Heart of Darkness Study Guide Essay

Chapter 11. The setting of the story begins on the Nellie, a ship. The turn of the scend is significant because it gives the earthly concern proponent on board extra clip to talk, and Marlow begins single outing his story. In addition, attributeically, the turning of the soar up expects a change, and perhaps, foreshadowing of the story. The author spends a lot of m dealing with light because it is the main symbol in the novella. Light and darkness ar universal symbols that represent good and evil.Although non explicitly stated, those who charter the light are those who are civilized, and those who acquire the darkness are those who remain uncivilized, peculiarly the people living in Africa. 2. Marlow expects different from every unmatched else on the ship because of how the author describes Marlows character. Conrad describes Marlow as having recessed cheeks, a yellow complexion, and resembling that of an idol. Marlow seems ill through this description. Sunken cheeks convey a need of nourish handst, as well as exhaustion.The color yellow in literature has two meanings happiness and sickness. In this context, one may infer the color yellow to symbolize Marlows sickness, or molderion, as it correlates to the alight of his description. Lastly, an idol connotes a phantom. Marlow appears to be different from everyone on the ship through his description. The audience is civilized. All of the men have jobs, a lawyer, an accountant, the director, and the outside narrator. The story also explains how Marlow remained the only one out of the men to tacit follow the sea. He also portrays how he did not represent his class. This suggests that Marlow may not be as civilized as the other men.As Marlow begins to tell his story, the narrator explains how Marlow is about to embark on other inconclusive experience. The word inconclusive suggests not fully answering doubts and questions. In addition, Marlow begins to remark the weakness of galore(postnominal) tellers of tales who seem so often unaware of what their audience would best like to hear. This conveys how Marlow hopes to interest, or intrigue, his audience. Marlow feels inclined to sell his story so that his audience better understands him.3. The Roman reacted to England, a dark place, by civilizing it, or control its territory. At that time, England looked like the very end of the world. It possessed sand banks, marshes,woodlands, savages. The story conveys how in that respect was little to ingest for a civilized man and only the Thames water for drink. England was a dark place at that time because it was uncivilized. 4. According to Marlow, what redeems the conquest of the Earth is the idea only the idea that men will unselfishly feed themselves for. Marlow explains how conquering land, and the lands people, really is not a pretty thing.I think Marlow breaks clear up because it is a sensitive subject for him to discuss, and maybe only something he truly understands. 5. Marlow keeps comparing the river to a serpent. The equation is interesting because a serpent symbolizes evil, corruption, and temptation. Similar to the story of Adam and Eve, a snake, or the river in this case, tempts the protagonist. 6. digression from knitting, the two women in the office appear to be secretaries, or receptionists, for the doctor. Both women appear to symbolize mickle they are the fates who spin, measure, or cute the thread of life.This symbol is an allusion to Greek mythology. As Marlow is progressing toward his locomote to Africa, it is in the conjunctions office that he meets these two women. 7. Fresleven went insane because he had spent so much time in the jungle. After attempting to stab the village chief, Fresleven was killed. The conflict began with an argument over a couple of hens, which appeal him, his life. The village became addicted because the natives became superstitious they were all very afraid to kill a white man. 8. Marlows Aunt calls Ma rlow an emissary of light because she believes that during his journey to Africa, Marlow is going to bring knowledge and civilization to the savages.This reflects the imperialism during that time catamenia. 9. The jellyfish is a lifeless forested stretch of coast. Once they reach the Congo River, Marlow boards another ship to journey further upriver. The man-of-war portends the lifelessness of many coasts in Africa most parts of the place appear corrupt and dreary. 10. Marlow describes the companions station as a Grove of Death, in which among the trees there are dying natives and recurring dynamite blasts.I think the natives allowed themselves to be bullied by the white men because they felt inferior. During this time, imperialism was popular and the belief that a white man was better than a b lack man was common. I also do not think natives had the befitting technology, means, or knowledge to necessarily stand up to a group of white men either. 11. The accountant is described as an elegant white man with a clean andwell-mannered appearance. The accountant is described as a miracle because he represents the Company, or how the Company wishes to be seen. The accountant is devoted to the Company. The station animal trainer is described as an average man.The managers supreme gift is his ability to never get sick. Marlow does not like the station manager because he is jealous of Kurtz, and also because Marlow describes him as originating zero. This suggests how the manager lacks innovation and is devoted to keeping up with appearances, although he has nothing to offer. The manager comments about how men should only come out here if they dont have anything inside. This conveys that in order to succeed in the pearl trade business and survive in Africa, one must be ruthless. 12. The brick maker appears to be idle as Marlow remarks on how there wasnt a fragment of a brick anywhere in the station.The brick maker is waiting for his opportunity to move up the r avel within the company. 13. Kurtz painting is of a blindfolded woman carrying a lighted torch, in which her face is appears deceived by shadows. I suppose the painting reflects the men traveling to Africa, blindfolded, to civilize the natives, who represent the light. The woman is blindfolded as the European men are blinded by their negative influence on the natives. The shadows suggest darkness, which suggests corruption. 