Station who seeks to replace Kurtz►Russian-a boyish seaman who idolizes KurtzRussian-a boyish seaman who idolizes Kurtz►Kurtz-the characteristic chief of the Kurtz-the characteristic chief of the

company’s inner stationcompany’s inner station

Narrative StructureNarrative Structure► Framed NarrativeFramed Narrative

Narrator beginsNarrator begins Marlow takes overMarlow takes over Narrator breaks in occasionallyNarrator breaks in occasionally

► Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego; he shows up in some Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego; he shows up in some of Conrad’s other works including “Youth: A of Conrad’s other works including “Youth: A Narrative” and Narrative” and Lord JimLord Jim

► Marlow recounts his tale while he is on a small Marlow recounts his tale while he is on a small vessel on the Thames with some drinking buddies vessel on the Thames with some drinking buddies who are ex-merchant seamen. As he recounts his who are ex-merchant seamen. As he recounts his story, the group sits in an all-encompassing story, the group sits in an all-encompassing darkness and passes around the bottle. darkness and passes around the bottle.

Varied InterpretationsVaried Interpretations►Many different interpretations have Many different interpretations have

been suggested for this text- You will been suggested for this text- You will have to develop your own!have to develop your own!

► What is Conrad saying about colonialism and What is Conrad saying about colonialism and capitalism as a whole?capitalism as a whole?

► What might Kurtz symbolize?What might Kurtz symbolize?► What is this really a journey into? What is this really a journey into? ► How could this be an escape?How could this be an escape?

Conflicts, Themes, Conflicts, Themes, Symbols, & MotifsSymbols, & Motifs

►Light vs. DarkLight vs. Dark►Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery►RacismRacism►Search for IdentitySearch for Identity►Effects of ImperialismEffects of Imperialism►Hypocrisy of ImperialismHypocrisy of Imperialism► Individual ResponsibilityIndividual Responsibility

Modernism & Modernism & Heart of Heart of DarknessDarkness

► Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness was published in the late Victorian- was published in the late Victorian-Early Modern Era but exhibits mostly Modern traits:Early Modern Era but exhibits mostly Modern traits: a distrust of abstractions as a way of delineating truth a distrust of abstractions as a way of delineating truth an interest in an exploration of the psychological an interest in an exploration of the psychological a belief in art as a separate and somewhat privileged kind a belief in art as a separate and somewhat privileged kind

of human experience of human experience a desire for transcendence mingled with a feeling that a desire for transcendence mingled with a feeling that

transcendence cannot be achieved transcendence cannot be achieved an awareness of primitiveness and savagery as the an awareness of primitiveness and savagery as the

condition upon which civilization is built, and therefore an condition upon which civilization is built, and therefore an interest in the experience and expressions of non-interest in the experience and expressions of non-European peoples European peoples

a skepticism that emerges from the notion that human a skepticism that emerges from the notion that human ideas about the world seldom fit the complexity of the ideas about the world seldom fit the complexity of the world itself, and thus a sense that multiplicity, ambiguity, world itself, and thus a sense that multiplicity, ambiguity, and irony--in life and in art--are the necessary responses of and irony--in life and in art--are the necessary responses of the intelligent mind to the human conditionthe intelligent mind to the human condition

Conrad’s Use of DictionConrad’s Use of Diction Very Descriptive wordsVery Descriptive words

““Trees, trees, millions of trees, massive, immense, running up Trees, trees, millions of trees, massive, immense, running up high; and in their foot, hugging the bank against the stream, high; and in their foot, hugging the bank against the stream, crept the little begrimed steamboat, like a sluggish beetle crept the little begrimed steamboat, like a sluggish beetle crawling on the floor of a lofty portico.”crawling on the floor of a lofty portico.”

**Oh, yes! Get ready for some serious imagery!**Oh, yes! Get ready for some serious imagery!

Uses synonyms for “dark” for emphasis Uses synonyms for “dark” for emphasis ““All this was in the All this was in the gloomgloom, while we down there were yet in the , while we down there were yet in the

sunshine, and the stretch of the river abreast of the clearing sunshine, and the stretch of the river abreast of the clearing glittered in a still and dazzling splendor, with a glittered in a still and dazzling splendor, with a murkymurky and and overshadowedovershadowed bend above and below.” bend above and below.”

