self

The Prompt:

Take a few examples and descriptions from the book Heart of Darkness to illustrate how Conrad’s depictions of the Congo and its inhabitants (natives) seemed very removed from “civilization” and do not deserve to be considered equal to Europe. Use Said and apply the theories. 7-8 pages.

boiler in the grass (p.15)
failure to implement “progress” from west to east
-rusty nails, car as a dead animal, decay of machinery
why no railroad before western colonization?
wasn’t needed – progress is not universal, standard, linear. railroad moves resources out faster, not intended to help the “east”

descriptions of natives dying slowly (p.17)
nondescript, fading away like their culture, absence of light, bundle of angles, “its” instead of “his”

starched shirts (p.?)
representative of england, colonizers – the congo adapts to him, not vice versa
contrasts – east/west, clean/dirty, civ/unciv

conversation between manager and uncle (p31)
value of ivory vs. englishman lost to the darkness
-indicates way of life more important than resources
kurtz has lost english sensibility; given up english identity/civility to survive in congo

humanizing, improving, constructing (p.32)

traveling up the river – earliest beginnings of the world (p.33)
hippos & alligators (p.33)
exotic, dangerous, ancient, like the congo
earth seemed unearthly (p.36)

brass wire (p.41)
practically worthless ornamental trinkets as payment
reciprocal brass/ivory
kurtz’ mistress brass gauntlets (p.61)

civilization/civilized:
p.6 little to eat for a civilized man
p.22 neither civil nor uncivil
p.25 stood by civilly
p.34 try to be civil
p.42 said with marked civility

general themes/references:

theme of the ancient, the left-behind; congo is a civilization lost in time, must be brought forward

speaks of natives in dehumanizing terms

anxiety about over the effect of the orient upon the colonizers
-return less civilized (kurtz)
-reason he tells the story is based on his understanding of this fear. he has begun to relate to the congo and its natives, slipping down that same slope kurtz did. begins to empathize culturally, historically.

continuum of civilization – many unrecognizable forms

adjectives
unknowable, incomprehensible, mysterious, inscrutable, impenetrable, too profound

purpose of congo expeditions was extraction, not exchange

darkness – inability to see
-as in recognizing another person or culture or civilization
fog has similar function

kurtz as a representative of the congo
marlow’s knowledge of him is indirect, disjointed, collage-like
marlow wanting to hear kurtz talk, not see kurtz do
not a complete and substantial person
-hollow (p.58,68)