Poor Marlow. All he wants is to go to his new post. But his steamer needs rivets—and there are "cases of them down at the coast—cases—piled up—burst—split!" (28). But none ever make it to him. Calico, yes, but not rivets. Where is the "efficiency"(6) that he so desires—the efficiency that makes conquering so possible?
1. If Heart of Darkness is, on one hand, a commentary on colonialism—making it a commentary on Europe itself, since just about every country in Europe at this time engaged in colonizing throughout the world—what so far is Conrad's commentary? What do you think he saying about colonialism? Refer to last night's reader and anything before it—quote a couple times in your answer.
2. We spent some time at the end of class today talking about Marlow and the Africans he comes upon at the Company Station. We talked about his "horror" at what he sees—and his reaction to it: a biscuit to a dying boy and then flight to the nearest white man in authority. Those of you who talked spoke sympathetically to Marlow's plight. There are who knows how many people around him dying—what's he supposed to do? Indeed. As Clark asked, and a few of you answered—What is he supposed to do? What should he do? And what is significant, telling, about what he does do? And how does this moment in the book make you see and/or feel about our hero Marlow?
3. We finally hear of Kurtz. What is your impression of him based upon what he hear about him so far in the book? How is he being presented? Quote a couple times.
4. Any questions you have about the reading?
Okay. See you guys tomorrow.
1) I think so far it is a rather negative one. He portray's European arrogance in thinking they are the "emissaries of light" or a "lower sort of apostle". They think that they are on a mission from God with the intent of civilizing and "weaning those ignorant millions of their horrid ways". All of this shown by what we could considered the average European in Marlow's Aunt. However, Marlow arrives and it is quite the opposite of light and civilization. Instead of creating and spreading knowledge, these European colonialists exploit the land and its people for seemingly no reason, only destroying. The whole operation Marlow observes is in this sort of limbo, with Europeans seeming to only be there for money, not with some charitable mission sent to them from God.
ReplyDelete2) I don't know what he is supposed to do. It seems like Marlow has few options. He can not help all these people, he lacks supplies and resources. He can't bring them to the clerk, he most likely be ridiculed and the dying people would still receive no help. For me, I do feel sympathetic for Marlow, I think most of us can understand that feeling. As we said in class, there have been homeless people we have passed on the street and done nothing about. It doesn't make me like or dislike him anymore or less but he does feel more human to me.
3) Kurtz has been portrayed as this amazing guy. He "sends in the same amount of ivory as all the others put together". He is industrious, interesting, and charismatic. Everyone who knows him, likes him and respects him, including the Manager and the brick maker. He is being presented much like in Apocalypse Now, except we don't know he is "crazy" yet (although it has been hinted at that something is happening).
4) No questions, really.
1. Conrad says that the excuse given for imperialism regarding "'weaning those ignorant millions [of people from African tribes in addition to other peoples] from their horrid ways'" (12) is in fact a load of crap that masks colonialism's true purpose: to make money. Marlow is honest to himself and says that "the Company was run for profit." According to Conrad, Europe (specifically Britain because the story is set there) views itself as the origin of Western civilization and easily forgets that it was actually a primordial, savage place in the past: "And [Britain] also . . . has been one of the dark places of the Earth" (5). In a sense, by 'forgetting' that Britain's civilization was the product of imperialism and pursuing a British empire through the forceful Westernization of other cultures, Britain is being hypocritical.
ReplyDelete2. When Marlow is confronted with the dying man, giving him the cracker indicates that he feels sorry for him and wants to try to help. However, his action doesn't do much else. When he sees the white man, he clings to the man's familiarity because he is afraid of and overwhelmed by the horrors he has seen. I think the most unsettling part of is that Marlow continues to work for the company even after he has seen an innocent man starved to death as a result of the company's "progress." It seems like he is still tempted to chase profit (and maybe adventure) even if it hurts others. He likely views African people as worth less than white people because of the culture in which he was raised, but I still don't think that's an honorable excuse for his choice to continue to work for the company.
3. Kurtz is portrayed as "an exceptional man" (22), as "he is a prodigy . . . an emissary of pity, and science, and progress" (25). He is expected to assume a high position within the company. Basically, he is presented as Kurtz was presented in Apocalypse Now. However, we also hear that he is ill, and the Manager seems to be very worried by Kurtz' problem (22). Maybe he is worried simply because he doesn't want to lose such an excellent and important man, but I suspect that Kurtz' illness is probably endangering others as it did in the movie. The manager speaks of Kurtz' condition in a similar manner as the men who give Willard his mission in Apocalypse Now--he doesn't really specific how Kurtz is ill, and the men are similarly vague when they say that Kurtz' "methods are unsound."
