Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness involves many designs and principles dealing with the very nature of humanity and its complexity. This kind of novel is placed in two different spots, the Thames River plus the Congo River. Conrad uses these two rivers to represent the different cultures that clash through this novel, which are the “civilized” plus the “savages”. Whilst exploring those two different realms Conrad exposes the human nature at its key through the character types in this story proving not everything is straightforward and is in it seems.
The Thames River located in Southern England symbolizes the advanced European universe.
In this novel the Europeans regarded themselves as civil and cultured. On the other hand, Conrad embeds numerous dark powerful imageries to spell out this “enlightened” culture including violent, loss of life, brooding gloom, and more. While the Congo Riv represents the uncivilized indigenous inhabitants which might be described as “utter savagery” (Conrad, 1990, s. 4), nevertheless the nature that surrounds the Congo is described as secret, glittering, and precious.
The contrast of these places and representations reveals different facets of human nature. One un-admirable quality of human nature that is certainly shown is pride.
The European characters in this new had the mentality that they were better than the local people. Because of their superior status they felt that European Imperialism and the channels set up had been meant for “humanizing, improving, instructing” (Conrad, 1990, p. 29) the uncivilized savages. Instead these civilized European males “Christianizing” aiming to conform the local people to their standards they have give in to the night within the jungle displaying their very own true characteristics. Another part of human nature shown by the ironic descriptions in the “civilized” and “uncivilized” spots is man’s destructive characteristics.
There were many events with this novel that portrayed man’s destructive nature due to futuro motives. An illustration that damaging behaviors will be apart of human nature is when Kurtz raids countless tribes to get ivory for the very purpose of gaining riches and electric power. Another sort of man’s damaging nature is usually when amounts of “pilgrims utilized to turn out in a body [hippopotamus] and clear every rifle they could lay practical at him. Some even had sat up o’nights to get him. ” (Conrad, 1990, p. 25). These men waited for and wasted pictures just to eliminate an old and innocent monster not for success purposes, but also for amusement.
Conrad enforces the idea of mans dangerous nature at the start of the story when he is usually describing the “civilized” globe. An example on page one Conrad describes the scenery of this “superior” civilization while “The atmosphere was dark above Gravesend, and further back continue to seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, glumness motionless… ” Later on inside the novel Marlow reads Kurtz pamphlet and is also led to believe that Kurtz can be not an additional greedy, do it yourself – portion, and power crazed person like the a large number of characters he has attained up with on his journey, but that Kurtz shares similar beliefs that he will.
Marlow’s idea that the aim of European Imperialism in The african continent was to increase the culture and to benefit all of them equally instead of cause chaos for their own personal gain. Marlow’s excitement to satisfy Kurtz structured off his pamphlet and just how well everyone speaks of him is an example of how not everything is straightforward. Kurtz wrote his pamphlet in a way that intrigued Marlow and convinced him that they distributed the same beliefs, but when Marlow finally met Kurtz this individual realized that Kurtz is sick physically and mentally. Trickery and disparity is inserted within being human.
As much as you might like to assume that humans will be consistent and honest, that is not true and apparent from this novel. The primary character is not exempt from human habits of disparity. Earlier on inside the novel Marlow states, “I hate, dislike, and aren’t bear a lie, ” (Conrad, 1990, p. 23). On the other hand by the end of the publication he is situated to Kurt’s intended to give her feeling of peace and helps you to save her by more pain and sadness. Though his reasoning is definitely not self-centered he still went against his individual beliefs and proves inconsistency.
Throughout this entire novel Conrad features several Western characters that portrayed so many non – admirable characteristics such as avarice, arrogance, covet, vengeance, sloth, and much more. But they are considered the “civilized” ones. Ironically the cannibals and the other natives in this book show more amazing qualities including loyalty, hard work, obedient, solid will, and a lot importantly restraint. While the civil men were plotting against one another pondering only of themselves the local people displayed a lot more honorable figure. For example , the native people that pledged their devotion to Kurtz were obedient and remained loyal.
They might accompany him on expeditions and kill on his order. Another sort of honorable features portrayed simply by these “uncivilized savages” was restraint. The cannibals that assisted Marlow on his trip had been famished for months rather than made a move to harm their other crew- associates. These “heathens” displayed accurate character in this situation mainly because “It uses a man every his inborn strength to fight hunger properly. Really really easier to face bereavement, dishonor, as well as the perdition of one’s soul – than this prolonged food cravings … not any earthly basis for any kind of scruple.
Restraint! … the fact facing me – the spectacular fact. ” (Conrad, 1990, p. 38). Through the novel “Heart of Darkness” Conrad portrays and exposes human nature at its best and at its worst. Conrad embeds paradox throughout the complete novel to demonstrate that not almost everything is as it seems and that when ever involving individuals there are contradictions. The main point that Conrad is definitely conveying to his audience is that technological advances tend not to a tradition superior or perhaps civilized, but instead the meaningful code that they can live by simply. There is not a single culture better than the different.
Also that every single human being is in charge of their own municipal or fierce, ferocious behaviors. What makes one civil is based off of what they do when ever no one different is around and exactly how they respond to any given circumstance good or terrible. This kind of novel dished up as a caution from Conrad of male’s true night and the “human secrets that baffle probability”. (Conrad, 1990, p. 37). One is not civilized based upon where they grew up, however reactions for the world they will live in. To get civilized is always to act with morality, but to be a fierce, ferocious is to take hold of the cardiovascular of night.
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