Vivid sound imageryVivid sound imagery ‘“‘“It is the gift of the great,’ she went on, and the sound of her It is the gift of the great,’ she went on, and the sound of her

low voice seemed to have the accompaniment of all the other low voice seemed to have the accompaniment of all the other sounds, full of mystery, desolation, and sorrow, I had ever heard- sounds, full of mystery, desolation, and sorrow, I had ever heard- the ripple of the river, the soughing of the trees swayed by the the ripple of the river, the soughing of the trees swayed by the wind, the murmurs of wild crowds, the faint ring of wind, the murmurs of wild crowds, the faint ring of incomprehensible words cried form afar, the whisper of a voice incomprehensible words cried form afar, the whisper of a voice speaking from beyond the threshold of an eternal darkness.”speaking from beyond the threshold of an eternal darkness.”

Diction continued…Diction continued… Uses anaphora, which is emphasizing words by Uses anaphora, which is emphasizing words by

repeating them at the beginning of neighboring clauses, repeating them at the beginning of neighboring clauses, to help build tension.to help build tension.

“ “I looked around, and I don’t know why, but I I looked around, and I don’t know why, but I assure you that assure you that nevernever, , nevernever before, did before, did thisthis land, land, thisthis river, river, thisthis jungle, the very arch of jungle, the very arch of thisthis blazing sky, appear to me blazing sky, appear to me soso hopeless hopeless and and soso dark, dark, soso impenetrable to human impenetrable to human thought, thought, soso pitiless to human weakness.” pitiless to human weakness.”

Very patronizingVery patronizing While describing a black man Marlow says “The man While describing a black man Marlow says “The man

seemed young- almost a boy- but you know with seemed young- almost a boy- but you know with them it’s hard to tell.” About his crew he says “They them it’s hard to tell.” About his crew he says “They wandered here and there with their absurd long wandered here and there with their absurd long staves in their hands, like a lot of faithless pilgrims staves in their hands, like a lot of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten fence.” bewitched inside a rotten fence.”

Diction continued…Diction continued… Negative connotationsNegative connotations

““DrollDroll thing life is- that thing life is- that mysteriousmysterious arrangement of arrangement of mercilessmerciless logic for a logic for a futilefutile purpose.” purpose.”

Conversational choice of words and Conversational choice of words and punctuationpunctuation““He forgot I hadn’t heard any of these He forgot I hadn’t heard any of these

splendid monologues on, splendid monologues on, what was it? on what was it? on love, justice, conduct of like- or what not.”love, justice, conduct of like- or what not.”

PunctuationPunctuation

DashesDashes Used frequentlyUsed frequently Help put a greater emphasis on his pointHelp put a greater emphasis on his point

““We live, as we dream- alone….” We live, as we dream- alone….” Used as appositives Used as appositives

““He allowed this “boy”- an overfed young negro from the He allowed this “boy”- an overfed young negro from the coast- to treat the white men, under his very eyes, with coast- to treat the white men, under his very eyes, with provoking insolence.”provoking insolence.”

Used for a conversational effectUsed for a conversational effect ““But this must have been before his- let us say- nerves But this must have been before his- let us say- nerves

went wrong, and caused him to preside at certain went wrong, and caused him to preside at certain midnight dances ending with unspeakable rites, which- as midnight dances ending with unspeakable rites, which- as far as I reluctantly gathered from what I heard at various far as I reluctantly gathered from what I heard at various times- were offered up to him- do you understand?- to Mr times- were offered up to him- do you understand?- to Mr Kurtz himself.”Kurtz himself.”

Exclamation PointsExclamation Points Used for the basic use of emphasis. Used for the basic use of emphasis.

““But it was a victory!”But it was a victory!” Sometimes followed by a word that is not capitalized, simply Sometimes followed by a word that is not capitalized, simply

for the conversational aspect to come across.for the conversational aspect to come across. ““I said Hang!- and let things slide.”I said Hang!- and let things slide.”

EllipsesEllipses Shows Marlow’s thoughts trailing off.Shows Marlow’s thoughts trailing off.

““The danger, if any, I expounded, was from out proximity to a The danger, if any, I expounded, was from out proximity to a great human passion let loose. Even extreme grief may ultimately great human passion let loose. Even extreme grief may ultimately vent itself in violence- but more generally takes the form of vent itself in violence- but more generally takes the form of apathy….”apathy….”

Leaves certain ideas and thoughts hanging for his listeners to Leaves certain ideas and thoughts hanging for his listeners to think about for themselves. think about for themselves. ““It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream- making a vain It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream- making a vain

attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams….”dreams….”