14. The manager and brick maker are upset at Kurtz pre-eminence because they are envious at his success.This conveys the competition, desperation, and corruption during this time period to do whatever it takes to be successful, powerful, and rich. For these European men, money was power and that was their desire. Marlow lies to the brick maker by playing on to further understand his motives. In addition, Marlow allows the brick maker to think he has an influence in Europe to dispatch information about Kurtz. 15. Marlow was unable to get the rivets from the Comp any.This suggests how the enterprise is allowing loose policies and for things to follow apart this conveys a lack of professionalism. The manager does not want the rivets to make it out because he wants his eldorado Exploring Expedition to follow through. 16. The Eldorado Exploring Expedition suggests an expedition in search for gold during this time. Although there was no gold in Africa, pearl was very valuable. This expedition was led by the managers uncle. Its purpose is to find ivory and apply African resources.Chapter 21. The manager survives because he cannot get sick. His plan to beat Kurtz is by delaying the trip to the upcountry Station, that way hopefully Kurtz illness will kill him because he will not receive the proper care in time. 2. The crew of the steamboat was the cannibals. Although savage, the cannibals are much better at controlling their behavior than the pilgrims. The pilgrims appear willing to begin destruction at any cause in order to gain ivory. The inte rpretation of civilized seems to belong to those who are able to exercise self-restraint. 3. The drums symbolize the culture that still exists in Africa.The forest appears to be moving throughout the journey, which may be foreshadowing how the natives are moving with the boat to confirm that it does not meet Kurtz. 4. The earth seemed unearthly suggests the discomfort Marlow feels along his journey. On a larger scale, this conveys how Africa has sustain a place lacking of normality and humanity Marlow expresses how he feels separated from Earth. That was the worst of us, the suspicion that they werent human, suggests how corrupt the men were they appear to show no signs of humanity.5. Marlow discovers a book about seamanship. The book appears admirable because it is the only bit of reality Marlow has encountered recently. 6. When they wake up, eight miles from the station, the coast has been covered in a wooden-headed fog which keeps them stationary. The fog is a white, however, it does not represent light or goodness. The fog suggests how Marlows travel does not know exactly where they are or what lies ahead in their journey everything appears unclear physically and emotionally. 7. Marlow claims that the natives will not attack because the nature of their noise seems to convey sadness. In addition, Marlow does not understand how there could be an attack with the severe fog.8. The sounding man is killed startle in the attack because he is the first man seen. The river comes to symbolize not only the way in which Marlow begins his journey into himself, but as they proceed further up the river, Marlow begins to realize he has more in common with the natives than Europeans. In addition, the river continues to represent the touchwood of temptation. The helmsman gets killed because he began to freak out, abandoning his position to grab a gun. Marlow drives the natives away by using the steam-whistle. 9. Marlow valued to meet Kurtz because he had heard such interesting, wild things about him. Kurtzrepresents the thrilling and horrifying wildness that Marlow desired. Kurtz abandoned his life in Europe to quest for fortune in Africa.10. Kurtz head was compared to that of an ivory ball. This suggests how important ivory was to this man it was the only thing on his mind. Conrad uses a simile, irony, as well as symbolism to convey this. 11. Kurtz paper is about how white men must treat Africans as though the white men are much greater, super natural creations so that they can exert power over them. At the end, the scribble proclaims to exterminate all brutes. 12. The harlequin is the Russian man, Kurtz disciple. The harlequin knows a lot about Kurtz, he claims to only listen to Kurtz, and he acts only has information for Marlow. Chapter 31. The harlequin is boyish in appearance, and he is young. His brightly patched clothes are similar to the maps in the office Marlow had admired. The harlequin represents youth and adventure. The harlequi n is still alive due to Kurtz influence. 2. The stakes outside of Kurtz compound were human heads. Most were faced in, duration a couple was faced outward. They are the heads of rebels. 3. A group of native Africans carry Kurtz on a stretcher. Marlow describes Kurtz as resembling an animated image of death carved out of ivory.This further suggests how Kurtz was willing to die in pursuit of ivory, which symbolizes power. 4. Kurtz brings his guns with him. Since the natives view Kurtz as a deity, they believe that the guns hold great power. Kurtz brings them to further emphasize his power over the natives. 5. The wild and gorgeous apparition of a woman is a native woman, Kurtz mistress. Conrad pairs here with being a warrior. 6. Right before Kurtz dies, Marlow recognizes all of Kurtz emotions. This relates to Kurtz last words the horror The horror because perhaps Kurtz realise that the life he was living was actually not worth dying for. Marlow blows out the candle because it is sym bolical of Kurtz life.7. He had something to say relates to Kurtz, who always had something to say, while Marlow had nothing to say. Marlow believes that Kurtz last words are a triumph because he thinks he realized his negative impact in the world and his corruption at that moment. 8. keister in the city, Marlow discovers that Kurtz had many other talents such as a gift in music and writing. 9. Marlow gives up the idea that the Europeans belong in Africa. He has gone about doing that by no longer choosing to pursue that lifestyle. 10. The Intended is Kurtz fiance.Sheis described as being dishy and often connected with imagery of light and heaven. Marlows belief that women live in beautiful worlds, which should not be disturbed, is relevant here as this beautiful woman is not intertwined with Kurtz alter lifestyle, his corrupt lifestyle. 11. Kurtz Intended claimed to have known him more than anyone else on Earth. However, she did not know the type of lifestyle Kurtz was living. Mar low tells the Intended that Kurtz last words were for her name.Marlow claims that it would have been too dark to tell her the truth. I think the Heart of Darkness is when one allows him or herself to live in a mendacious reality, allowing themselves to lie and deceive others for their own benefit.