4. I feel pretty comfortable, but I wonder about the details of Kurtz' illness. I guess we'll have to wait and see for that one.
1) Conrad feels that colonialism is not "the white man's burden," but rather, it is inhumane and it shouldn't be justified. He writes, "For that you want only brute force—nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others." This shows how he feels that the idea of white supremacy is unfounded. Its totally random that they had more technology than other people. This doesn't make Europe any better than Africa. He also points out the inefficiency of it when Marlow says, "I avoided a vast, artificial hole somebody had been digging on the slope, the purpose of which I found it impossible to divine. It wasn't a quarry or a sandpit, anyhow. It was just a hole." So much of colonialism doesn't make sense when you actually look at it.
ReplyDelete2) Marlow truthfully can't do anything. What he does do has no point other than to make him feel he is doing something. The man doesn't eat the biscuit Marlow gives him, and if he had, it would have only prolonged his suffering. This does show, though, that Marlow recognizes the horror of colonialism to some extent. I don't blame him for running to the first familiar thing he sees, because he can't help them.
3) Everyone is impressed with his abilities. He is shown as a great man (from the European point of view) which makes me wonder why he is in the Belgian Congo, which seems to be so universally viewed as a place not to be. The "brick maker" says, "He is a prodigy... He is an emissary of pity, science, and progress, and devil knows what else." The "brick maker" seems to resent Kurtz, which makes me wonder if this is the general emotion or just him.
4) Why did they react so elatedly at the idea of having rivets? I mean, yes, they can advance more on rebuilding the boat, but it all seemed over the top. Also, what is Kurtz doing there if he's so great?
1. It seems to me that Joseph Conrad has a negative opinion of colonialism in European history. I think that Conrad's views come out through Marlow's dialogue, and Marlow certainly has many problems with colonialism, viewing it as "not a pretty thing when you look into it too much," (7) implying that many people overlook the unjust aspects of it. For example, he simplifies it to "taking it [land, possessions] away from those who have different complexion" (7) and denounces, almost through mockery, those who sugarcoat and glorify it as "the conquest of the earth." (7)The character's blunt nature toward the topic reflects Conrad's beliefs. He calls it "robbery," "violence," and "murder" (7) opposed to a great thing that occurred in history, so definitely negative.
ReplyDelete2. This question is a tough one to answer, because I could argue for many various opinions about Marlow in this scene. It's hard to decide what he should do in the situation with the mass of dying black men. I appreciate how he wanted to help by giving one of the men a cracker, and I genuinely think he has good intentions in this scene and desires to assist them. I do think, however, that in the entirety of this scene his action is futile, because there are many other suffering men that he doesn't help. I understand that he can't help them all, but if I were in this uncomfortable situation I wouldn't want to help just one if I couldn't help a significant amount. I also don't think that a cracker did much to help him, but I think Marlow was just trying to do whatever he could. So while it didn't end up significantly bettering the situation, I respect that he wanted to help.
3. He is definitely described as being heroic and he appears very well respected and liked. He is called "remarkable" (19) and he has a bright future: "He will be somebody in the Administration before long" (19). People seem to think of him very highly, thinking that he's amazing and "an exceptional man" (22). In addition to his lengthy praise, he is described as having a vague illness. These descriptions are similar to those in Apocalypse Now, except the details of his "illness" are more dramatic and dangerous in Apocalypse Now, at least to Jerry and Crew. His positive life before his "illness" or insanity remains the same in both stories, though.
4. Everything is mostly straightforward!!
1.I think Conrad struggled with accepting colonialism, perhaps because of personal experiences or second-hand knowledge of the “horrors” that result. He doesn’t think it’s effective or good, and saw how ridiculous some of the ideas were, like when Marlow pokes fun at his aunt for saying he must be like “an emissary of light” and “wean the ignorant millions from their ways. When Marlow is on the job, there’s so much random, unnecessary stuff going on, which seems a bit ridiculous. But Conrad also doesn’t know how tackle colonialism and doesn’t know how to solve the problem, since it’s so large and systematic and culturally ingrained thinking.
ReplyDelete2.As we said in class, Marlow is a pretty insignificant man in the grand scheme of things, so it becomes a question of how much he can do. The right thing would be to stand up against colonialism and admonish the horrible systems and practices, but if Marlow actually stood up to the Belgians in the Congo or in Belgium, he would probably be sent on his way and labeled an outcast. His standing up wouldn’t do much, because he’s “fighting” against something so large and widespread. In that particular moment, it’s hard to say what exactly he should do. He clearly feels sorry for the man and gives him a biscuit, but it could almost be seen as insulting in a way because Marlow, who has so much, who could try to do so much for this man, him a measly biscuit. But I suppose if Marlow actually tried to help, Belgian officials would make sure that wouldn’t happen. It seems like there’s not much he can actually do.
3.Kurtz is highly praised, being called a “prodigy” and “an emissary of pit, science, and progress.” He’s generally respected as a smart, hardworking guy by everyone around him.
4.I think I pretty much understand what is going on, though sometimes I get confused by the phrasing or certain words.
1. I think Conrad is split on his views of imperialism, similarly to Marlow. On one hand, he describes how horribly the Africans are treated. "Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees,… in all the attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair" (17). Also, "They said he had caused the fire in some way; be that as it may, he was screeching most horribly" (23). However, he also dehumanizes the Africans with how he refers to them. He calls them "dark shapes" (17), "bundles of acute angles" (17) in addition to offensive names.
ReplyDelete2. Marlow is obviously affected by this incident. It makes him extremely uncomfortable. I think he wants to help, but just cannot think of anything else to do besides giving a cracker. It is a little unsettling that he is so comforted by the well-dressed accountant after what he has just seen. It is even more unsettling that he does not mention this incident to anyone at the company or question his decision to work there. This shows that Marlow is compassionate enough to care if confronted by a situation like this, but not compassionate enough to advocate for the dying Africans when it is inconvenient for him.
3. Kurtz is presented as a great man. He seems to know some sort of universal truth that no one else can fully understand. "He is an emissary of pity, and science and progress, and devil knows what else" (25). The last part of the quotation suggests some element of insanity. The eerie drawing suggests similar trait. However, he is still viewed as a "prodigy" (25).
4. I didn't really understand what was happening with the guy in the hammock under the pole. What was happening in that section?
1. I think Conrad's opinion on imperialism seems pretty well personified by the depiction of the Manager at the station. To others the Manager is "obeyed, yet ... inspire(s) neither love, nor fear, nor even respect." Conrad seems to imply that love, fear, and respect are all effective ways of getting things done. Conrad's criticism of imperialism so far seems to be less about subjectification and more about inefficacy. If you're going to enslave people, he argues, you had better do it right, or else all these lives are wasted. The feeling of uneasiness caused by the Manager, and the sense that "he had no genius for organising, for initiative, or for order even," Conrad likens to the whole European imperialist regime.
ReplyDelete2. When Marlow discovers the dying workers, he singles out one man and gives him a biscuit. To me this is about the most human reaction he could have. In masse, the problem is too great to deal with, and in truth, the problems of even the one boy are to great to handle. Marlow's gesture is symbolic of his guilt and also of his acceptance that the situation is out of his hands; he doesn't try to 'fix' anything because he knows he can't. This isn't a moral attitude, but it's also a lot (I'm inclined to say too much) to expect from someone in his situation.
3. Everybody who is impressed by Kurtz cites his amazing work product. He "sends as much ivory as the others put together. Because we have seen so much waste and inefficiency so far in Africa, this is a major achievement that Conrad too seems to highlight. An ill Kurtz however, feels very foreboding.
4. No questions right now
1. We see colonialism through Marlow’s point of view and I’m not sure if this is identical to Conrad’s view. Marlow, at least, is very harsh on colonialism. He is horrified by the treatment of the men outside the Central Station as well as the general inefficiency of the whole program. Marlow describes the hole being dug, at the Central Station, noting “the purpose of which I found it impossible to divine” (16). I feel as though this is Marlow’s view on most of colonialism. Marlow also describes the men as “dying slowly—it was clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now, nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation lying confusedly in the greenish gloom” (17) which is not a terribly positive review of colonialism’s effects. I feel as though Conrad is speaking partially though Marlow and therefore might share his sentiments.
ReplyDelete2. The truly responsible action of Marlow would be to demand of the accountant in the suit—apparently the man in charge at this point—that he do something and take further action. In a more realistic light, Marlow has the choice of continuing on the journey, which will be beneficial for him and propagate the further torture of the Africans, or he can turn around and not support the company. I feel like Marlow’s understanding what it is to be an individual in the greater world for the first time. He doesn’t do the right thing, in my opinion, by continuing down the river just because he wants adventure, but at least he realizes that what he’s seeing is terribly, terribly wrong.
3. Kurtz is apparently something really spectacular: when Marlow asks, “who is Mr. Kurtz?” he is given the response that “he is a prodigy…he is an emissary of pity, and science, and progress” (25). While he is described as being quite extraordinary, he also seems to be looked down on by the old guard, as he is also described as being “and devil knows what else” (25) and being of the apparently held in contempt “gang of virtue”. I think he probably uses questionable methods to get quite the quantities of ivory that he does. There is also Kurtz’s mysterious illness that seems like it will make him into something of a Kurtz from Apocalypse Now.
4. I’m a bit confused by the pilgrims and their ivory quests.